Following the massive success of his debut album “Dream Your Life Away,” Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy (James Keogh) released his second album “Nation of Two” on Friday, Feb. 23. The album’s release opened alongside a fast-selling world tour launch, expected to start in March and end in November.

Joy rode on the success of his 2014 hit single “Riptide” which garnered praise from the music industry and public alike, but with the accomplishment came a pressure to release new music of the same caliber. The song caught the attention of mega pop star Taylor Swift in 2014 and Joy later became her opening act for her “1989” world tour. After performing in sold out arenas and continuing to chart radio airplay, Joy’s fan base grew exponentially.

During his jam packed three-year gap between releasing new music, Joy learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be an international sensation. Continuing with his signature style, he remains true to his original sound in his new songs.

The first single “Lay it On Me,” released on July 13, 2017 is a heartfelt emotional rollercoaster. The tune carries listeners through his lingering doubt in a new relationship that quickly seems to  turn for the best as the rhythm becomes more upbeat. It’s a keen example of what Joy does best, pinning a perfect love song with a folk-like twist as the introduction to his new work.

Although categorized as alternative, Joy’s new album is the epitome of folk pop. As an honest and dynamic 13 song collection, it sounds similar to the likes of early Ed Sheeran and The Strumbellas. With the heavy use of ukuleles, the occasional guitar and piano on the 45 minutes worth of tracks, Joy has cultivated a myriad of ballads worth his cult following.

His music appeals to a wide audience, which is why he has endured such a successful career. Instead of targeting a particular audience with pointless pop songs, Joy uses his raspy voice to soothe listeners while experimenting with various styles of music. On the album itself there are both classic roadtrip-esque anthems such as “Call If You Need Me” and “Saturday Sun” along with slower tunes that evoke deeper emotions of loneliness and helplessness with “Alone With Me” and “Little Boy.”

Overall Joy’s songs remain raw as he strays away from sounding too overproduced and unauthentic. If he continues his vivid storytelling on his next few albums, he very well might be the next big superstar. Potentially even following in the footsteps of Swift and making the transition into witfully written pop music.