Photo: facebook.com/quadronmusic
In our „Artist Feature“ series we regularly introduce well-known stars, underground big shots and newcomers. Each issue contains 15 questions, some of which are always the same, and some of which are individual.
Coco Maja Hastrup Karshoj and Robin Hannibal are the Danish electronic soul duo, Quadron. After their well-received self-titled album in 2009, the duo returned with a Michael Jackson-inspired LP called Avalanche this summer. The Denmark natives recently featured on Tyler, The Creator’s Wolf album. They also worked together with outstanding rap artists from the likes of Chip Tha Ripper and Kendrick Lamar.
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In out Artist Feature Interview, Coco talks about about her youth in Copenhagen (Denmark), working with Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator and Chip Tha Ripper, having a party at Prince’s house in LA and of course the Quadron album Avalanche. Read on below.
Where do you like to go to eat when in LA? Do you have a special place?
There is a place very close to where I live called Pho which is a Vietnamese. They just have a few dishes, but they are all really good quality. I like it there a lot.
And what’s your favourite dish?
I like a well done summer roll from an original Vietnamese kitchen. It’s one of my favourite things.
Which book did you read last?
I’m still working on it, „The Infinitive Plan“ by Isabel Allende. My mum gave it to me five years ago and now I’m finally getting into it. (laughs)
Where have you been and what did you do on last New Year’s Eve?
I had my first New Year’s Eve in LA and some of my friends rented the house formerly owned by Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra – it’s very interestingly decorated! It’s like a museum in there. We had a big party with a lot of Danes and set of some illegal fireworks and it felt really classy.
At the moment, which songs are coming through your headphones on the way through town?
My boyfriend just made me a playlist and there is a song by Joni Mitchell called „Help Me“ that I have on repeat.
You were born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. How was it growing up there?
Denmark is an amazing place to grow up as a kid, it’s very safe. The system works in Denmark, all schools and Kindergartens are free. No one in Denmark is really struggling economically as far as I know. So I think it’s a very nice place to grow up, the city is nice and small so yeah it’s great.
You moved to LA after Plug Research invited you to release your debut album on their label. How is life on the West coast? How has your life changed since you came to the US?
My life on the West Coast and in the US is very relaxed and chilled even though my career is getting busier and busier. In LA the weather is so nice and the distances are so big that it feels like my new home and I feel like I get time to breathe when I’m there. But that said it’s also the centre of the music business now so it’s very interesting to socialise with the music scene out there which is like major artists – it’s very fun and entertaining!
Your new album Avalanche was released recently and on the album we find a Michael Jackson themed song entitled „Neverland“ can you tell us a bit about it?
„Neverland“ is about a big fan of Michael Jackson and we thought it would be interesting to write a song from that perspective. We’ve been fans for so many years and it’s interesting that some people spend their whole lives imitating a famous person so we thought it would be a fun story to tell in a song.
You made appearances on some hip hop tracks such as Tyler The Creator’s „Treehome95“ and Chip Tha Ripper’s „Me Too“. There is also a feature by Kendrick Lamar on your new album. Please tell us – how did these collaborations came about?
I think a lot of hip hop artists and rappers are really into soul music so I think these guys heard our first album and really liked what we did. It’s also amazing that the social networks make it easy to reach out to each other, so Tyler The Creator, Chip Tha Ripper and Kendrick reached out because they liked what we did and then we started connecting a little bit, then we started to collaborate and it was very fun.
How was it working with them, can you share us an anecdote?
It’s a lot of fun to work with hip hop artists because I’ve never seen someone with that level of expression. When we play our music for rappers, they feel it in a way I don’t even think I feel my own music, at least that what it looks like. I think the most fun part about working with Tyler and Kendrick is that they both seemed eager to know how to sing.
At least with Kendrick we had a little recording of him singling, which I thought was amazingly cute, I think he could be a great singer. It’s always fun to work with rap artists because it’s so different from what I do and my voice, and I’m intrigued by their artistry.
In an interview with Fact Mag I read that you met Prince’s DJ one night, who invited you to a party at Prince’s house. What happened that night?
Well I danced my ass off and at one point I think Prince was watching me – I feel like I have some great 90’s moves – so I was using my best dance moves on repeat. Prince was running around playing every instrument and drinking fruit punch – it was a very cool experience.
You’ve played shows all across the globe in France, the Netherlands, the US and of course Denmark just to name a few. Can you share us an anecdote about your time live on stage?
Well I think every show is very different and I still get very excited and surprised and a little bit touched when I see people in a country or city that I’ve never been to and they know the lyrics to my songs and they can really feel what I’ve felt or maybe a little of how I feel when I record the songs.
So I think that music is so amazing because it travels without any boundaries. I think I’m fortunate to be able to travel with music; it’s a great way to travel.
Five minutes before the show starts…
I pretend I’m finishing off my make up so I can get a little minute on my own.
An audio drama about my life should be narrated by …
Oprah Winfrey. I think she first of all has an amazing voice and some people know her a little bit and I think she’d be awesome…or my Grandmother, she’s a writer and she has an amazing speaking voice
Photo: facebook.com/quadronmusic
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