Thanks to her touring and visibility in the last few years, the new release from Joy Clark stands to be the highest-profile debut to come out of New Orleans in quite some time, and suffice it to say she hasn’t blown it. Working with producer and collaborator Margaret Becker, and a few nods from label owner Ani DiFranco, she’s made an impressively accomplished album that draws two streams of music—the introspective singer/songwriter realm and locally-rooted funk and soul—into something quite her own.

The opening “One Step in the Right Direction” has all the elements of a radio hit: Hummable chorus, uplifting message, warm expressive vocal, and a full production that gives space to Clark’s elegant electric fingerpicking. Likewise, the current single “Lesson” is a love letter to her late grandmother that doesn’t settle for sentiment; instead, it celebrates her spirit with a gospel choir, another grabbing chorus and a lot of handclapping. The gospel influence comes up in a few songs here and though Becker is a big name in the Christian music world, the statements of faith are kept universal. The one full-on funk track “Shine” has a righteous groove and a sermon-like lyric: this is a tune that aims to empower.

There’s an emotional generosity in Clark’s quieter songs as well. The title track recalls a beatific childhood moment and has a soaring melody and strings to show how it felt. Even the breakup song, “All Behind” shows concern for the ex (though the line “I’m tired of putting up your flyers” should strike a chord with anyone who’s dated a musician). As a singer Clark never overstates a thing, she’s already learned to sound intimate while projecting to a larger audience. No doubt she’ll be getting many more chances in years to come.