Today, Toronto-based band Jo Passed released the music video for “Ico.”
The lead single is taken from their upcoming album Away, set to be released on January 23, 2026, via Youth Riot Records.
A moody indie alt-rock tune driven by jangly guitars and introspective energy.
About the track by
Written during the pandemic, “Ico” chronicles the simple stress-free life of the feline’s day, while subtly zeroing in on the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy and being in the moment, as well as reflections on philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air. “The lockdown era of the still-present COVID pandemic is already a kind of retro-referenced universe, and everyone seemed to write their own songs from that time. This one is mine,” Hirabayashi notes. “But more than that, this song is about my cat–her freedom in repetition, the steady rhythm of her days. Her calm, grounding presence became both a mentor and a lifesaver for me during those years, and I owe everything to her. Sadly, she’s been diagnosed with lung cancer and kidney failure. I’m hoping that I can get this record out and that song out before she passes away. Everything else on the album is this dark, dreary exploration of anxiety and human fixation, and I felt it needed something that was more positive.”
Of the video, Hirabayashi adds “This video came together guerrilla-style in March 2024. I think it speaks both to the song and for itself: Shion Skye Carter’s dancing is incredible, Sarah Baxter’s costume design is beautiful, Aya Garcia’s camera work is sharp, and Téa Mei’s sign is the perfect finishing touch.”
Ico gets: 📷📷📷📷📷📷/10.
jo passed – Ico [Music Video]
