From a studio in Galway to the World

DarkJoy's Beginnings

Declan’s love of hard rock and metal was ignited during his teenage years in the 1970s when he discovered Slade, and later, Black Sabbath, buying the band’s 1977 album, Greatest Hits from a friend for 50p. The minute he put that album on, he didn’t want the music to stop.

Ray's first love is rock, and he learned to play guitar listening to Rory Gallagher, who was his biggest inspiration.

Declan's family got him a voucher to record in Ray’s studio for his 50th, and they just hit it off immediately. DarkJoy’s just taken off from there.

THE BAND

Meet the faces behind the music of this rock/heavy metal band.

Declan Joyce
Vocalist

Declan’s love of hard rock and metal was ignited during his teenage years in the 1970s when he discovered, first, Slade, and later, Black Sabbath, buying the band’s 1977 album, Greatest Hits from a friend for 50p. The minute he put that album on, he didn’t want the music to stop.

Over the years, Declan has also met some genuine rock legends. “I met David Coverdale [Deep Purple, Whitesnake] on Fleet Street in London. I’d been to the show the night before. He wanted to know what I thought of the gig. He gave me a handshake and I was very happy going home. I also got to spend 20 minutes with Ozzy Osbourne another time."

Declan's family got him a voucher for his 50th, to record in Ray’s studio, and when they met up, they hit it off immediately. They had great fun recording a song, and it’s just taken off from there

Ray Diamond
Guitarist/Producer

Ray Diamond is one of the best known names in Galway music, with his studio, Diamond Recording Studio, being a go-to place for musicians, among them Imelda May, Tracy Bruen, the ConTempo Quartet, Paper Moon, and others.

Ray learned to play guitar listening to Rory Gallagher, who is his biggest inspiration. “In the studio it’s not very often you get people wanting to do classic rock, so Declan gave me the chance to take out the Les Paul guitars, get the Marshall Emulation pedal going, and start belting out riffs. Being in Dark Joy, is great fun, it’s a challenge, it’s a great release.

Also, working with different rock singers throughout the years, many of them have never had a passion to do original music, but DarkJoy has given me an opportunity to belt out riffs I’ve had stored up. "

FAQS

Declan, where did the idea for DarkJoy come about?

My youngest daughter Meaghan had always heard me around the house singing songs I’d written myself. It was coming up to my 50th birthday, and she wanted me to record something for it, so my family got me a voucher to record in Ray’s studio. Myself and Ray met up and we just hit it off immediately. We had great fun recording a song, my kids loved it, and all of a sudden they got me vouchers to make an album, and it’s just taken off from there.

Ray, what was the attraction to joining DarkJoy?

My first love is rock - Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, I learned to play guitar listening to Rory Gallagher, he’s my biggest inspiration. In the studio it’s not very often you get people wanting to do classic rock, so Declan gave me the chance to take out the Les Paul guitars, get the Marshall Emulation pedal going, and start belting out riffs.

Being in DarkJoy is great fun, it’s a challenge, it’s a great release. Working with different rock singers throughout the years, many of them have never had a passion to do original music, but DarkJoy has given me an opportunity to belt out riffs I’ve had stored up.

Have DarkJoy any plans on touring?

No, we are an entirely studio bound creation, we do not play live, and have no plans on touring either. Our songs notched up thousands of plays on YouTube, Spotify and Facebook; and have been heard on radio stations across the world. We’re just doing this for the love of it!