Jo Passed is an emergent project by songwriter/vocalist/producer/multi-instrumentalist, Joseph Hirabayashi. Joseph formerly played in Vancouver based neo-psychedelic band Sprïng, which formed out of the disbanding of pronk experimental punk band, SSRIs. Joseph lead both bands with his neurotic perfectionism coupled with his propensity for outlandish humour and rebellion. Sprïng released an LP titled “Celebrations” in march of 2014 and subsequently toured Canada and down the west coast 3 times.

After a third tour in 2015, the band began to slowly disintegrate over a period of a few months. A ten year long collaborative relationship between Joseph and his friend since childhood, Elliot, got put on hold and left Joseph scrambling, hulking and wading through a deluge of personal and creative issues. The result left Joseph with a case of insomnia that lasted months, until the day a song was finished for a new potential project. Jo Passed is formed out of the idea that songwriting is more of a natural reflex than a cultivated act.

Joseph began jamming with drummer Mac Lawrie (Cult Babies, Tough Age, Energy Slime, Flash Palace) in June of 2015 with the idea of recording and moving to Montreal together to check out the east coast music scene. Spring had officially disbanded and Joseph sold all their belongings and drove across Canada to Montreal, in a move to not so much sever ties with Vancouver as much as uproot and commit to touring as a lifestyle. Out EP was written and recorded in Summer to fall of 2015 in both Vancouver and Montreal.  

Jo Passed takes the project DIY recording studio approach to an uncomfortable, but rewarding place - recording in whatever spaces become available and keeping things flexible.