Electo Starlet Mina Koko Talks to Live-in Music

This article is about Under the Stairs @ 333 SHOREDITCH in London (UK), Fri 19 Jun

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mina Koko * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

‘Buzzy bumpy thumpy tablong heavy beats, growling chug along basslines with pretty vocals and starlight synths'

Ahead of her Under the Stairs debut Mina talks to Live-in Music about her music, her influences, dancing in Serbia, the Reactable and eating Macdonalds on the tube..

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Q. Firstly thanks for the interview.

A.. My pleasure!

Q. So the Ffaction guys have asked you to come and perform as part of there room at Under the Stairs this month. What can we expect from the show?

A.. It will be a short but sweet sample of what I’ve been working on this year.
I’ll be playing 4 upbeat electronic tracks that I have produced recently and performing the vocals live. I think Under the Stairs will have the perfect vibe for this, so you can expect lots of bouncing around, laughing and general sillyness.

Q. Your music is a strange blend of heavily electronic and some lovely soft, acoustic noises. It make me think you probably have some quite diverse influences. Who do you turn your ear to for musical inspiration.

A. I’ve got some big musical influences that have an effect on my tracks in different ways. My latest influences include Lykke Li for her amazing voice, Bjork for her eccentricity, Royksopp for the wonderful melodies and beats and The Chemical Brothers for their banging tunes!
I also love Kate Bush for her performances and genius songwriting! I’ve got quite a soft vocal and I find that the heavy bass lines and 80’s synths compliment that.

Q. How did you get into writing music and has your creative process changed much since the very beginning.

A. I’ve been writing songs since an early age – starting out on the piano and moving on to writing songs on the acoustic guitar. A lot of my tracks started out as piano melodies and I then adapt these in production software and beef them up to ass-kicking level!

Q. You have some really emotive tracks up on your myspace. Do your lyrics have an autobiographical nature to them, or do you just pull ideas and motif’s out of your imagination?

A. Each of my songs has been written on experiencing something significant. Even if this happens just a thought rather than an event. For example, ‘Little World’ was written when I was in a philosophical stage of my life and I was thinking about things a lot, whereas ‘Picnic’ is quite light – hearted and about a bloke who I used to have Macdonalds on the tube with!

Q. Its notoriously hard to write fluid lyrics but its something you seam to do quite effortlessly. Do you have a particular method for drawing them up and do you maybe have a few words of advise for anyone looking to follow in your footsteps.

A. I’d say that it’s important to find words that fit a rhythm, which help carry a song and that also have meaning to you. Even if it is about something funny.

Q. Lately we’ve seen a move away from singer songwriters just sat at piano’s as artists with electronic elements to there music take an active role in playing the electronic parts live as opposed to relying on backing tracks and sequencers. For example we’ve seen Little Boots playing Yamahas fantastic Tenori-On on stage. Is this something you are looking to bring into your live performance and do you have a kit list ready and waiting.

A. I do still love the original raw piano sound that I started out with, and of course I’d love to do some acoustic shows, but it’s such a great feeling to stick some fat drums and bass behind them the tracks you’ve just come up with on the piano. I admire Little Boots for finding a signature instrument, similarly with Bjork and the Reactable or Dan Black.
I’d love to perform like that – it’s just a case of finding an new instrument! I’d be quite happy with some good old fashioned vinyl though and singing over the top!

Q. Now I hear you party as hard as you work and are never one to miss out on a good dance. Where do you like to go out in London to throw some shapes

A. Where did you hear that?? Haha. Weekends are my release when I’m not working during the week and if I’m not playing, I tend to hang out around the East End, or my favourite place to go out at the minute, Brixton, great vibe! I really like indie-electro and house music when I’m cutting it up on the dancefloor!

Q. Festival season is around the corner, are you signed up for any festivals this year? Do you prefer dancing in a field all weekend to going out in our sunny capital.

A. I’ve had to whittle down my festivalling this year because I’m working on new stuff as I'm planning an EP, but I am heading to Exit Festival in Serbia in July, which is going to be quite raucous and very, very hot! I’m really excited about it. Of course I enjoy rolling about in a field in the sunshine but you can’t beat summer in London and the warm nights strolling from club to club!

Thanks very much Mina, its been a real pleasure, we look forward to hearing you in the Ffaction parlour at UTS on the 19th.

Live-in