Samara Joy casted a spell on the audience at The Jazz Club at Aman in midtown New York in November. The crowd was mesmerized by Joy before she even uttered a word. The house lights dimmed as the 23-year-old stepped up to the mic in the spotlight with a high, voluminous ponytail and black sequin cocktail dress. The crowds trance deepened when she started her set, melodiously singing her rendition of Nancy Wilsons Guess Who I Saw Today with a voice full of richness and depth.

Its no wonder how she became the first jazz artist to win the award for Best New Artist and another for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2023 Grammys.

The evening was a moment to celebrate her first fashion collaboration with luxury contemporary clothing brand Theory. The brands holiday collection focused on sleek and sexy pieces that brought a fresh look to timeless staples, reflecting Joys impact on jazz. Joy told HuffPost that shes excited that this is her entry into the fashion world.

During our conversation ahead of her performance, she rocks the blazer dress from the collection. For the performance, she switches to the sequin mini dress.

I looked more into [Theory] and more into what we would be creating together. I thought it was perfect. Its classy, sophisticated, its elegant, its laid back. I feel like they represent me, she said of the pieces. And so I feel really comfortable and competent in the clothes that we upgraded together.

The Bronx native, whos currently on her A Joyful Holiday Tour, has been on a steady rise at a young age. After videos of her wistful singing went viral in 2022, she began receiving praise from the likes of Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, among others. In September of last year, she released her debut album, Linger Awhile. Shes been dubbed the first Gen Z jazz star and is filling those shoes humbly.

We dont have to strive for one thing, theres a lot of different options, she said. And me as well as a bunch of my peers are proving that. Its like, whatever music speaks to your soul that you want to create. Theres a lane for that, and theres an audience for it as well.

She recalled the night of her big win at the Grammys this year. She didnt expect the weekend full of partying and rubbing elbows would end with a career-changing win.

I was like, OK, if it happens, it happens, she said. She closed her eyes as Olivia Rodrigo read the nominees. The camera catches me at the moment I opened my eyes, and I couldnt believe it. It was a beautiful night. I was in shock. I was still in shock until like a couple of months ago.

Though shes still settling into her ascending status, music runs deep in Joys veins. She grew up watching her dad write songs and listening to him play them in his studio. Gospel was the bedrock of her ear; her grandparents founded the gospel group called The Savettes in Philadelphia. Joy said the rawness and fullness of your voice translate between gospel and jazz.

When I first encountered jazz, I was like, Oh, thats how I feel at home. Even though I had never listened to it before. And even more so, I feel inspired to learn more, she said. And I feel inspired to delve even deeper into what about this Im attracted to and how I can make myself you know, how I can develop my own individual voice within the music.