Joyful Forfeit Released “Left-Hand Cursive” EP

Midwest shoegaze band Joyful Forfeit is thrilled to share their new single ‘Left-Handed Cursive,’ out everywhere Wednesday, February 5. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Kody Stieve shares that the theme of the song reflects apathy and the acceptance of not being entitled to good things happening when you’re not trying to make a situation better.

Joyful Forfeit’s upcoming album, “Promise Me Less,” is about moving through life with no expectations. “I find that a lot of times, there’s always people trying to paint pictures about how things will be and what to expect, but I always find it’s never that way, for better or worse,” says Stieve. Mastered by Will Yip, “Promise Me Less,” will be released on March 28.

With the spacious and potent guitars of post-rock, the melodious choruses of indie, and the confessional lyrics of emo, Joyful Forfeit renders the frustration of the human connection. Joyful Forfeit began as a solo project from multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Kody Stieve in 2022 as a relief from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.The solo project has now expanded  to an ensemble of Lancaster, PA music veterans that would launch the project from a digital daydream into a 4-piece live band.