My name is ayokay and I’m an electronic artist from Detroit, Michigan.

My entry into production began alongside my childhood best friend Quinn XCII when I produced the entirety of his first few projects. As we built a sound together, I started getting more and more into the emerging electronic scene that was blossoming in 2015.

That year, I released my first track as ayokay, featuring Quinn XCII on a song, “Kings of Summer”. Since then, that track has been platinum certified, and I have released two full length albums, and two EP’s.

My debut album, “In The Shape of a Dream” merged synth pop and electronic into a dreamy concoction that featured many of my friends, and favorite artists.

Since then, I have really dialed in my own vocal performances on my own songs, and stand here today feeling like I am releasing the best music of my career.

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I named my project “ayokay” based off of my initials A.O.

People in high school used to call me “ayo.” I threw the “kay” at the end because the phrase “it’s ayokay” makes me feel at peace. It allows me to let go of whatever is occupying my mind, and escape into the moment (or for me, the music I am constantly creating). The project is meant to offer the same escapism to the listener, to take them to a dreamlike place where everything is exactly as it should be.

The platinum certification of my first ever release is definitely the largest of my accolades. But along with it, we received radio play across the country, and the song actually served as an MLB MVP’s walk up song for the whole 2016 season.

I have been on many incredible tours with artists such as Gryffin, Elderbrook, Chelsea Cutler, and Emmit Fenn. I had the privilege of playing Red Rocks Amphitheater alongside my best friends, Quinn XCII, Chelsea Cutler, and Jeremy Zucker, in what was probably the best night of my life.

For my most recent album, Digital Dreamscape, I traveled across the world to Ukraine to shoot the entirety of the visuals, including a “short film” type concept that accompanied the length of the whole album. That was one of the most engulfing and rewarding creative endeavors I have ever taken on. 

In today’s market, music is more direct-to-consumer than ever in history. There is no space between the artist and the listener. The label system, for me, felt like a barrier that removed me a few steps from the people who were wanting to consume the music. Since labels are by nature a “machine,” they cannot quite evolve and perform in an elastic way that is demanded of today’s music marketplace.

So in going independent, I committed to much more frequent releases, and much more DIY content creation that would put my neck even one step further into the game. Since the music is my heart and soul, I wanted to be the one on the line for its performance.

So far, it has been a bit scary and vulnerable being without the same support system. Now, it’s really just me and my managers (...and any of my friends who will listen to me complain….). With the first two releases, I felt the joy of knowing no one but the day to day people who are pouring themselves into the project are getting any of the recognition / reward, but I also felt a tiny step backwards in terms of the DSP support and acknowledgement I received with the previous projects. Like anything, it is a building process. An artist who I admire told me, “one year after you go independent, you’ll be the happiest you’ve ever been.” So I am trucking along, feeling inspired and hopeful as each release moves me forward.

The best part of being independent is there are no rules and no boundaries. I can collaborate with whoever I want (I have two incredibly exciting collaborations coming in the next few releases) and I can distribute the music as creatively and freely as I’d like. I own the songs, in their entirety, so I can do with them as I please. 

I have been heavily inspired by the evolution of web3, and feel like it is a community of some of the most forward-thinking individuals out there. As an electronic producer, I am at heart a techie who adores the hardware and software that allows me a passageway into a world of unlimited possibilities. I didn’t first reach for a guitar… I picked up a synthesizer. And that technology has propelled me into a pursuit of creation that wakes me up each morning. I hope the Sound community embraces my music as a fresh and polished take on something that feels like it has its eyes set on the future.

My manager has known David for quite some time, and I think David has been interested in getting me or one of my close music peers into the space for some time now. Since I am the first artist who has gone independent amongst my management company, I am psyched to finally be able to take the plunge into this new world and hopefully lead the way for all my other collaborators and peers.

It feels like a new frontier. Something I have no experience with. I heavily believe in onchain music and its ability to completely reshape the way artists are followed, and compensated for the incredible work they put out into the world.

I believe music being onchain can move the business to a place where artists come first. Sound is at the front of this movement in my opinion. And while I know it’s early, I am happy to be getting in at the ground floor.

“Surrender to the Feeling” is one of five on my upcoming EP. I have my first four headline shows since 2019 coming up mid august. In 2023-2024 I hope to tour as much as I can, and keep new music coming out every month.

https://twitter.com/ayokay/status/1673353413424304128?s=20

I’m excited to kick off this journey with all of you.

I’m learning every step of the way - so please be patient.

Everything will be ayokay.