Our friend Joy Sitler passed away on September 27, 2025 at the age of 30. Her obituary is online.
Joy was serving as a judge for SpinTunes 25, which has been paused for a week in light of her death.
Joy competed in six SpinTunes tournaments under her own name and as a member of Brain Weasels and My Broken Demo Tape. She was a two-time finalist, and her songs The Front Bottoms and Die Happy were round winners. "The Front Bottoms" was later re-recorded and released as part of a split EP from Beautiful Rat Records.
Joy had an active presence on the SpinTunes Discord server, celebrating her fellow contestants' songs, offering critiques and advice, and digging into the finer points of songwriting, recording, and any other topic that arose. In addition to enjoying her music, many of us valued her as a dear friend.
Outside of SpinTunes, Joy performed and recorded regularly, and was a fixture of the Bowling Green, Ohio, music scene. She invited friends from that scene into SpinTunes and also included her SpinTunes entries in live performances.
At the time of her death, she had written, was regularly performing, and intended to record a concept album about her experience of gender transition. It is an exciting, compelling, and beautiful collection of songs, and friends are discerning how to make it available in a way that approaches her vision for it.
After the SpinTunes 25 tournament concludes, we will host a tribute album and listening party in her honor. All are invited to submit cover versions of Joy's songs and/or new songs written in Joy's memory.
Joy's passing leaves a hole in the world that will be felt for a very long time.
Donations in Joy's memory may be made to the Sitler Family Fine Arts Scholarship Fund or To Write Love On Her Arms.