Anyone who has had the opportunity to hear Marla Joy sing live has agreed, her vocals are the likes of which haven’t been heard in decades and she sings from a place that seems well beyond her years. 

The child of an unconventional upbringing, Marla found herself on her own for the first time at the early age of 14. “While kids my age was thinking about what to wear to school, I was worried about where I was going to sleep”. 

This early introduction to the heavy realities of life are what Marla ironically has to thank for her introduction to the great artists that have influenced and guided her to where she gratefully is today. “I would listen to Aretha, Marvin, Stevie, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley; I felt it was the only thing I could really connect to.”



The record industry started to take notice as Marla began performing around the city, sharing stages with the likes of K.C & The Sunshine Band, Cassandra Wilson, The Temptations, and many more. 

In 2005 she was asked to perform her soulful stylings to a sold out crowd at Massey Hall, backed by the Canada Pops Orchestra. Marla has since gone on to headline “The Sick Kids Celebrity Gala”  - one of the biggest charity events in North America, opened the “Make A Wish Gala”, and most recently was asked to open for Mary J Blige at Matt Damon’s “ONExONE Gala”.



Marla has collaborated with some of the worlds greatest writers and producers: Adrian Eccleston (Nelly Furtado, Kylie Minogue, Divine Brown), Craig Ross (Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger, Sheryl Crow, Nikka Costa), Russ Ballard ( Roger Daltrey, Santana, Kiss), and The Snowflakers (Bryn Christopher) to name a few. She has recently spent time in the studio with Devo Springsteen (Grammy award winning writer and producer John Legend +  Kanye West) and Dave Tozer (Grammy award winning writer and producer Jay-z + John Mayer) with whom she is currently recording.