NEW ALBUM

‘MAGIC MOVES’

COMING MAY 1ST

For nearly two decades, Pimps of Joytime have operated less as a fixed lineup and more as a living musical collective—an extended family rooted in groove, guided by songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Brian J. Formed in Brooklyn in the mid-2000s and now deeply embedded in New Orleans, Pimps of Joytime have steadily built a formidable, joy-forward catalog in modern funk.

Rather than chase trends, Brian J has remained focused on deep rhythms, melodic soul, and songs built from the inside out. Years of relentless touring helped solidify the project’s reputation as a road-tested live force, sharing stages across the funk, soul, and jam spectrum while cultivating a devoted fan base.

After relocating to New Orleans, the music absorbed new DNA. Second-line rhythms, rawer arrangements, and a deeper emphasis on collective groove reshaped the project’s center of gravity. That evolution comes fully into focus on the new album Magic Moves, out May 1, with a record release show in New Orleans on May 2. The album marks a deliberate return to funk—not as nostalgia, but as a living, breathing practice.

Magic Moves taps directly into the extended Pimps of Joytime family, functioning as both a snapshot and a celebration of the collective spirit that has always defined the project. The album features an all-star cast from New Orleans and beyond, including Garrett “Startchild Jr” Shider, Aurélien Barnes, Eric Bolivar, Carol C, Edward Lee, Chauncey Yearwood, Assaf Spector, and longtime musical allies. Each contributor brings personality without overpowering the core: songs that feel played, not programmed; groovy, not busy; soulful without unnecessary polish.

At its heart, Magic Moves is about connection—between musicians, between rhythms, and between people on the dance floor. The record leans into what Pimps of Joytime do best: uplifting funk rooted in real musicianship, built for movement, unity, and momentum.

With Magic Moves, Pimps of Joytime reaffirm their place as a collective with something distinct to add to the funk idiom—committed to rhythm as ritual, joy as resistance, and the enduring power of a musical family that knows exactly when to play and when to leave space for some magic moves.