Cover photo © 2025 Bob Kieser

Joce Reyome, the 2025 IBC Winner in the Solo/Duo category, was preparing to go into the studio to record their first full-length album. Reyome had just recently returned from a quick trip to San Francisco to play at Biscuits and Blues 30 Year Anniversary Blues Fest.

“Oh man, it was so beautiful. I’ve been to BC (British Columbia, Canada) before, but never to the coast, so it was really quite cool to be in San Francisco (California), and see the ocean and see the Golden Gate Bridge and all that fun touristy stuff.”

Biscuits and Blues is considered San Francisco’s premier blues club. Located in the Lower Nob Hill area, close to Union Station, Biscuits and Blues held its two-day Blues Fest over the first weekend in February. Reyome (pronounced ray-ohm) shared the Biscuits and Blues stage with Kid Andersen, San Francisco blues legend Earl Thomas, Alabama Mike, and Dylan Salfer, a 2025 IBC Finalist in the Band Category.

“The shows went phenomenal,” Reyome said. “It was really such a great time.”

Reyome went on to say that the Biscuits’ atmosphere and crowds were great.

“It was just so welcoming and homey. Yeah, it just felt right, you know.”

The touristy stuff included San Francisco “staples” such as riding a cable car, going to Pier 39 to watch the sea lions, and looking out over the San Francisco Bay at Alcatraz Island, home of the infamous former prison. “The City” as many in the Bay Area refer to San Francisco is known for its cold weather, even in the summertime, due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its cooling currents. With early February temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s, many tourists and residents were wearing “winter jackets,” Reyome said, while they walked around in a t-shirt.

“In comparison,” Reyome said, “PEI has been rocked with snow and cold weather.”

“PEI” is local shorthand for Prince Edward Island, one of eastern Canada’s maritime provinces and located in the gulf of Saint Lawrence, tucked between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Reyome lives in Charlottetown, the province’s capital city on PEI’s southern coast. Originally from Attleboro, Massachusetts, Reyome relocated to Prince Edward Island in 2016 to study music at a “post-secondary level at Holland College,” which is in Charlottetown.

Reyome talked about how music has always been an important part of their life.

“My parents are a bit older and I grew up with the music of the 60s and 70s—that’s what they listened to.”

Reyome discussed the influence of those music eras, along with a singing influence from an even earlier era. Reyome ticked-off a Who’s Who of singing and performing greats, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Otis Redding, Etta James, and Janis Joplin. Reyome said a more contemporary artist-inspiration would be the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman.

“It’s like a very ‘old school’ kind of feel and having that inspiration. People were really doing some wild stuff with their voices, and I always found it really cool, and I tried to imitate it as a kid, so I feel like that kind of comes out now.”

Reyome laughed and then told the story of singing to an audience for the first time.

“I really liked to sing as a kid, and it was in 4th grade and my teacher was reading a book that had the song ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ (in it). I remember that she couldn’t sing too well, but she was trying and one of the other kids in my class (said) ‘You should have Joce sing it instead.’

“So, I sang the book for the class and they’re like, ‘That was awesome!’ Then, I was like, ‘Ooh, I kind of like that.’

“I went into 5th grade—middle school—where it’s a little bit more intentional in your music class to appreciate music. So, that was really good, and I kind of had an ear for it. I joined the chorus—the (middle school) choir. I played saxophone in middle school and then I started playing guitar around that time as well. From there it just kind of took off, and I never stopped.”

Reyome laughed, again.

As stated on Reyome’s online bio, that passion for music led them to constantly work on honing their skills and their craft. The early results of that work included the debut single “Cross My Heart” in 2021, produced by award-winning Canadian songwriter Erin Costelo. A soulful, bluesy number that highlighted Reyome’s raspy yet sweet delivery was followed up in 2022 with a second single, “Grateful,” which also featured Reyome’s amazing voice. “MR. RAIN,” released in 2024, is a spot-on soul-blues number that sounds both polished and gritty.

Reyome talked about developing that singing style and a focus on the blues.

“Regarding the music (blues), I didn’t necessarily like or dislike blues music, initially. As I developed my own style, I developed this ‘raspy’ voice, which sounds like old school blues (singers-musicians), and I thought I sounded good and I learned to love it.”

That “sound,” as Reyome described their singing style in one online interview, has become more intentional over time, leading to “a career shift” based on those “old inspirations.”

“Blues is a new avenue that I’m committed (to),” Reyome said.

That commitment, drive, and talent led to Beale Street, the Home of the Blues, in Memphis, Tennessee. The 40^th edition of the International Blues Challenge, or IBC, hosted by the Memphis-Based Blues Foundation took place in early January in the Beale Street Entertainment District. IBC “challengers,” like Reyome, performed over three consecutive nights, culminating in the finals, held the afternoon of January 11^th in the historic Orpheum Theatre.

IBC challengers are mostly up-and-coming blues artists competing in two categories: Solo/Duo and Band. For this year, almost 200 acts from nearly 40 states and 12 countries represented local blues affiliates or sponsoring organizations. Reyome was sponsored by the East Coast Blues Society (located in Nova Scotia, Canada). They talked about how the initial goal was to experience Memphis, Beale Street, and the performance challenge, but, most importantly, to “have fun.”

“Yeah, I mean, it was just such a cool experience, right? Like going down (to Memphis) and meeting all those people, and I think in my earlier comment about wanting to go down and have fun, I think that was what was transformative. It’s like this shift in mindset of how I viewed how I wanted to play. So, it’s been really nice to take that back home with me (to PEI), and not be stressed, not be uncertain about what I’m trying to do so much and more so just remember the joy of what I do and how special that is and carrying that over into all that I do now.”

Reyome said that the whole IBC (challenge) experience was “incredible…the outpouring of love and support (from the blues fans).” In addition, Reyome enjoyed spending time with the other challengers.

“The curiosity from the other (acts)…learning why they love the blues (so much).”

Reyome’s soulful acoustic versions of “Grateful” and “MR. RAIN” garnered immediate attention from blues fans crowding the more intimate clubs along Beale and word-of-mouth quickly spread amongst the IBC faithful. Reyome played to standing-room-only audiences the next two nights and then moved on to Saturday afternoon’s finals.

Reyome continued that intimate performance vibe, even on the Orpheum’s massive old stage, telling self-described “dad jokes” between numbers and belting out memorable renditions of their challenge set. Reyome said afterwards that “the audience was warm and kind,” and their response “felt like a big old hug, (full of) intimacy.”

Winning the IBC, Reyome told a regional (Canadian) interviewer, felt “like a surreal experience.”

And winning the IBC Solo/Duo category helped Reyome make connections that led to playing at Biscuit & Blues 30 Year Anniversary festival. In addition, the Solo/Duo winner’s prize package includes a Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise appearance and a spot on the Durango Blues Train in late May of this year.

After the win, Reyome also received congratulations and some sage advice from two previous Solo/Duo winners: Australian Frank Sultana (2023) and Midwestern bluesman Kevin Burt (2018). Both artists, Reyome said, provided valuable insights into managing time and expectations.

As Reyome discussed with that same Canadian interviewer, that recognition of their talents and veteran advice on how to handle the new “spotlight” have definitely been transformative.

“In a professional sense,” explain(ed) Reyome, “this (winning IBC) feels like such a step up in what I need to do to bring it all the time. I have this beautiful title now, and I’m working on making sure I can hold up my end of the bargain after the Challenge is over. So, I’d say that in my life, this is a 180 degree change in how I’ll be moving forward.”

Holding up Reyome’s end of the bargain involves the aforementioned full-length studio album. During the first Blue Blast interview, they described the upcoming album as a “tasting plate” of styles and genres.

“Yeah, it’s shaping up…(and) it’s pretty blues-based, but there’s definitely a little bit of a funk aspect in there. So, we’ll see what the final product really turns out like.”

Reyome laughed and then described the first phases of their recording process—that focus, or mindset.

“It’s a bit both (the) business and (the) creative side. Myself and my band had a rehearsal last night with our recording engineer, so we kind of got some of the less ‘personal side’ things out, you know. We played through the songs that are planned for (the album) and Colin was there, and he (would say) ‘If we’re going to it like this, here’s how I think we could tighten this up or make this sound this way so it translates better.’”

Colin is Colin Buchanan, guitarist for the Paper Lions, a Canadian indie rock band also based in Charlottetown (PEI). Buchanan was part of the production team responsible for Reyome’s first three singles.

“It’s really interesting,” Reyome continued, “to have that perspective before going into the studio so none of us are blindsided with new ideas. Coming in today—this afternoon—we’ll be able to feel a little bit more confident, feel a little bit more settled in the choices that we’re all making.

“Like we built a ‘road map’ last night (at rehearsal), and, today, we know which exits to take.”

Subsequent interviews revealed that the road map had now moved Reyome more towards a specific destination.

“I’ve completed all the (instrument) beds for my album, so I’ve got to do some vocals and a little bit of overdubs, (including) the lead vocals and add the pizzazz.”

Reyome laughed and said the song selections and styles have become more specific as well.

“Yeah, we’ve added a couple of new songs—which is cool—and a little bit less folky than I initially imagined. So, that’s exciting.”

All songs on the upcoming album are originals and Reyome said the anticipated title will be Smoke Break. Reyome explained the very personal nature of the title.

“I was a heavy smoker for many years, and I’ve recently decided to quit! But I’ve always found peace and joy in being able to say, ‘I’m just going to step outside for a sec’ and then having this tiny sliver of the world to myself for a second. So, I think I like the idea that this would be the listener’s ‘smoke break’ and have a chance to hear what goes on in my head.”

The release date should be in late September of this year, according to Reyome, who added that they are “super stoked” about the project.

There likely won’t be many breaks in Reyome’s immediate future. Between finishing up their first album and upcoming tours, Reyome will be busy. Following May’s Durango Blues Train gig, they will travel to South Korea for the Gunsan Craft Beer and Blues Festival. The 2024 edition of the festival was held over three days in late June. Gunsan calls itself the “craft beer capital of South Korea,” and Reyome, who has never traveled to that part of the world is excited for the opportunity.

“I’ll be in Korea for about eight days and then Japan for three days, with five or six shows while I’m there (in Japan), which I’m very excited for.”

During the summer, Reyome will take part in the Ottawa Bluesfest—a ten-day outdoor festival held in LeBreton Flats Park, adjacent to the Ottawa River and near downtown Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. This year’s Bluesfest is scheduled for July 10 through 20, and Reyome is slated to perform on the festival’s final day.

Back home on PEI, Reyome is still processing their IBC win, finalizing a full-length album, and preparing for those multiple performance dates close to Charlottetown and halfway across the world. In true Joce Reyome fashion, however, they’ve kept both a sense of humor and a grateful perspective on the future and holding up their end of the bargain.

“Still pinching myself. Now, I’m home doing the dishes, taking the trash out.”

Reyome laughed, once again.