Interview: JoJo Worthington

JoJo Worthington’s music is infinite. She crafts experimental post-folk in which intimate recollections explode into limitless soundscapes. Fusing electronic glitches, acoustic nuances, and extraterrestrial melodies, Worthington’s work pushes emotionally potent folk songs to the perilous edge.

JoJo Worthington’s latest project, TCYK (The Company You Keep)—released June 2019—is a celebration of her diverse strengths. This succinct powerhouse of an album, co-produced with William Crann, is a magnificently textured exploration of Worthington’s experience as a woman navigating tumultuous relationships. Orchestral and electronic sounds blend, creating serene walls of sound that compliment intimate narratives. Within only a handful of songs, Worthington presents a whole body of feeling. Listeners are guided through conflicts between ephemeral lovers, distant friends, the human and divine. However, TCYK is ultimately a celebration our attempts at connection, as Worthington asserts: “we need to stabilize”—a rallying cry for mutual support between sexes.

Hear ‘The Company You Keep’ now and read our interview with JoJo below!

What makes ‘The Company You Keep’ different from your previous works you’ve made?
Like most songwriters, influences change from album to album. My influences for TCYK were very different from Two Lines or 7. This time, I was very inspired by Bjork’s “Vulnicura” and LCD Soundsystem. Because of those influences, I wanted this album to be gigantic…so many layers…cinematic and stadium worthy. In Two Lines, the songs came from a deep part within me. They were very emotional personally. It was more selfish songwriting, because I was only thinking of myself and my connection to them. My pain and my situations…The songs from TCYK very emotional personally too, but when I wrote them, I thought more about my audience than I ever have while writing. I thought of people trying to sing them in a stadium. I wanted everyone to be included in the songs and be able to connect with the lyrics.

Can you describe the concept behind your project?
The album is about different relationships I’ve had throughout my life. Throughout the album, I describe my relationship with Abba -God, family members, friends, lovers. To make a point that the people we surround ourselves with deeply influence our actions, our words, our thoughts, whether we know it or not. I’ve kept some pretty horrible company in the past, and I hope this album will bring awareness to people’s environments…maybe to reconsider it or to show gratitude for it. The album is also closely related to the womb. I find it hilarious that women have given birth to every human being on this earth, yet we have to demand respect from the world. The womb is like the comfort bubble, our safe place. Those we let into our space deeply affect us.

It might not make sense to some…it doesn’t really make sense to me sometimes, haha! But what I really want people to take away from it is solidarity and encouragement. Mutual support among the sexes with respect and love for one another.

And how have your artistic vision evolved throughout your career?
I believe for the most part, it has stayed the same. Creating innovative music that touches people. I make music for my Creator and hope it inspires others to create more art.

What’s been the biggest change in your life over the past year?
This year I’ve been learning a lot about the environment and how to become more friendly to the earth. It’s hard, but thinking about the earth first, before your pleasures or impulses really changes how you live, but especially what you buy. There are a lot of simple things we can do to help the earth. Like, if you’re not already a vegetarian, just eating meat 1-2 times a week helps. instead of going to grocery stores first, supporting independent farmers directly instead. Refusing to use single use plastics, or just avoiding buying groceries covered in plastic. Or you can support a tree planting organization. I support “Communities for Conservation” here in KW. All you have to do is text “CONSERVE” to 20222 and they’ll plant a tree. It’s pretty wonderful.

What song by another artist do you wish you had written?
Literally every song by Sufjan Stevens.

Anything else is coming up for you this year?
I’ll be touring and playing lots of shows this year. Now that the album is released, I’ll be able to collaborate with people I’ve been meaning to collaborate with.

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