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Songbyrd Presents IO
with Griefcat, and Zanj
Tuesday September 17, 2024
Doors - 7:00 PM
Show - 8:00 PM
Tickets
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Completely unaware of what a “mosh pit“ was, IO (formally known as AYO) remembers being told “you’re turning worship into a mosh pit”, at church. She looked up the definition of “mosh pit” and her eyes were opened up to a new world. Restricted from listening to music outside of gospel, sneaking in moments of reaching for ambient sounds, anthemic melodies and groovy foundations, The Washington DC-based artist grew up thinking “Christian Rock” music was the “real thing”. Not realizing that Rock and Roll had millions of people in tears with hands pumping in the air as they listened and gathered in stadiums, arenas and other venues since the 60s. The Beatles, U2, Tina Turner, Coldplay, Tracy Chapman, each with a variation of rock and folk that drew in audiences for their raw talent and storytelling. IO would shortly after discover that her love for CCM came from the feeling and history of Rock, EDM and Folk Music. That was the moment the album (named after Jupiter's largest moon) IO, was born.
IO is a seething emblem of raw truth, trauma and tales that tell the reality of recovering from decade-old wounds that seem hard to get rid of. The songstress garnered over 400,000 streams on Spotify. Her 2020-released EP “Searching”, provided glimpses into her search for meaning, purpose and healing. In that same year, IO left the church as a former worship leader featured on BET, and decided to define what faith, love and joy means to her.
In this new album, IO uses her music to grieve, process and redefine what life can look like, outside of the trauma endured from the abuses of her childhood. A call to self reflection, introspection, anger and freedom – she aims to have her songs put power in her audience's hands.
In a quote given by the empowered singer, she shares: “My album provides a safe space to process the painful realities of trauma, to scream in revolution against the realities of oppression and disillusion, while providing a seed of hope and a banner of joy that all is not lost in the journey to becoming, our most authentic, purposeful selves.”
A singer-songwriter whose range has been praised by the likes of Andra Day featured on HBO at the Apollo. IO’s journey began through music in the South as a worship leader in Gospel Music, leading her to be featured on BET’s Sunday Best. Shortly after, she became a student of Jazz music in Washington DC at Howard University. The singer’s love of Classic Rock, Funk and Pop are heard in every performance she delivers. Most recently, she has sold out every show she has presented during her travels throughout Europe, with lines of people waiting to find spare tickets the day of. As a victim of childhood and sexual abuse, IO chooses to channel her electric stage presence and storytelling through performing songs that reflect freedom, rage and the vast spectrum of emotions evoked from the human experience. At her core, the DC-based singer embodies the act of coming home to yourself.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Songbyrd Music House, 1-3, Penn St NE, Washington, DC 20002, United States,Washington D.C.
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