#38 – Sound as Culture, Code, and Creative Resistance | Kokayi

Guggenheim Fellow, artist, producer, and educator Kokayi returns to unpack the layers of sound, storytelling, and being a vessel for cultural memory. Since our first conversation, Kokayi has pushed deeper into multidisciplinary work—blending sound design, improvisation, code, and community-building. This conversation tracks his reflections on legacy, experimentation, and why he’s wary of institutions that try to own culture. We talk about what’s next, how he stays rooted in practice, and what it means to be free in a creative economy that rewards conformity.Sound as both artform and archival practiceWhy joy is built into his live performance structureNavigating mentorship, freedom, and capitalist frameworksCreating from truth instead of chasing metricsThe importance of protecting your time and your IP 🎧 Revisit Kokayi’s earlier episode to hear how his practice has evolved—and where he’s taking it next. SEE A BODY - KOKAYI FROM BLACKNESS & THE INFINITE POTENTIAL WELL Host: Rob Lee Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor Photos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted. Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★