Tanzanian AR-Resident Joe Lyimo held a stunning final performance following his residency at Vienna’s flagship contemporary art institution MuseumsQuartier Wien!
Joe was the first AR-resident as part of a new partnership with MQ Wien. On June 17th, Joe presented a live performance at the MQ Summer Stage, inviting audiences to connect with his powerful voice and presence, offering a necessary space of expression, survival and resilience.
During his May-June residency Joe has been creating new work drawing from his lived experiences as a transgender artist in Tanzania, blending hip-hop with jazz, electronic, folk, and other influences to highlight music’s power to bridge cultural divides. Over two months, he drafted lyrics for a full album and recorded two songs, with plans to continue developing and releasing this work.
In Joe’s own words:
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the MQ Artist-in-Residence programme, which has been a transformative experience spanning May to June. During this period, I focused on producing a diverse set of tracks blending hip-hop with jazz, electronic, folk, and other influences. My aim was to explore intersections between these styles, creating unique sounds and energetic performances that highlight music’s power to bridge cultural divides.
Throughout the residency, I connected with local artists like Mwita Mataro (Tanzanian), Vibez Kibz from Rwanda, also Salvatore Viviano from Vienna, enriching my understanding of different musical perspectives. I also spoke with producer Chris from Janka Studios on phone, whose insights contributed to my process, even without direct collaboration. Additionally, I worked with Maciej Idziorek, recording two songs, and I’ve included his comments and photos from our sessions.
The residency allowed me to immerse myself in Vienna’s music scene through attending performances and engaging with the community. I also found inspiration in sightseeing and nature, which fueled my lyric writing. Over two months, I drafted lyrics for a full album and recorded two songs, with plans to continue developing and releasing this work.
On a personal level, after nearly a year without creating music due to safety concerns in my home country related to the LGBTQ+ community, I was able to reconnect with my passion freely. The support from the MQ team and fellow residents – Diona Kusari, Kamogelo Walaza, Laura Litchblau, Natallia Goryacheva, Vanda Sarai, Heta Jäälinoja and Matea Kovac – created an accepting environment where I could be my authentic self without fear.
This partnership between Artists at Risk (AR) and MQ Wien helped me regain confidence in making music. The residency culminated in my first stage performance after a long hiatus, an empowering experience made possible by the encouragement I received.
I am deeply honored to have been part of this programme. Thank you for this invaluable opportunity, which has reignited my creative spirit and reaffirmed my commitment to using music as a tool for cultural and social dialogue.
We are deeply grateful to MQ Wein for their partnership and great hospitality and look forward to many successful future collaborations.
We wish Joe best of luck in his new creative endeavors and look forward to continuing to follow his success!
