“File under heavenly voices,” says Albert Garzon, former producer for 10,000 Maniacs. Joanne Juskus is an accomplished pianist, vocalist and songwriter who hails from New York, but who now calls the Baltimore area home. Named one of 5 "Best Local Female Musicians" by CBS-TV and chosen as one of six “Best Unsigned Bands” by Arrive Magazine, Joanne has been a staple of the Baltimore music scene since her debut album, Joanne Juskus, was released to critical acclaim in 2001. Named a “Top 10 Favorite” by washingtonpost.com, Joanne has appeared at notable venues, such as Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Birchmere, NYC’s Knitting Factor, Living Room and Bitter End, the Bethlehem Musikfest and Columbia Festival of the Arts. The album can be purchased digitally from iTunes here. Sample tracks below.

In 2004, Joanne became the lead singer of the psychedelic tribal rock band, TELESMA. Now in its 12th year, TELESMA has traveled the US performing its exciting stage show. With band mates Ian Hesford, Bryan Jones, Jason Sage, Chris Mandra and Mike Kirby, the band has produced several VISIONARY GATHERINGS, including shows with visionary artists Alex Grey and Adam Scott Miller, the Indra Lazul Bellydancers, Suntiger Visuals, VJ Hylantown and performing artists of various kinds. TELESMA’s shows are more than just musical performances. They are art and music experiences where the lines between performer and audience is blurred, and everyone leaves feeling transformed. TELESMA has shared the stage with Shpongle, Beats Antique, EOTO, Tipper, Archedream for Humankind, SEE-I, Bernie Worrell, Delhi2Dublin and many more. The band has performed at festivals such as Camp Bisco, Starwood, Rootwire, Musikfest, Faerieworlds, Alex Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Sowebo Festival, Nelson Ledge Quarry Park, Karmafest, Culturefest, 98 Rock’s Summer Concert Series, PEX and at venues such as Ram’s Head Live, the 8×10 Club, Gypsy Sally’s, Rock & Roll Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe, Center Stage, Quixotes True Blue and many more.

With the 2006 release of her second album, See Your Face, Joanne explored new musical horizons with spiritual and experimental leanings evident and can be purchased digitally from iTunes here. Her collaboration with accomplished guitarist, composer and electronic musician, Adrian Bond, starting in 2006, gave a brand new direction to Joanne’s music. Combining Joanne’s ethereal vocals, chanting and improvisation with Bond’s captivating electronic and guitar compositions, the pair perform as pillowbook at 49 West Coffeehouse, Wine Bar and Gallery every last Sunday of the month, often inviting musical guests. The pair have begun a voyage to discover the world of acoustic folk, covering material as diverse as 200 year old English, Scottish and Irish ballads to interesting and quirky contemporary songs.

Juskus’s voice radiates with the purity of Annie Haslam (Renaissance), the innocence of early Joni Mitchell, the tonalities of Kate Bush and the Celtic nuance of Sandy Denny. Her songs are haunting, full of mystery and meaning — songs with brilliant melancholic melodies — songs that demand repeat listens. A favorite of Internet listeners, songs from Juskus’ debut CD quickly climbed the charts of MP3.com. Her song “Never Be the Same” was a finalist in Women of MP3.com’s “Song of the Year” contest and was chosen by A&E television’s “Random 1″ series as a soundtrack.

Her haunting ballad, “Birthday” won the Silver Prize in Adult Contemporary Music in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. Joanne has been nominated for 10 Wammie Awards from the Washington Area Music Association, including “Best World Music Vocalist”, “Best Contemporary Folk Vocalist”, “Best Contemporary Folk Duo/Group”, “Best World Music Group” and “Best Debut Album”. Joanne has appeared on Maryland Public Television, WJZ television in Baltimore and a number of public, commercial and Internet radio stations, hosted and produced the Bottom Floor Concert series for several years before moving the series to the Creative Alliance at the Patterson in Baltimore.

Songs from both of Juskus’s solo albums, as well as unreleased material, can be heard on Joanne’s Soundcloud page here. To hear songs from TELESMA’s Soundcloud page, click here.

In 2001, Joanne began producing and hosting the monthly benefit concert series, The Bottom Floor, in Baltimore. It ran for several years until moving to the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, a premiere listening room in Baltimore, where it ran as the Sound Foundation for a number of years. In 2013, Joanne produced the wildly successful, sold-out  tribute to Joni Mitchell, "Baltimore Loves Joni" to celebrate Joni Mitchell's 70th birthday. 

ALBUMS  |  Joanne has officially released six albums – two of her original contemporary folk music and four as lead singer of TELESMA.