Montreal’s JoJo Worthington Unearths a Mother’s Love on Haunting Alt-Folk Track “Dig A Bone,” New EP ‘BAPTIZED II’ Out Now

Montreal-based producer, songwriter and composer JoJo Worthington unveils BAPTIZED II, an ethereal alt-folk EP exploring identity, childhood memories and love. Blending intimate songwriting with experimental electronics and cinematic art-rock textures, the release marks the second installment of the trilogy, six years in the making. Following 2022’s BAPTIZED I, the new EP turns an outward search for the divine into a deep examination of inherited beliefs.

In BAPTIZED II, JoJo Worthington continues her exploration of identity and human connection, finding that the search for something greater will often lead us back to the people who have loved us all along.

Leading the release is “Dig A Bone,” a dark, dreamy reflection on childhood and maternal love. Featuring a harp performance from her own mother, Carolyn Ibele, the track revisits a teenage memory through the lens of adulthood.

“For a long time, I felt like I was in constant conflict with my beliefs and my heart,” JoJo explains. “It wasn’t easy to unlearn. It has taken a long time to understand what that conflict was trying to tell me. BAPTIZED II has become a narrated spiritual journey, toward inner peace but furthermore, toward love.”

Raised by a single mom in an Evangelical Christian home, “Dig A Bone” draws from a childhood incident of sneaking out on a school night. The shame and anger of being caught, and a mother’s instinct to protect her daughter.

“My mom has always been a reflection of God’s character,” Worthington says. “It’s about seeing all the good in her and wrestling with my own spiritual beliefs and working through these childhood events as an adult in romantic relationships.”

That connection extends into the recording itself. Worthington wrote a harp arrangement specifically for her mother to play, with whom she had taken lessons with as a child, creating a meaningful full-circle collaboration. “It was a huge honour to feature her on this song,” Worthington shares. “We have always been very close and I love her deeply. She’s always been my number one supporter.”

Recorded primarily at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario, BAPTIZED II was co-produced by JoJo Worthington and longtime collaborator William Crann. “Tent Revival” was co-written and co-produced with Olea Wisteria, who also contributed additional production on the record, while “Mosaic Hymn” emerged from a remote collaboration with Jon Brown and Ben Sloan during the pandemic.

Together, these songs expand Worthington’s sonic world while deepening the spiritual narrative introduced on BAPTIZED I. Where the first EP began a quest toward the divine, BAPTIZED II finds meaning in the relationships and experiences that have shaped her understanding of love. Through “Dig A Bone,” that journey becomes especially personal, transforming a childhood memory into an expression of gratitude and connection.