In Joe Kye’s newest work, he’s getting personal. He’s soon to have a world premiere exploring his roots. Through-Lineage takes us on a musical journey focusing on his grandfather’s history in North Korea and beyond. Joe Kye will be fusing both Korean and contemporary music along with his personal storytelling for a journey about how our ancestors can help us navigate the world today…he’ll be debuting this piece at the Risk/Reward Festival in a double bill with Shannon Stewart at Reed College on October 23-25, 2026.

“through-lineage” uses a fusion of Korean and contemporary music, a searching narrative, and detailed artifacts to reconstruct the past, both personal and geopolitical. With wit, playfulness, and a healthy dose of modern ritual, Joe will take us into the world of his grandfather to ask: what can our ancestors teach us about navigating the world as it exists today?

In this podcast you’ll hear Joe Kye talk about…

His grandfather:  “He was born in 1927 at a time when Korea’s under Japanese occupation,, and of course, that occupation is really more, more akin to genocide, , than this kind of neutral word that occupation is. And in 1945, when Japan is defeated in World War II, you have the United States swooping into the south, you have Soviet Russia stepping into the north, and these two neo-colonial empires cleave my haraboji’s (grandfather) land into two, and erect the most heavily militarized border in the world, which stands to this day.”

How this project has made him closer to his father: “ I think connecting with my grandpa has been nice ’cause then I can skip that generation that is my dad and from whom I had to process a lot of things and kind of work through a lot of these unsavory parts of our relationship.”

How Risk/Reward has helped develop through-lineage:  ”They have provided all the support that I have asked for and when it comes to actually getting feedback on the show, (they say) “Here, let’s help you get this venue,” and”Who would you like to invite?”

Joe Kye is a Portland-based musician and storyteller who discharges worlds of emotion with his lush string loops and eclectic style. Born in Korea and raised in the United States, Joe shares his multifaceted identity with humor and vulnerability. Kye has performed for Carnegie Hall’s Migrations festival, recorded a TedX Talk, and been featured on PRI’s The World.

Risk/Reward curates and presents two regional artists with Portland-premiere shows 7:30pm on Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th, 202

Reed College’s Greenwood Theater off the West Parking Lot on SE 28th, between Woodstock and Steel. For more info and tickets visit: www.risk-reward.org. Arts Access – $10, Regular Price – $25, Patron – $50.

Free tickets for Reed students.
$5 Arts Access also available.
No one turned away for financial reasons.


Risk/Reward has become a place to encounter artists before their work settles; an entry point into what’s next in performance. We are dedicated to the presentation of contemporary performance, with a focus on new and developing work. The organization provides artists with technical, administrative, and marketing support while introducing audiences to emerging and experimental voices.

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