Music news, reviews and interviews

Brazil November 6, 2020

In Conversation with: KT Tunstall

House of Coco’s Music Editor Emma Harrison spoke to musician and songwriter KT Tunstall about her new single, her involvement with the initiative ‘Good Night Songs for Rebel Girls‘ and why it’s so important to know your self-worth.

House of Coco

You are involved with an amazing new initiative called Good Night Songs for Rebel Girls, which is based on the book series. I love the ethos behind the programme which is so inspiring. It is about educating and instilling confidence in young women. How did you get to be involved with this project and why is it so important to you?

KT Tunstall

Well, they reached out to me to ask if I would like to be part of it. And it was an absolute no brainer.

I think that when we’re talking about the elevation of girls in society and women in society, at the root of all of it is confidence.

It’s about giving young women and girls the confidence to really follow their dreams, be what they want to be, feel like they’ve got opportunity to do whatever they want.

And I mean, in my lifetime, I’ve just seen that impact me and others where you know, for example, I was getting into doing film composition, at one point and I remember a really prevalent female composer telling me if a composer gets booted off a film (which
is not that uncommon), they’ll often change the music and the male composer will go ‘They are idiots. They don’t know what they’re missing’. And the female composer will go, ‘what did I do wrong? Did they not like what I did?’

That resonated with me so much. And that is just about personal mindset and confidence in your own work and your own worth.

House of Coco

Exactly. I think it’s about knowing your worth, and being confident about talking about that. I wish something like this programme was around when I was younger, to have it, would have been amazing.

KT Tunstall

Me too. I was a pretty confident kid. And, but at the same time, I would say that I was also a tomboy. I had brothers, most of my friends growing up were dudes. And so, I had that kind of masculine energy around me. And I think what we really want to build is a world where you don’t need to have a masculine energy to feel confidence.

House of Coco

I completely agree. Our audience is predominantly young women, confidence can be an issue for them. What kind of tips would you give to these young women to be more confident and to have more faith in themselves?

KT Tunstall

I think particularly with the advent of social media and the environment that young women and young girls have to grow up in now. The advent of social media has really put a lot of pressure on this subject as well. I think that a very, very important thing to learn at a young age is to not be concerned about what other people think of you.

That people pleasing, and that will to conform is really only going to take away from your power. So if you want to be an artist, for example, the thing that makes you different from everyone else is actually probably the thing that’s going to bring you success, because there’s no point in being the same as everybody else. Because it’s already been done.

There is no point in copying your favourite artists because they have already done it better than you’ll ever do. So, it is about learning how to do ‘you’ and celebrating that and being confident and having faith that the things that make you who you are, are incredibly special.

There’s no one like you in the universe, you’re a one off. So, don’t let other people tell you that they don’t like what that is and change you. Just walk away from those people. They’re not worth it. All they’re gonna do is make you smaller. And I think that making sure as a young person, you are able to walk away from the people who make you feel bad, and walk towards the people who want to see you do well. That’s incredibly important.

House of Coco

I absolutely love that. That’s the perfect answer and that is my mindset completely. You have to celebrate those little differences that make you so unique. And you’re right, that’s what makes you stand out, which is awesome.

KT Tunstall

You know, I think one thing I wish I’d heard when I was little, was it doesn’t matter if everyone does doesn’t like you. You don’t have to have everyone like you. You don’t have to be liked by everyone. It’s unrealistic, and it’s not going to happen. You’re not gonna vibe with every single other human being you meet. So, don’t waste energy on that! It’s a waste of time, you’ll just end up unhappy, but just gravitate towards the people who make you feel really good.

House of Coco

You sang an incredibly beautiful version of ‘Hymn to Her’, which was originally released by The Pretenders, it was written by Chrissie Hynde’s best friend. It was about her relationship with her mother and it’s a really beautiful song. Maybe a little bit underrated in my opinion?

KT Tunstall

Yeah, I think if you look at Chrissie Hynde in the same way as you look at Bob Dylan, there’s these absolutely endless list of bangers that you just you know, word for word and that are just so up tempo and kind of, you know, life affirming.

But every now and then, they will sing songs where they really show their deep vulnerability.

For Bob Dylan it would be ‘Blood on the Tracks’ – ‘Tangled Up in Blue’.

I think with this song, it was really me paying homage to the way that Chrissie sang it on the tour that I was on with her. I would watch her every night and she just sang it completely stripped back with an organ and all the hardness, all the rock’n’roll edge kind of falls away.

And it’s just a very, very vulnerable, very beautiful, soulful song where you are completely let into her vulnerability.

I think that it is really amazing that she is able to do that for a start. Her voice is just extraordinary. And it just transports you listening to it. I really wanted to just celebrate that version that she sang on to the tour.

House of Coco

It’s such a wonderful track, and I listened to the track earlier this afternoon. I absolutely loved what you did with it – it’s such a beautiful version of it. The interpretation and the phrasing were just really special.

Was that the only song you had in your mind that you wanted to do or were there other options?

KT Tunstall

Thank you! Well, I knew I wanted to do a Pretenders track and because of the nature of the record being ‘Good Night Songs for Rebel Girls’, I also wanted to provide something really soothing. I think that it can be quite exhausting being a girl and it can be quite exhausting being a rebel. It’s something that’s worth getting exhausted over. But at the end of the day, you need a hug, you need support, you need love so I just I wanted to record something really tender.

House of Coco

Do you have plans to do any more recording for the initiative? I know you are a big advocate of the programme.

KT Tunstall

I feel I’m part of the movement. I’d love to think that there’s more to come in the future. For the meantime, I’m just delighted to be part of this incredible line up with acts like Ani DiFranco, Imelda May, Macy Gray, Skye and Joan Jett of course. I just want to go to the pub with all of them, let’s just go camping in the Joshua Tree desert, hang out for a week – that would be amazing!

House of Coco

So, you’ve been quite busy this year despite lockdown, you have released a couple of singles including the ‘Wash your Hands‘ single for Water Aid.

KT Tunstall
I do actually sing that chorus when I wash my hands because it’s 20 seconds long!

House of Coco

You have to! Everyone should do it!

KT Tunstall

I didn’t even realise that it was the perfect length and then Water Aid, who I recorded the song for got in touch and said ‘You do know it’s a 20 second chorus, which is the perfect time to wash your hands!’

House of Coco

It was clearly meant to be! It’s very, very catchy. You also released the single with Moella as well. It is a quite different sound, but still your passion and enthusiasm comes across. It was a great song. Are you going to be recording any other new material? The last album was a couple of years ago wasn’t it?

KT Tunstall

It was in 2018. I am at the end of making a trilogy of records about Soul Body and Mind, so KIN was the soul record and WAX was the body record. I am now making the mind record.

It’s been such a crazy journey because the soul record KIN came out in 2016 which was when my life totally imploded – I got divorced, and my dad died and I moved continents and it was just you know, a real rebirth. Then the body record, which I made with Nick McCarthy from Franz Ferdinand, which is great rock record – I actually lost my hearing halfway through that album, and you know, it’s an album about the physical body. So, I’m thinking to myself what the hell is going to happen on the mind record?! And here we are in the middle of a global pandemic!

I’m actually making that record remotely with an amazing team – Andy Burrows from Razorlight, Liam Howe from the Sneaker Pimps and Martin Terefe who I produced the ‘Other side of the World’ and ‘The River’ with.

We’re kind of working remotely and just, it’s sounding really great. I’m very pleased with it. So yeah, I’ve been kept busy!

One of the really nice things I’ve started in lockdown is as a Patreon account, and I would recommend any young artists to look into this.

It’s basically an old school fan club, people pay a subscription each month, and you decide what they get for their money. It’s been amazing because it’s meant really, that my name has become a place where we can all hang out.

It’s not just about music. We’ll do dance parties and collage days, and we’ve done a Brazilian percussion lesson. You can write to me, and I’ll write back and it’s really a beautiful community of people.

With everything going on with streaming and not being able to go to shows, it really feels like getting together and you have a proper community, so that that’s been fantastic.

The thing that I found that not one of us really realised until I started it was, no one pays to be a troll. It’s just such a lovely, safe community where there’s no negativity. It’s just people getting together wanting to have a nice time and you don’t get interrupted or bothered by people being idiots or mean.

House of Coco

There’s loads of exclusive content isn’t it and it’s from $10 per month?

KT Tunstall

It is! I just shared my video and audio download of Driftwood by Travis which is one of my favourite songs ever.

There are people in the group who have been following me for 15 years, there’s people who’ve only just got to know my music. It’s all ages, it’s families. It’s just fantastic because we’re in direct contact. So, messaging everyone every day and sending actual snail mail to each other with stamps and stickers.

I think that you know, the streaming culture has kind of stripped away some of the soulfulness and meaning to your relationship with music. It has become a very fleeting experience, whereas music is a force of nature and there is so much more to be had. Human beings relationships with music is a really deep connected tissue in life.

I would just encourage people to remember how wonderful it is, and, and to instead of just paying just £9.99 for all the music ever, but to reach out and see what your favourite artists are doing. This is the time when bands are really letting fans in more so than ever before.

House of Coco

You’ve done some TV work as well. You have taken part in a documentary on Ivor Cutler, which I have not had a chance to see, but I am definitely going to check it out. Why was that so inspirational to you?

KT Tunstall

Do! I heard Ivor in my mid-20s, through a friend who introduced him to me. It’s quite absurd, surreal, very funny, very moving. He called himself a humourist, but he’s a musician and an actor. The Beatles fell in love with him and asked them to be in the Magical Mystery Tour movie. And the Beatles actually asked if they could cover of one of his songs. And he said, No!

House of Coco

Really?! I did not know that.

KT Tunstall

He is a very special eccentric artist. In the documentary, I interview Noel Fielding, who I think is just one of Britain’s most precious talents. I think he’s incredible. He’s a big fan of Ivor’s as well.

It ties back into this Rebel Girls project. It’s all about celebrating someone who is very unique, and would just be seen as a weirdo, but who actually breaks through all the exterior hardness of your shell and touches you on a soul level and really is just, it’s just total treasure, to listen to this material and it just makes you feel like it’s totally okay to be you. I love that.

House of Coco

Making a TV show is a different process creatively. How did you approach that?

KT Tunstall

STV were working on it and Alison Pinkney was the director and wrote the documentary. She reached out knowing that I was a big fan of Ivor’s and asked, ‘Do I want to make the film?’ And I was like ‘Ah, yes, absolutely!’ You know, one of the songs that I sing on the programme (one of Ivor’s songs) is called ‘Women of the World’ and it says ‘women of the world take over. Because if you don’t…

Sings ‘because if you don’t, the world will come to an end. And we haven’t got long’. It’s an amazing song to sing right? In the world the way that it is. So, it was just a real passion project.

House of Coco

That sounds great! I think you must be like the hardest working person in the music industry because it seems like you do not stop. I was thinking Does she sleep? Does she have her food by intravenous drip?!

KT Tunstall

(Laughs) Definitely! Yeah, I was definitely feeling like, I wish my lockdown was more about pyjamas and watching Netflix. I haven’t done enough of that!

House of Coco

Going back to the Beatles thing, you took part in the Dear John concert as well and you have got a live streaming gig in LA which takes place on November 7th. You are based in LA now?

KT Tunstall

I have been here for about six years. Oh, wow. I do love California. Oh my god. I actually came here when I was four years old. My dad was a physicist and he worked for a year at UCLA. That was my first memories of life were California. I think it was just kind of imprinted on me a bit. It’s always felt very familiar. And I just love it. I love the nature – even in LA, I live in Topanga Canyon and there is a family of deer with a full-size stag that comes to the garden every day. There is a real there is a real wildness that I am I love.

House of Coco

So, you have got your gig and it is live streamed across the world. You have also got some gigs scheduled in for 2021. Do you think this is something that’s going to go ahead, bearing in mind the situation with the world, or will you just go down the streaming route?

KT Tunstall

I think with 2021, it is very much a wait and see. It is going to be a gig by gig scenario because some are outside, some are inside. They are just going to be completely a slave to whatever lockdown measures are in place. I am not holding my breath. I just really hope that they happen.

With the streaming you know, I’m finding my way. I’m just making sure that I don’t do anything that I don’t think is great quality, because I want to keep the quality control so that people are paying for ticket and having a really great experience.

This gig on the 7th November, I think is going to be fantastic. It is me and a drummer, a full piece rock gig at the Whisky a Go Go in LA – an absolutely iconic venue.

The really cool thing about this gig is I am going to have a screen at my feet where I can read people’s comments in real time. So, it’s a bit like it’s a bit like the front row heckling me! I will be able to hear what they are saying, and I’ll be able to interact with people who are watching the show so that would be really cool. Yes, it’s Saturday November 7 and anyone can come, its ten bucks and I think that’s gonna be a blast!

House of Coco

I have missed live gigs so much. I think we are all missing them.

KT Tunstall

It’s just that I think people perhaps don’t have are starting to understand how important those nights are. When you have had a hard week. What is it that actually gets you re energised is going to see an amazing gig going and having a great night out with your friends feeling it feeling lifted up by these experiences? We can’t lose these venues because that’s where you go to get healed after a hard week.

House of Coco

Absolutely! What was the best gig you have ever played? And what is the best gig you have ever been to?

KT Tunstall

The best gig I ever played is really difficult because I have had so many ridiculous experiences from playing the Nobel Peace Prize to playing giant stadiums to 65,000 people at Live Earth. One of the most amazing gigs that I remember was that the Eden Project in Cornwall, and that was outdoors. There were 6000 geo domes that were lighting up in time to your music behind you. And there’s just a connection to the earth there because of the nature of what that place is. It was an incredibly special evening playing the Eden Project. I loved that.

My favourite gig was probably the Pixies. I went to see the Pixies do a little tour at Brixton Academy and it was just a masterclass in what is possible with three to four minutes songs on one album, it was blistering and mind expanding. I came out of that gig feeling schooled, but also feeling like there was much more possible. Amazing!

KT’s single ‘Hymn to Her’ a cover of The Pretenders track is out today. Taken from the upcoming album ‘Good Night Songs for Rebel Girls’.

Her live streaming gig at Whisky A Go Go takes place Saturday 7th November.

Adventures August 20, 2020

Amazing Argentina

Take a handful of European chic, mix it with breath-taking landscapes, delicious food and wine, bundles of gaucho culture and a sprinkle of Latino flair and you have the beaut that is, Argentina. Whether you dance the tango in Buenos Aires or sip and ski in Mendoza, this South American country is rich in adventure and will seduce you from the moment you arrive.

Where to stay

Buenos Aires is a beautiful, buzzing and bustling city. Palmero Soho is a chic district in the Palmero neighbourhood, small and local enough to discover the authentic side of the city and is bursting with fabulous places to eat, some great bars and vibrant nightlife. Located in the heart of Palermo Soho is Mine Hotel. This contemporary, cosy boutique hotel has a beautiful courtyard curtained by lilac bougainvillea and a heated outdoor pool, perfect for relaxing or catching a siesta. If you want to explore it’s perfectly located and is walking distance from Plaza Serrano close to the city’s designer shops and a stone throw from the renowned La Cabrera steakhouse. The staff at Mine are exceptional and deliver an outstanding service.

Mine Hotel, Gorriti 4770, Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Tel: (54 11) 4832-1100

What to do

Argentina is an amazing place to explore, there are so many things to see and do that you’ll need a couple of weeks to get around and do it all which is why we’ve picked out some of the best things to try out.

You can’t travel to Argentina without trying out the tango, it’s a way of life and a rich part of the heritage. Buenos Aires is the tango capital and where best to learn this sultry dance than at Los Laureles. This legendary tango bar dates back to the early 1900s and its dancefloor has been host to some of the biggest names in tango. If you don’t fancy dance lessons why not visit the World Tango Museum, located above Café Tortoni. This museum is dedicated to everything tango, covering aspects of different styles and generations from De Caro, Gardel and Contursi, through to Discépolo, Pugliese, Goyeneche, Mores, Piazzolla, Avant-Garde and Contemporary.

Los Laureles, Avenue Iriarte 2290, Buenos Aires 1295

World Tango Museum, 833 Av de Mayo, Palacio Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires

Argentina is home to an expansive natural wonderland. The Iguazú Falls is a UNESCO Word Heritage site, located about 800 miles NE of Buenos Aires. This natural border wedged between Argentina and Brazil is made up of 275 interlocking waterfalls spanning 1.7miles in width and is one of the most awe-inspiring sights on the planet. Hike along the trails, take a boat tour to the mouth of Garganta del Diablo (the devils throat) or get a bird’s eye view on a breath-taking helicopter ride. Whatever route you take you’ll be guaranteed to be overwhelmed by the beauty.

Trips to Iguazú Falls can be booked via www.guazufalls.com

The country’s wine capital is Mendoza. Nestled at the foot of the Andes you’ll find a plethora of bodegas (wineries) where you can sample some of the finest Malbec. Regardless of whether or not you are a wine lover you’ll enjoy Mendoza. The city is host to some fantastic restaurants and the streets are jam-packed with bars. If you don’t want to book one of the many wine tours then you can tackle a hike up Mount Aconcagua or try your hand at rafting, cycle around Mount Aconcagua national park and in the winter months ski.

Where to eat

A glorious mix of diverse cultures, the food scene in Buenos Aires is fabulous. Steak is obviously a must here, the ubiquitous parrillas (grill houses) are on every corner offering up the finest cuts of beef but Argentina’s capital also has buzzy pizza joints, fine-dining and Latin fusion restaurants.

Nardar Comedor

Plant-based ingredients are at the heart of the menu at celebrity chef, Narda Lepes’ restaurant. With a super-cool interior and friendly, attentive service this place is worth a visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu serves locally sourced healthy dishes packed with global flavours.

Nardar Comedor, Sucre 664, Buenos Aires 1428

Chan Chan

This cosy Peruvian cantina serves authentic, tasty plates of ceviche, big enough to share. They don’t skimp on the sides either; big bowls of rice are dished up with huge plates of papas a la huancaina (sliced potatoes in cheese sauce) or fried yuca (cassava).

Chan Chan, Hipólito Yrigoyen 1390, Congreso, Buenos Aires 1085

i Latina

Chef-patron Santiago Marcías perfectly combines fine dining with tasty food at this Latin American restaurant. Their tasting menu is a culinary journey that brings together dishes from Mexico to Patagonia, the impossibly tender beef cheek is to die for and the Oaxacan mole is bursting with flavour.

i Latina, Calle Murillo 725, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires

Arts June 1, 2020

Will Lady Gaga Tour Again?

Lady Gaga, the stage name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American singer, songwriter, and at the same time, actress. She is renowned for her versatility in numerous areas of entertainment. She performed in a lot of concerts in her career. But in 2018, she was forced to cancel all of her shows for a disease.

That is why confusion was always in her fan and follower’s mind that will Lady Gaga tour again. If you have the same question in your mind, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss that’will Lady Gaga tour again?’. Hopefully, it will help you to clear all of your doubts.

Will Lady Gaga tour again?

Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her all the tour in 2018 for her illness, which was fibromyalgia, and wondering that when she will come back in the industry. Fibromyalgia is a physical disorder that causes pain all over the body. This is a long term condition which affects sleep and other regular tasks.

She said in social media that as she getsstouter and prepared. After two years, now Lady Gaga wants to start performing in many places.

She announced her next concert tour in 2020 named the Chromaticaball. It is her sixth headlining concert tour for the promotion of sixth studio album Chromatica (2020). Her tour will begin on July 24, 2020,at Saint-Denis in France and end on August 19, 2020,at East Rutherford in the United States. This tour will be her first all stadium tour.

Tour dates of Lady Gaga in 2020

People are eagerly waiting for the tour of Lady Gaga in 2020. Because after a long time she is performing in some concerts. For the betterment of her fan followers, we are giving all the informationincluding date, city, country, venue, etc. of her Chromatica Ball tour 2020. These are as follows:

Lady Gaga’s first show of the Chromatica Ball will be at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, in France on July 24, 2020.
The second show will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London in England on July 30, 2020, and this is the end of her Europe tour. Then America tour will be started.
Her America tour will be started by performing at Fenway Park, Boston, in the United States on August 5, 2020.
Then her next show will be at Rogers Centre,Toronto, in Canada onAugust 9, 2020.
The last two shows will be in the United States. First one is at Wrigley Field, Chicago on August 14, 2020
And the last show of her tour will be at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, in the United States on August 19, 2020.

Mainly these are the tour dates of Lady Gaga in her Chromatica tour 2020.

How long is a Lady Gaga concert?

Lady Gaga is a name that is synonymous with excellence and versatility. Her concerts are not as short as it seems. Generally, her performances last around two and a half hours.

Approximately twenty to twenty-five songs are presented in her concerts. People enjoy a lot in her concerts, and as she is one of the best entertainers in the music world, it seems like the length of the show is twenty minutes.

How Much Are Lady Gaga Tickets?

Actually, it is mostly reliant on you from whom you want to purchase the tickets, and time is also a considering issue there. If you’re going to buy a ticket for her concert, try to buy it as soon as possible it releases. Because day by day the price of the tickets will increase surprisingly.

The tickets for Lady Gaga’s concerts are one of the most expensive tickets in the world. That is why you should be very much careful when you are buying a ticket for her show.

The price of the lower-class tickets of Lady Gaga performances is around 100 dollars, and the average ticket price is 150 dollars. If you want to buy your tickets from the secondary market, you have to cost more than general.

The costs of Lady Gaga’s concerts also vary from country to country. The price of the ticket for a showby Lady Gaga in France is lower than the ticket of the United States.

The price of the tickets also depends on the source and seats. Notably, the prices of the tickets to Lady Gaga in Vegas can vary based on the date of the show, seat selection, tour guests, and many other factors. But the average price of the tickets is around 200 dollars.

The minimum ticket price of Lady Gaga in Las Vegas is 180 dollars.The cost of the ticket for Lady Gaga concerts is very high when you are buying it from the direct box office. The best way is to buy the ticket from online marketplaces. In online market places, you will get your ticket in a much more easy way than the box office. There have a lot of websites you will get to buy her tickets at a very cheap cost.

Conclusion:

Lady Gaga is a versatile singer, songwriter in America. She was in a long time break in her career for her sickness. Her fans and followers were eagerly waiting for her appearance in the music industry. After a long time, she announced a new concert tour for her upcoming album,Chrmatica 2020.

In this article, we have discussed will Lady Gaga tour again? Here we also discussed her upcoming trip in detail and, at the same time, the price and buying method of the tickets of those shows. Hopefully, it will be conducive for you to enjoy her concerts without any hassles.

Austria April 7, 2020

How to learn the languages of the places you most want to visit at home

GET TO GRIPS WITH THE LOCAL LINGO FOR A HOLIDAY TO PUERTO RICO

This year sees the 500th year anniversary of Old San Juan, the island’s capital. World Heritage listed Old San Juan as one of the oldest cities in the USA and encapsulates the rich cultural identity of Puerto Rico, interweaving Taino, African and Spanish traditions. This distinctive mix makes San Juan a vibrant city, passionate about music and dance and sensational food.

The city’s must-visit neighbourhoods include the charming Old Town with its pastel-coloured colonial Spanish buildings and blue cobblestone streets, cosmopolitan Condado which is home to fashionable boutiques and high-end restaurants; and cool Santurce, a hipster hangout with its speakeasy cocktail bars and street food markets. Puerto Rico is on everyone’s must visit list. To truly feel like a local and to make the most of your future trip, work on mastering the lingo from the comfort of your own home. Spanish is the most common language spoken on the beautiful island and Duolingo is a great way for beginners to learn from scratch or for intermediates to brush up on their skills. Not only is Duolingo useful when learning a new language, it’s fun and addictive. It takes a game-like approach to learning and offers apps for iOS, Windows Phone, and Android. What’s even better is that Duolingo is completely free for users. Alternatively, if you prefer a more dedicated approach in terms of learning a new language, consider taking private Spanish lessons with Preply.

www.duolingo.com

MASTER THE FRENCH LANGUAGE FOR A WINTER TRIP TO QUÉBEC, CANADA

We can think of nothing better than self-isolating in a cosy, snowy cabin right about now. Hibernation is the order of the day. With so much time on our hands, it’s time start dreaming up a winter escape later in the year to beautiful Québec. With just a seven hour flight time from the UK, an Atlantic crossing has never been closer. From poutine in Montréal, wine and cider tasting in Québec’s southern regions, winter carnivals and snug cottages in snowy landscapes, there is so much to start planning. To get ahead of the game, the BBC are offering online courses to study French, the official language of the Canadian province. Voila!

www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french

LEARN GERMAN TO ORDER STRUDEL PERFECTLY IN VIENNA

2020 marks the 250 anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth – and today, Vienna still sets the tone as the European capital of classical music. Although travel is halted at the moment, we can still sit back, wine in hand and listen to all the amazing music created by the world-famous composer on Spotify. The tunes are also the perfect background music for a calming work space, alongside a strong coffee.

Vienna is not a city in a hurry and will be waiting with open arms, just a short plane journey away for culture vultures. The city is the perfect spot to read books, go to the opera, eat endless plates of sacher torte and linger over a hot chocolate. A whole culture has evolved around the coffee houses to encourage a more relaxed way of life. For the price of a cup of coffee visitors can buy entrance to a club where they can spend the day reading newspapers (still hung on wooden rods), people watching, discussing noels or thinking. To get you’re Viennese coffee order perfected or to converse correctly over scrumptious strudel, it’s time to brush up on the German language, the most widely spoken tongue in Austria. Babbel offers an easy and fun way to learn German with some online language learning platforms focusing primarily on just speaking. Here at House of Coco, we are itching to get back to exploring the world. While we wait we are busy planning and prepping for our next adventure.

www.babbel.com

Music November 16, 2019

Aloft Hotels Release More Tickets For Dermot Kennedy’s Sold Out Gig

More tickets will go on sale Monday 18, November after previously selling out in three minutes.

Dermot Kennedy is set to return to his hometown of Dublin, Ireland on Wednesday 20, November for an intimate performance as part of Live At Alofts Homecoming Tour.

Aloft Hotels, the brand in Marriott International’s portfolio loved by music lovers and known for its long-standing live music program, has partnered with Universial Music Group & Brands to create a special tour taking today’s most talked-about artists back to where their careers began.

Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour aims to give back to the fans that helped these music stars get where they are today by hosting unique performances in intimate settings within their hotels.

Kennedy is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Dublin who’s rising to the top. In October 2019 he released his debut album WITHOUT FEAR, which made it to number 1 on the Official UK and Irish Album Charts.

Marriott Bonvoy (Marriott’s reward program) are offering ways to get even closer to Kennedy:

Members can bid Marriott Bonvoy points on a money-can’t-buy experience where guests can explore different flavors of whiskey on a tour of the Dublin Liberties Distillery with Dermot Kennedy, before his show. Marriott Bonvoy members who bid and win can take a guest to learn about the history and mythology of the Liberties area of Dublin as well as the whiskey distilling process with the singer-songwriter while listening to select tracks off his newly released album, Without Fear. Then, head to Aloft Dublin City to watch the performance and cap off the night with a stay in the recently opened hotel.
All Marriott Bonvoy members will receive priority access to the event and an exclusive meet & greet with the artist after the show. (Offer is based on first-come, first-served basis up to maximum capacity of the venue, at Marriott’s sole discretion.)
Marriott Bonvoy members with Gold, Platinum Titanium, or Ambassador Elite status will receive curated gift bags which include a limited-edition tour t-shirt from street artist INSA, wireless headphones courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy, nostalgia merch, and more.
To recover from the night before, all Marriott Bonvoy members who book a stay directly on Marriott.com can request Morning After Re:fuel Kits via the chat function on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Each kit includes hangover helping items from Aloft’s Re:fuel pantry.

Always looking to add innovative tech experiences to their hotels and live performances Aloft has collaborated with British ‘GIF-ITI’ street artist INSA to provide an interactive art experience that puts a new spin on the tendency for fans to film concerts on their phones.

INSA, who is regarded as “the next Banksy” due to his talent and anonymous persona, will be creating an augmented reality experience that evolves during the performers’ sets. INSA will be creating a dynamic stage design that will animate via his custom app, rewarding guests with the ultimate phone viewing and recording experience as they hold up their device to the stage. Exclusive merch featuring INSA’s artwork will be gifted to guests attending the event to take home as a memento.

There will also be photo opportunities in the nostalgic pop-up 90’s-themed bedroom and signature music-themed drinks in Aloft’s WXYZ bar (we’re talking cocktails served in retro boombox-shaped mugs).

Find more information here: https://aloft-hotels.marriott.com/live-at-aloft/the-homecoming-tour/dermot-kennedy-live-at-aloft-dublin-city/

Music November 1, 2019

Coco Events: TeamCoco goes ‘beyond limits’ with BT

Last week, Team Coco babe Hannah Tan-Gillies went for a totally unexpected evening with BT that went ‘beyond limits.’ The Guinness World Record breaking event featured an incredible indoor drone show and a special performance by Grammy winning artist Jess Glynne.

There is no such thing as a typical Thursday night when you’re a part of Team Coco and tonight was certainly no exception. We headed to the Wembley arena for a star-studded evening with BT that included cocktails, canapés and some pretty unbelievable surprises. We got front row seats to an incredible performance by Jess Glynne – which culminated in a record-breaking indoor display of 160 drones.

As if that wasn’t incredible enough, the drones were actually programmed by children from St. Joseph’s school in Islington. The children are part of BT’s ‘Skills for Tomorrow’ program, which aims to provide digital skills training for 10 million people in the UK. The kids were invited onstage to help program the grand finale, as Jess Glynne completed her set with her hit single ‘I’ll be There.’ It was nothing short of spectacular.

The drone show was created in collaboration with Verity Studios, which is one of the world’s biggest drone companies. The breath-taking display was powered by BT’s network technologies, with a dedicated BT line installed to support the drones.

BT ‘Beyond Limits’ is the company’s new mission statement and the evening’s events were a testament to the sheer spectacle of this mission. BT Consumer Division CEO Marc Allera said, “We’re working to remove the barriers of today to help release the potential of tomorrow, and a huge part of that is providing the skills that will help children prepare for and shape the future.”

For Mark – the ‘Skills for Tomorrow’ program will go ‘beyond limits’ and help the next generation change the world. He added: “With the help of the children at St Joseph’s, just some of the millions who will participate in our Skills for Tomorrow programme, we’ve created this record-breaking event to celebrate what is possible when you work together to go beyond limits.”

St Joseph Head of School Angela Noronha said the collaboration was an incredible experience for all involved. She added, “As a five year sponsor of our computing initiative, BT has been integral in expanding the programme and it is now ingrained in 60% of UK primary schools. Our future will continue to rely more and more on digital skills and participating in this exciting event will inspire children, fuelling their imaginations as well as developing their critical digital technology skills.”

Beyond this, BT is also levelling up its customer service by helping its UK customers go beyond their potential. All this is part of BT’s ongoing transformation to change the way people and businesses interact, whether through their homes or on the high street.

Arts October 9, 2019

Things to do in London this October

This October, the English capital overfloweth with exciting activities to help us ease into the shorter days and colder nights of winter. From cinemarvellous showings at this year’s BFI London Festival to the delectable London Restaurant Festival, there is something for everyone to indulge in.

Read on and find out what #TeamCoco’s London residents are looking forward to this month.

Grayson Perry: Super Rich Interior Decoration

If you’re a huge fan of Grayson Perry like I am, you must head to Victoria Miro’s Mayfair gallery where they are showcasing his first solo show since 2012. Exploring the intersections of art, money and power, the show includes a collection of symbols of rebellion and rites of passage – a leather jacket, beard and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Banner – presented as a lifestyle catalogue. Free entry. Until 20 December.

Escape the Ordinary: Interactive Japanese Sake Pop Up Launching in London

The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (hereafter JFOODO) has announced an exciting London pop-up celebrating Sake & Seafood in October. World Sake Day on the 1st October announces the start of this exciting month of Sake. Starting from 24th October for an exclusive 3 days, JFOODO is collaborating with London’s iconic seafood restaurant, The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen. Taking place in POPUP restaurant “Restaurant Paired”, in Shoreditch, JFOODO and The Oystermen will celebrate Japanese Sake as the best alcoholic beverage to enhance the taste of seafood by offering a new pairing menu. Throughout the three-day pop up, Japanese Sake Sommelier and Sake Expert will be inviting the public to experience a selection of authentic Japanese sakes alongside an expertly paired seafood tasting menu. This pop-up will also offer the opportunity to learn the etiquette and history behind sake tasting. Visitors will be able to sample Japanese delicacies from the Sake and Seafood a la carte Tasting Menu, including Oysters, Scallops and the delectable Lobster Thermidor. For dessert, indulge in the dark chocolate mousse and peanut brittle or the Tahitian vanilla Pannacotta Plaice. Running from 24 – 26 October. Address: 46 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3EP.

BFI London Film Festival

Hosted by the BFI, the festival returns for a 12-day celebration of British and international cinema. With over 345 films to choose from, film-buffs need to look no further than this! Hotly anticipated cinematic releases for 2019 include The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorsese and The King, inspired by William Shakespeare, along with old classics including Budd Boetticher’s iconic Western movies. Further to the screenings, the festival has rolled out a dynamic programme of panel discussions, including screen talk with Michael B. Jordan, discussing his new role in Just Mercy, alongside Jamie Foxx. Tickets from £10. Until 13 October.

Prada Mode Pop-up, The Strand

Initially launched in Miami to coincide with Art Basel, Prada Mode hopes to emulate the same success it had state-side in London’s ultra-hip 180 The Strand. The travelling platform, billed as a pop-up private members’ club, has been designed with Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates, The Black Image Corporation, which challenges preconceptions regarding black identity and culture. In collaboration with the visionaries at The Vinyl Factory and The Showroom, they have special events planned throughout each day at the club, including live music, film screening and panel discussions. Free entry. Until 27 October.

Pink Oktoberfest

The UK’s largest Pink Oktoberfest, fast becoming an unmissable date on the LGBTQ+ calendar, is back for the third year running with the campest, most colourful Oktoberfest ever. Taking over Dock X in Surrey Quays, you can expect drag queens, rave karaoke, lip sync battles, game shows, DJs and of course, Oktoberfest bands from Munich. If beer isn’t your thing, fear not as there is also a champagne and cocktail bar. Do don your best Bavarian get-up and dance the night away. Tickets £15. 12 October.

Food for thought

The London Restaurant Festival returns to the capital once more this October, bringing together more than 250 of the city’s best loved restaurants for a mouth watering, month-long calendar of tasting menus, special offers and events. Firm favourites participating include Hakkassan, OXO Tower Brasserie, ROKA and Hide, to name just a few. A restaurant-hopping tour is also an option and includes a small plate and a drink at five different restaurants (£47 per person). Price and times vary. Until 31 October.

Legend has it

The legendary story of Orpheus and Eurydice is brought to life in ENO’s powerful production of the 18th century Opera by Gluck. The classic myth of love and loss is mesmerising and ENO’s version has received an extra sprinkling of magic, as it has been directed by the multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor. Tickets from £20. Until 19 November.

LOOKING AHEAD: It’s only October but Christmas at Kew is already selling out! Tickets for the annual twinkly extravaganza are available now. Running 20 November to 5 January 2020.

France October 4, 2019

Five Female DJs To Have On Your Radar

When it comes to women in music the statistics are shocking…

In 2018 BBC Reality Check analysed the 10 biggest festivals in the UK and found that just 13% of performing acts were female – that’s just 97 female bands, singers and DJs out of 756 acts. These figures show the lack of opportunities and representation women face in the music industry.

House of Coco want to shine some light on some talented female DJs to celebrate women in the music industry. Check out five of our fave disc-spinning boss babes:

Emily Rawson @emilyrawsondj
Specialising in 90s and 00s R‘n’B and hip-hop Emily Rawson is a big name in the UK DJ scene. She started DJing many years ago after playing on some decks owned by her male friends – and found she was a natural. After University she began working in events to discover a severe lack of females in the industry. This led to Emily pioneering an all-female DJ collective called Rock The Belles, celebrating fierce female talent and getting them booked for events.

View this post on Instagram

Now I’m a Mum, I mostly DJ during the day! Catch me at @rnbrunchparty every Sat (except 2nd sats when I’m at @flykidparties) at @thecurtainldn Most fun you can have on a Saturday afternoon with the most hilarious hostess @djsandraomari Tx from link in bio! ☝? ????@redrooster_ldn Shoreditch ? D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #brunch #lunch #waffles #london #brunchparty #brunchgoals #rnb #90s #90srnb #instafood #party #music #femaledj #love #londonfood #monday #redrooster #shoreditch #londonbrunch #chicken #foodporn #instafood #september #autumn #summer

A post shared by Dj Emily Rawson (@emilyrawsondj) on Sep 23, 2019 at 3:35am PDT

Millie Cotton @millie_cotton
Millie Cotton wears many hats; content creator, podcast host and DJ. Her love of both fashion and music led to her DJing for Levi’s, Pandora and Nike, as well as at prominent East London venues such as The Queen of Hoxton and Concrete. She’s an ambassador for women being their own boss as she’s not signed to an agency, and also regularly discusses important female topics, such as periods and contraception, on her podcast Keeping It Candid.

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warmed up & down for some actual legends last night (pet shop boys!), siick @google @youtube

A post shared by Millie Cotton (@millie_cotton) on Jun 20, 2019 at 3:56am PDT

Maya Jama @mayajama
This all-round powerhouse has conquered fashion by launching a line with Pretty Little Thing, modelling on multiple magazine front pages, TV presenting by featuring as a guest panellist on Loose Women and shows such as True Love or True Lies on MTV. After a brief radio gig on RinseFM, Maya now hosts a BBC Radio 1 show on Fridays and Saturdays. As well as killing it with a prime time weekend show, you can find live DJing at parties and events. We love her behind the scenes Instagram stories, showing what she gets up to in the studi when the songs are playing (expect some wild dance moves).

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Me at work being shy.. (@bbcradio1 every Friday & sat 10-1pm)

A post shared by Maya Jama (@mayajama) on Dec 29, 2018 at 4:36am PST

Bittersweet @bittersweetdjs
Ashley James and Charlotte De Carle are the dynamic duo that DJ under the name Bittersweet. Both girls started as presenters, each having shows on Hoxton Radio, and while living together decided to join forces and DJ. They’ve had great success and have played for brands such as Coca Cola, Rimmel and French Connection. Ashley also launched a slogan t-shirt line based on female empowerment, so you’ll often see both girls wearing tees emblazoned with positive quotes like “Who Runs The World” and “Self Love Club”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ClSxIgl_e/

Jordss
Jordss is a 26-year-old DJ from London who is getting women noticed with her ironically named database Girls Can’t DJ.

This is an online platform for female DJs with two purposes: firstly to create an accessible database of female talent for promoters and festival bookers and secondly to form a community for females DJs to share stories and experiences.

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Hanging out my asssss djing at @nike all day ????

A post shared by J O R D S S (@jordss.dj) on Nov 24, 2018 at 6:14am PST

“I think sisterhood is so important and is one of the main reasons I started GCDJ is to create a community and support network – power in numbers and all that!” she says.

Self-confessed “music head” Jordss stumbled into DJing after growing up making mixtapes for friends and family. After being donated some decks (a “proper old-school Gemini CDM 4000”) by a friend she learnt the fundamentals and began burning CDs and learning to blend tracks.

You will now find Jordss taking over the decks at top venues around London, such as Nike Town, Shabba and West London Social Club, as well as hosting radio shows on Balamii and Reprezent. Playing tracks from all genres, but with a love of R’n’B edits, she says “as long I like a song I will play it.” Her Actin Kinda Shady edit (find it on her Soundcloud) is a guaranteed party-starter.

Find the full interview with Jordss in the BossBabe issue of our print magazine – out now!

Australia September 17, 2019

Experience Home Grown Music Talent With ‘Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour’

Some of the biggest names in music are set to return to their hometowns for one-off performances at Aloft Hotels.

Aloft Hotels, loved by music lovers and known for its long-standing live music program, has partnered with Universial Music Group & Brands to create a special tour taking today’s most talked-about artists back to where their careers began.

Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour aims to give back to the fans that helped these music stars get where they are today by hosting unique performances in intimate settings within their hotels.

“As a travel brand, we want to bring breakout musical talent closer to their greatest fans by bringing them back to their hometowns. For our Marriott Bonvoy members, the Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour is going to be particularly special with once-in-a-lifetime experiences available through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, where they can bid points to get up close and personal with the artists,” said Toni Stoeckl, Global Brand Leader, Aloft Hotels and Vice President, Distinctive Select Brands for Marriott International.

The global eight-stop Homecoming Tour will feature performances from UMG artists at Aloft’s newest and most notable hotels located in some of the best music cities around the world, including Troye Sivan at Aloft Perth, Australia and Dermot Kennedy at Aloft Dublin City, Ireland (see full list at article end).

“Being able to return home and connect with my fans in Australia is always a really special experience for me and being able to return to my hometown of Perth where my musical journey began is truly magical. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of Aloft’s Homecoming Tour and share my music with the community that shaped me and with music-loving travellers staying at Aloft,” said Troye Sivan.

How to Attend:
– Hometown Fans: Those looking to attend Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour performances should RSVP at alofthotels.com/homecomingtour. The guest list for tour stops at Aloft Madrid Gran Via and Aloft Dublin City will open six weeks prior to each performance (please note capacity is limited, RSVP does not guarantee entry and attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis; guests must be of legal drinking age).
– Out-of-Town Fans: For those fans who are not local, or just want to guarantee getting up close-and-personal with the hometown star, limited-edition bookable hotel packages are available at www.alofthotels.com/homecomingtour

‘Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour’ dates:
– August 23: NJOMZA at Aloft Chicago Mag Mile (United States)
– September 15: Troye Sivan at Aloft Perth (Australia)
– October 3: Mala Rodriguez at Aloft Madrid Gran Vía (Spain)
– November 20: Dermot Kennedy at Aloft Dublin City (Ireland)
– Additional tour stops will include a performance by BANKS at a U.S. Aloft property (TBA), as well as other artist performances in Dubai, Shanghai and South America in late 2019/early 2020

Festivals September 11, 2019

#CocoMusic – Why Victorious is the festival that everyone wants to play

#CocoMusic – We went last year, and we loved it so much that we went back for more. Every year the Victorious festival is getting bigger and bigger and is now in its ninth year. Situated on the South Coast in the picturesque seaside location of Southsea, this year’s festival packed a serious punch with a stellar line up of the likes of Tom Grennan, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Rudimental and New Order.

Day 1

Kicking things off on #FestivalFriday was the ska band Orange Street who were swiftly followed by the likes of 90s band Dodgy who pumped up the volume with a psychedelic, sixties feel which really got the party started, they were followed up by The Zutons and indie rock band Doves. One of the highlights of the Friday night had to be The Specials who put on an energetic set with timeless classics such as ‘A Message To You, Rudy’, ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Nite Klub’.

Closing Friday’s line up at Victorious was Two Door Cinema Club who thrilled the crowd with an awesome set including the likes of ‘Something Good Can Work’, ‘Sleep Alone’ and ‘What You Know’.

Day 2

Day 2 saw a surge of additional festival goers flock to Southsea Common eager to see top bands and 2019 saw the launch of a brand-new area – the World Music Village. This new addition provided festival goers with the chance to see, taste and listen their way across the globe, creating a completely different atmosphere from the rest of the festival.

On the Castle Stage, the bustling crowds had the opportunity to see The Twang, The Rifles, Professor Green and The Hives. One of the overall festival highlights was Lewis Capaldi who is storming both the charts and the festival scene. Despite only releasing his first album in May, Lewis has captured the imagination of music fans with a great set which included his breakthrough hit ‘Someone You Loved’ which reached number 1 in the singles chart.

Closing the Castle Stage on Saturday night was Bloc Party who performed hits such as ‘Helicopter’ and ‘This Modern Love’.

There was a real 90s feel to the Common Stage on Saturday afternoon, girl band All Saints took to the stage where they performed some of their classic hits such as ‘Never Ever’ and ‘Bootie Call’, the 90s vibe continued with the ever-awesome Republica led by Saffron who looked fabulous in a brightly-coloured jumpsuit

One of the festival highlights had to be New York’s finest – the Fun Lovin’ Criminals who never disappoint. Huey Morgan and the boys played an energetic set and performed hits like ‘The Fun Lovin’ Criminal’, ‘Love Unlimited’ ‘Smoke ‘Em’ and of course the iconic ‘Scooby Snacks’.

90s indie band Ocean Colour Scene played to a bustling crowd, kicking off their set with ‘The Riverboat Song’. At one point the band left frontman Simon Fowler to entertain the crowds on his own. For legendary guitarist Steve Craddock, it was his second appearance at this year’s festival after he played with The Specials on Friday.

James Bay was another great addition to the Victorious line up and wooed festival goes with hits like ‘Hold Back the River’ and ‘Let It Go’.

Over on the Acoustic stage, 90’s indie band Space performed hits like ‘Me and You Versus The World’, ‘Female of the Species’ and the dark ‘Neighbourhood.

It seems everyone whose anybody wants to work with drum and bass superstars Rudimental who closed Saturday’s proceedings with an absolute bang (and fireworks!) Rudimental played a highly energetic set of 21 songs which included ‘Scared of Love’, a cover of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Bloodstream’ and ‘Sun Comes Up’.

Day 3

From Ziggy Marley to The Sherlocks, the Victorious festival-goers had a cool, laid-back start to their Sunday. One of my personal festival highlights was Starsailor, led by the incredible James Walsh who performed a truly impressive set which included ‘Good Souls’ and ‘Alcoholic’ amongst others.

Also performing on the Common Stage on the Sunday were The Vaccines, Plan B and Razorlight who entertained the crowds with hits like ‘In The Morning’ and ‘Golden Touch’. Over on the Castle Stage, The Futureheads and indie stalwarts Idlewild and Ash performed which included the 90’s classic ‘Girl From Mars’.

One of the most-anticipated performances of the whole festival had to be Tom Grennan who has wowed music fans with his raw passion and gravelly voice on hits such as ‘Something in the Water’, ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking For’ and ‘Sober’

Closing Victorious 2019, festival goers were given the choice of either watching electronic pop cross over band Clean Bandit on the Common Stage or festival big hitters New Order. We chose New Order and the Mancunian icons certainly didn’t disappoint. Bernard Sumner and the band gave absolutely everything and performed an outstanding set which includes four Joy Division Songs. Naturally, the crowd were enthralled, especially with the encore which included ‘Atmosphere’ and ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.

Victorious 2019 – you were amazing, and we can’t wait to return in 2020!