Artist Statement
They searched for the light
before the dawn
and prayed that they’d find
where they were going.
Just like spices in my mom’s kitchen, my music combines flavors, West African influenced guitar with production techniques spanning black electronic music traditions, expressing the diversity of cultures that make up who I am. These songs are the lessons I have learned existing at the crossroads of many brave journeys.
Who Is Jojo Sounds?
Atéha Bailly, also known as Jojo Sounds, is a music producer, songwriter, and sound designer who’s work weaves a rich tapestry of sound that reflects the multicultural and multi-generational journey of his family’s immigration, from a West Africa, to the Caribbean/Central America, to the U.S.
Born in Seattle and raised in Central Massachusetts, Bailly’s artistic evolution has taken him to Portland, OR for his studies at Reed College and later to Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA where he conducted research on music’s role in the religious, political, and racial identity formation of Muslim and Ananda Marga communities from around the world.
Bailly's innovative productions combine the storytelling depth of hip hop with the experimentation of indie rock and the rich, pulsating beats of dub techno. This fusion creates a sonic landscape that transcends traditional genre boundaries, revealing resonances across the various communities of his heritage. While at Reed College, Bailly was honored with the Kaspar T. Locher Creative Scholarship, which supported his album Things I See. As a versatile artist, Bailly has performed in various countries, including Germany, Cambodia, Vietnam, the U.K., and the Czech Republic, showcasing his dynamic blend of genres on stages worldwide.