Oy

Oy is a Swiss/German electronic duo made up of Joy Frempong and Marcel Blatti. The act is based in Zurich and Berlin and has been active since 2010. Oy is also known through the artist name Joy Frempong, who is one half of the group.

Background and formation

Joy Frempong is originally from Bolgatanga, Ghana, and the project grows out of work she develops from childhood memories. What begins as a largely vocal outline becomes Oy’s debut album, issued through Creaked. The duo’s work sits across electronic music, jazz and hip-hop, with an emphasis on sampling, keyboards and vocal processing.

Style and collaborators

Oy’s sound combines jazz, electronica and improvisation with toy-like noises, fragments of hip-hop and scat-inspired vocal work. Frempong blends her voice with samplers and other sound machines, creating music that is built around experimental uses of vocals. She also performs with several other groups, including Lauschangriff, Infinte Livez & Stade, Filewile and Phall Fatale, and works with improvisational musicians. Nina Simone is named as an important influence on her approach.

Live performance

The project is known for an intense stage presence and for contrasting innocence with a more serious, concentrated mood in performance.