LOLA COCA’S SOUND IS THE PERFECT BLEND OF PLAYFUL LYRICS AND SMOOTH VOCALS THAT PORTRAYS REAL-LIFE MOMENTS IN A RAW AND HONEST VIBE. ON THE 14TH DECEMBER SHE WILL BE HOSTING ‘THE CHOPS’ IN OUR NEW CONCEPT SPACE ‘NOT JUST ANOTHER STORE’. IT WILL BE AN INSPIRING EVENING OF SPEECH, SONG AND POETRY.
AHEAD OF HER EVENT WE CHATTED TO LONDON BASED ARTIST LOLA COCA ON THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO HER AND WHICH OF HER SONGS WAS A WEIGHT OFF HER SHOULDERS.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? AND HOW DID THAT INFLUENCE YOU?
I grew up in a small seaside town called Southsea. There was a huge skateboarding community, along with a huge ska punk scene in my formative years. Somehow the blend of the hip hop I was hearing from America and the SKA influence from the midlands and London has always stuck with me. Also I think it just allowed me to be a chill frequency human being on occasion and not 24/7 hustle kind of person. I’d say I’m a 20/6 kind of hustler! Hahah you’ve also got to have time to take it all in, and live in the moment!
WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE LIVED?
I do love where I live now. BUT I did love staying in echo park with some people that would turn out to be some of my most inspiring and closest.
DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN 3 WORDS
Probably Future Nostalgia
WHICH ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU THE MOST & WHY?
The ones that can live in their truths no matter how confronting.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU AND YOUR WRITING? DO YOU WRITE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES?
I always write from personal experiences, and even a degree away – for example, ‘Birds In The City’ is about one of my best friends relationships.
FAVOURITE SONG YOU’VE EVER WRITTEN AND WHY?
Maybe ‘Bad Girlfriend’. It just felt like a weight off my shoulders to be like “Fuck it, I’m not perfect and I don’t care to be anymore.”
Definitely daily themes. It’s Halloween everyday.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OR LOOK FROM THE SHOOT?
I really enjoyed the pinstripe longness with my Moroccan slippers.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN LONDON?
I think we take for granted how ahead we are. We are a melting pot of some of the most forward thinkers and creatives.
LOOKING AT YOUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS IT’S EASY TO SEE YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES – WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHY?
I mean there’s a few: white people policing other white people about their racism. Male nurturance. Females transcending the puella aeternus/amored amazon state of mind (I meaaaaan ladies you AIN’T READY). To name a few.
HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS TO USE YOU VOICE AND THE PLATFORM YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPACT? SHOULD MORE PEOPLE DO IT?
I think do it if you’ve reaaaaallllllly done the homework on the thing you wanna talk about. I think it’s more important for artists though to create the music that mirrors the feelings of the times.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN THE INDUSTRY?
The free food at parties.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Oooooo getting paid per stream in real time and I believe it’s on the way!
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SOCIETY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Let’s try a matriarchy for a hot thousand years and see how that goes.
LEAVE US WITH SOME ADVICE, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNT ALONG THE WAY?
AND WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’D LOVE OTHER PEOPLE TO LEARN?
Forgive yourself
Photography: Tom O’Neill @tomoneillphoto
Hair & Makeup: Sian Sutherland @siansutherland_makeup
Instagram: @lolacoca
Twitter: @lolacoca
Youtube: Lola Coca
