There's a new girl in town and by the sounds of her new album, The Black & White, Cocoa Sarai won't be forgotten anytime soon. Miss Cocoa has a Bed Stuy attitude and the beauty of a goddess. Check out our exclusive interview with the pop diva, Cocoa Sarai.
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Show Presents Cocoa Sarai
Your name Cocoa Sarai is so unique. Where did it come from?
Well my mom called me Chocolate all my life because of my skin; in my old neighborhood
in Bed Stuy my friends still call me that. My middle name is Sarai we just put
it together and you have Cocoa Sarai.
Is Brooklyn really it’s own country?
Of course, Brooklyn in its self is a very diverse and special place. It has an atmosphere. A heart beat. It's home! I definitely acquired the edginess in my music and personality from being raised in this country of Brooklyn lol...
Of course, Brooklyn in its self is a very diverse and special place. It has an atmosphere. A heart beat. It's home! I definitely acquired the edginess in my music and personality from being raised in this country of Brooklyn lol...
You just released your new project, The Black & White on Catapult Records.
What inspired this album?
But the album is available on iTunes. This album was definitely
inspired by life, transitions, self-realizations and colors. Almost everything
can be interpreted that way. My mother passed away in November from lung
cancer. Ironically my single "Raining In My Room” dropped the same week. I
recorded most of the album in 3 months. When I did my first album Half Past
Seven I was definitely a girl still figuring out exactly what kind of person I
was going to be, after your mother passes you put a lot of things onto
perspective. You figure out what's most important when you’re watching someone
deteriorate and you can't do anything about it. The term "The Black &
White" took on a new meaning by the time the album was released. This is
whom I am, vulnerable, loving, hurting, and laughing strong. The music adds
color to this Black and White picture... There are stories on there that
everybody can relate to...
What producers did you work with?
Well * Rick Hertz * who is my partner mixed and mastered the project, he
executive produced this album and my last album along with myself. He also
produced 3 songs on it "The Intro, Delete You & Anything ft. Fred Da
Godson” Then there was * Jordan Ware * who is a master violinist and amazing
producer. He produced 3 songs as well "Criminal, Colours (interlude) and
Memories 4 Suckers”. Singer/Rapper/Songwriter/Producer *Rich Lowe* produced 3
songs as well "Love Feels Like, Black & Blue, 1 Second 2 Love"
which he sang on and took part in writing. Last but not least * Jayd * who
produced "Raining In My Room" and *Ant B.808 * who produced "LIVE”
I wrote every song by myself except two that Rich Lowe and I wrote together.
I'm blessed and honored to have worked with such amazingly talented people.
They were all just as invested as I am in this project and the coolest set of
people ever.
All of the tracks on the albums fit perfect together. At the moment I am playing Delete You on repeat. I can’t help but to get my groove on. Can you talk about the evolution of the song?
Well I came up with the idea for it 2 years ago, I was fresh out
of a relationship but we were still fooling around. The guy started to post
pictures of him and other women as his profile pic on Facebook. Now I assure
you I am far from a stalker but anything he did would pop up on my news feed.
My mom saw it one day and asked me "Who this chick?" Then I told her
him and I had broken up which meant nothing to her because he was still coming
by the house...lol. I wanted to delete him but my pride wouldn't let me and
apart of me wanted to know what he was doing.... That’s where the title came
from. Fast forward to a year and a half later, Rick Hertz reminds me of the
record, he played the beat and I finished the song... I know that people relate
to that one.... Uggghhh it was definitely coming from an honest place.
For your next project, if you could have one only one feature, who would it be and why?
It would be Kanye West, he's extremely creative and I believe we would make
amazing music.... Yup that's who it would be. There are more but you said name
one :-(
What music are you currently playing in heavy rotation?
Frank Ocean
Jhene Aiko
Queen
Rockie Evans
Stevie Wonder
How did it feel to be featured in the New York Times?
It was awesome, gaining any type of notoriety in your hometown solidifies that
I'm reaching people. I want to reach the world but having my city means that
I'm off to a good start. I would love to jump into the music scene in LA and
work with some of the artist there. :- )
You recently performed at the Mama Im’a Make It Showcase. How was it?
It was cool; the power of people is awesome. I was set to go
last and the club had another party coming in after the show. So because the
show ran over by the time I was scheduled to perform, the soundman cut my Mic.
The crowd got upset and I started to sing "Raining In My Room" which
is a crowd favorite, my beat boxer and drummer came in and the audience swayed,
snapped and sang along. That moment of togetherness where angry faces turned
into smiles was amazing....
What is coming up next for you?
The Black & White is officially out now!!! And BET Music
Matters on March 13th, which I'm extremely excited about. I have a 6-piece band
so this is going to be epic :-) A few music videos; the visuals from this
project have to be mind blowing. Traveling the world and performing
Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
Yes, whole-heartedly...good and bad
What is the most important lesson you have learned, since involved in the music industry?
That this is most definitely a business before anything else, that creativity
does not come from us, it flows through us and that the moment I was
comfortable being myself, everyone else loved me....
Thanks for your time Cocoa. Your #nextinshow
Thank you so much for having me and finding me interesting
enough to consider interviewing. I enjoyed answering the questions :-)
PS. please excuse any typos as I answering from my cell phone...
Cocoa
PS. please excuse any typos as I answering from my cell phone...
Cocoa
#swag #spellcheck’d
