In her latest single “Iced Tea”, Joyce Wrice challenges us to ignore the status quo and live our lives for ourselves. It’s a confidence-boosting feel-good anthem that asks you to celebrate yourself and what you bring to the table. It’s the song you listen to when you need to be reminded that you are the main character in your story and no one should be getting in the way of your development.
This single comes one year after the success of her debut album, Overgrown. Since the release, she has continued to grow as an artist and songwriter, most notably scoring an opportunity to record the theme song for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Wrice’s sound is unique in that she gives us early 2000s R&B vibes with a modern twist, something that can be heard clearly in “Iced Tea.”
Caught up in my flow / Something that you’ll never know / Don’t need nobody to care
The song emphasizes independence and the ability to do your own thing without needing the validation of others. It’s about being so obsessed with your growth that you don’t rely on other people to fill empty parts of you. You’re so hyper-focused on your own needs and goals that you can get everything you need from yourself. It’s not arrogance, but rather self-love. It’s the act of loving yourself so deeply that you are comfortable — happy even — in solitude.
It’s a shame how you hate / On everything and everyone / When you’re the one to blame
I love this call-out for the haters. Through experience, I’ve found that when someone has an issue with almost everyone they meet and constantly complains about the people around them, then they are usually the problem. Wrice is reminding us that hate from others has nothing to do with us and everything to do with their insecurities. So then, why should their opinion matter?
This is also a reminder to cut negativity out of your life. You don’t want someone around you who can find an issue with everything but themselves. You want people around you who are dedicated to becoming better versions of themselves. This song is all about leveling up and you can’t do that with bad energy bringing you down.
Lemon slice in your sugar iced tea / Feels good when you’re living carefree
The sugar iced tea represents the life that Wrice wants us to live: a life of peace and prosperity. She wants us to envision the ideal version of ourselves and embody that, no matter the cost. She wants us to let go of the fear of being perceived and just be unapologetically ourselves. Throughout the song, she playfully invites us to join her in living this carefree lifestyle.
Wrice explained what the song means to her in a recent press release: “‘Iced Tea’ is a fun dance record where I’m stepping into my divine feminine with the hopes to empower women to be free and stand their ground.” She definitely understood the assignment — the track will have you feeling like a boss babe goddess within 45 seconds.
