Germantown-based recording artist Joy Ike, a nationally touring musician who has been selected as a staff favorite of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, will host Hansberry Garden & Nature Center’s first Open Air Open Mic event on Monday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. Ike will perform a short set before welcoming other artists to the stage as the host of an open mic.

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Polished and precise, yet buoyed with an airy grace, Joy Ike paints with a broad palette that defies easy categorization. Born to Nigerian immigrants, the singer/songwriter has drawn comparisons to musicians such as Nina Simone, Laura Nyro, and Regina Spektor for her music, voice, and writing. But her percussive piano-playing and soaring vocals give homage to her African upbringing.

Joy has spent the last 11 years playing thousands of shows across the country. A write-up on NPR’s All Things Considered says, “The depth of subjects she tackles in her poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop … a truly compelling act to watch in person, with the ability to create an intimate setting in locations big and small.”

You can read more about Joy Ike at her website, www.joyike.com, or get a sample with the video below.