Q&A: Unveiling the Quirky Charms of Coco Elise with "Child"
MEET COCO ELISE - the enchanting duo hailing from Western Australia, blending the essence of jazzy alt-pop and city-pop into a mesmerizing concoction of sound. Comprised of Josh Ellis and Isaiah Quintana, this bedroom pop project is making waves with their infectious melodies and chaotic stage antics. As their homemade recordings evolve into polished live performances, Coco Elise captivates audiences with their eclectic synthesisers, incessant rhythms, and unapologetically entertaining stage presence.
With their latest single, "Child," Coco Elise invites listeners on a journey through nostalgia and introspection. Delving into themes of growing up and longing for simpler times, the song captures the essence of youthful innocence with its off-kilter vibe and introspective lyrics. Collaborating with Ullah on the track's mesmerizing verse, Coco Elise explores the complexities of adulthood while paying homage to the carefree spirit of childhood.
As Coco Elise continues to rise in the Australian music scene, their unique blend of genres and energetic live shows are garnering attention both locally and internationally. From sold-out performances at iconic venues to features in renowned publications like Rolling Stone Australia and Vice Australia, Coco Elise is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. With intentions to explore new musical territories and embrace their visual creativity, Coco Elise is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of music.
LUNA: "Child" has a captivating, off-kilter vibe. What inspired the song's sound and lyrical direction? Did collaborating with Ullah influence the final product?
COCO ELISE: The song's really just about growing up and wishing life was as easy as being a kid. We we're all children once, so that provided some suitable reference for the lyrics.
Collaborating with Ullah was rough. She came over to lay down her masterpiece of a verse- it was so perfect it sent us into a two week frenzy of re-writing Josh's verse to try and match how good it was. She's a crazy good songwriter.
LUNA: Can you share a story from the making of this one?
COCO ELISE: So I (Josh) nvited Ullah over for our first collaborative session, we hadn't actually hung out 1 on 1 before, so I was freaking out. On top of this, I also had two coffees, I can't handle caffeine which wasn't a very good decision looking back. I was so nervous so I offered her a coffee and made myself another. We then just talked at each other for two hours and didn't write anything. It was really nice though and set the tone for when we actually did write together the next session.
LUNA: Your music combines jazzy alt-pop and city-pop with a live show that's energetic and chaotic. How does "Child" fit into this evolution?
COCO ELISE: We weren't really thinking too hard about how this song would fit in with the rest- we just knew we liked the song from the first demo and ran with it. We've been loving some Kate Bollinger and Alice Phoebe Lou so I'm sure listening to them heaps has influenced the song somehow.
LUNA: You're known for your homemade recordings that transform into powerful live shows. How did the recording process for "Child" differ from your usual methods?
COCO ELISE: To be honest, the only thing that was different was collaborating with someone other than ourselves- which was a really great experience. Josh drank too much coffee on the morning of the first demo which he again regretted, but sometimes you just have to trust the process.
LUNA: You've mentioned jazzy alt-pop and city-pop influences. Are there any artists or genres outside those categories that inspire your music?
COCO ELISE: Yes... our musical idol is Stifler from American Pie. He mixes glam rock with synthy new wave Indie. We really recommend looking into their discography.
LUNA: What are your musical goals as you continue to rise in the Australian music scene?
COCO ELISE: Josh needs to stop drinking coffee every time he writes music. It gives him the worst anxiety. We'd also really appreciate it if Seann William Scott comes to a gig. We do like playing live, we're keen to do more of that in different places. We love Perth, but our Perth Tour can only go for so long.
LUNA: What role does the visual side of things play into your music?
COCO ELISE: The visual side of things is super important to us. We would be in shambles without our dear friends Janna Saige, Joe Quinlivan (OldLoveLitter), Cole Currie and Mina Delplanque who do everything for us. We are really bad at art. See cover of 'Animate' and 'Mushroom Cassette' for reference.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the coming months?
COCO ELISE: Intentions are to go to the sauna at least once a week, eat vegetarian two days a week, and stop drinking coffee. Get on my level, I'm not there.
