COCO ROBERT: PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC

October 16, 2017

5:21 pm

Choker / Danielle Guizio Jacket / MSBHV Pant / MSBHV Shoes / Christian Louboutin

Coco Robert is the type of influencer who sounds good and looks good doing it. The young spin doctor has already traveled the world twice over, amassing a steady fan base and a armful of heavy hitting celeb friends. Her nickname, “hottest DJ at Fashion Week,” isn’t something she just happened upon.
With the world as her musical oyster, and her talent securing gigs like Electric Daisy, Governor’s Ball, MTV VMA’s party and a set during Post Malone’s tour, Coco is not stopping the music anytime soon. We get a chance to hang with NY’s latest musical muse on how she kept the party going on and off stage.
When did you start DJing – and what or who were your early passions and influences?
As a freshman at NYU, I became intrigued by music as a make or break factor of a good party. I began DJing because I wanted to be that determining factor.

What are currently your main challenges as a DJ?

Lately, I have been taking time off from DJing to develop my skills in producing original music. It is a major shift in experience to go from feeding off of a live crowd’s energy to relying purely on instinct and inspiration in the intimate confines of a recording studio. On the flip side, from having played live so much, I do have the advantage of having developed an awareness of the key elements of songs that retain momentum for years on end, which types of choruses clubgoers want to chant, and generally how people and music interact to make a scene happen.

How important is building a real relationship with the music you’re playing for your own approach?

With the current landscape in music, I generally have to accept that there are many tracks that crowds will identify with for a few months, but that then lose relevancy in my library. Then there are certain producers and artists who encapsulate what I consider “my sound.” When it comes to them, I make a point to be the first to play their new releases and maintain their presence in my sets. So, there’s a continuum, one that includes some music that’s just passing through, which I play because it’s part of the scene of the moment, and music that I am really feeling, the music that is closer to the core of my sound.

What is it that you love about the scene?

I have never been able to stay in one place for long, so it is very fitting for me to be involved in an industry that is constantly evolving. There are always new artists on the horizon, and new trends to experiment with.

What single night has been the most memorable for you?

This month, I really enjoyed my friend Francesco Ragazzi’s three-night party during Milan Fashion Week for his line, Palm Angels. Different people jumped on for unplanned DJ sets; there was a lot of spontaneity and a carefree energy in the room. We danced until the early morning and sacrificed being awake in the daylight.

What advice would you give to aspiring DJs?

I would encourage aspiring DJs, and artists in general, to cultivate whatever it is that makes them stand out. Everyone has a sound, or something that he or she gets in a unique way. I say take whatever that is for you and run with it.

On another note, success tends to be about communicating and relating. So whatever you do, developing your ability to do those things is probably going to be key.

What’s next? Where are you headed, where’s the scene going?

The use of international elements is only going to increase – expect lots of Spanish influences, future dancehall, afrobeats. Despacito and Mi Gente were just the tip of the iceberg.

In general, elements of the music business have become conservative, and formulaic in a way. So, I think we can expect to see some of the established music industry play it safe by continuing to support music and genres that are already proven and not necessarily deep or original. The next big thing, meanwhile, will likely come from a combination of corporate players who are open to adapting to the new digital landscape and independent artists who operate outside the box and leverage the internet and other avenues to self market and make new things happen.

As for me, I’ll keep looking to play the music that makes the party.