Ayo Owolabi, AKA IO, writes rock and soul music that demands attention. Born in Atlanta and raised between Macon and Nigeria, she turned displacement into devotion honing her voice growing up in the gospel church in Macon, Georgia, and later in the Jazz Studies program at Howard University. She was a top 8 finalist on BET's Sunday Best, performed as young Ella Fitzgerald at the Apollo for Ella's Centennial and was a featured artist in residence at the Kennedy Center's Betty Carter Jazz Ahead and Strathmore Artist in Residence.She is a versatile performer, playing everywhere from Blues Alley to headlining Songbyrd DC multiple times, performing several sold-out shows across Spain, and featuring in SOFAR London, New York, and DC.
Her debut album Severed arrived spring 2026 and was featured in the Washington City Paper. It is a record about grief, liberation, and the terrifying space in between. IO doesn't just sing songs; she holds a room still and asks it to reckon with itself.
Her album is only available for purchase via her website, iothesinger.com/listen
Ayo teaches at 7DC on Wednesday and Friday!
Her debut album Severed arrived spring 2026 and was featured in the Washington City Paper. It is a record about grief, liberation, and the terrifying space in between. IO doesn't just sing songs; she holds a room still and asks it to reckon with itself.
Her album is only available for purchase via her website, iothesinger.com/listen
Ayo teaches at 7DC on Wednesday and Friday!