Aho Ssan

Aho Ssan is the artist name of Paris-based Niamké Désiré. After studying graphic design and cinema, he began composing electronic music and creating his own digital instruments. Shortly thereafter, he won the Fondation de France television prize for his soundtrack to Ingha Mago’s film in 2015, and has since worked on several projects with IRCAM and GRM in France.

His debut LP, Simulacrum, was released on February 7, 2020 via Subtext Recordings. Drawing on Jean Baudrillard’s concept, the album explores society’s presentation of inclusivity and equality against his own experience of growing up Black in France. Aho Ssan debuted Simulacrum at Berlin Atonal in 2019.

Since then, his work has been presented at major institutions across Europe and the United States, ncluding Lincoln Center (New York), Maison de la Radio (Paris), CTM Festival (Berlin), MACBA (Barcelona), Muziekgebouw (Amsterdam), and Krakow Philharmonic (Krakow).

In 2022, he released the collaborative album Limen with KMRU, and was also part of the SHAPE+ platform, organized each year by a union of 16 festivals and arts centres, including CTM Festival in Berlin and Unsound Festival in Krakow. His music has been acclaimed by media outlets such as NPR, Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, Libération, The Wire, and The Quietus. He also released his solo album Rhizomes on Nicolas Jaar’s Other People label.

In July last year, he also released Ego Death, a collaborative album with Resina, performed at major festivals and institutions such as Berlin Atonal, Rewire, Lunchmeat, Unsound, and Lincoln Center in New York.

At Norbergfestival, Aho Ssan will present a live set based on his latest album “The Sun Turned Black” - transmitting visceral emotions and breathing chaos into Mimerlaven’s walls. Expect a magnificent organization of noise.