Born in Michigan, USA, and growing up in Zürich, Switzerland, Coco Benson was exposed to a wide variety of music from a young age and discovered her voice at the age of 7. Granddaughter to Highlife icon Bobby Benson, music has always been at the core of her being. Blending elements of afrobeats, house and pop, Coco made her musical debut with ‘They Call Me Coco’ in 2014, which was produced by IKON. Showcasing her West African and European roots, Benson strives to deliver high quality productions that strike a chord with audiences from all around the globe. With her debut extended play on the horizon, Coco Benson and Shizzi demonstrate their undeniable synergy as they ready the world for her ‘Here We Go Again’ EP.
Celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most talented and unstoppable hitmakers, producer extraordinaire Shizzi (Magic Fingers) has produced for global superstars including Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Davido, Meek Mill and Wizkid. With humble beginnings as a drummer in a church, Shizzi has worked relentlessly to gain worldwide recognition, signing to Sony Music and founding his own record label Magic Fingers. Championing up-and-coming talent, as well as working with major producers, Shizzi continues to make his indelible mark on the global music scene.
THE INTERVIEW
CR: Hello Meredine, glad to have you on Canadianravers. How are you doing?
CB: Thank you so much for having me, I really appreciate you guys and I’m excited about this! I’m doing great.
CR: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what is the story behind your name ‘Coco Benson’?
CB: I am an international cocktail LOL, I’m West African and European and the reason I call myself Coco is literally because of my skin tone! I’ve always loved the way Coco sounds. It sounds soft and enjoyable and it’s most importantly it’s easy to remember! Benson was taken from my mother and my grandfather who was also a musician.
CR: Tell us a little bit of the story behind the track ‘Majesty’, How did you connect with Shizzi?
CB: Majesty was always about a strong message for women. Me being a mother and a wife myself, I always think it’s important to stand your ground in life and it’s important to have tracks that let women know they are amazing, they are wonderful, and beautifully made. I was working on this with Shizzi one night, we were just going through music beats and there was a certain sound that stood out to us! The minute I heard whatever it was I heard, I knew that was the topic instantly. PS. Shizzi is my husband *wink*
CR: Also, tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the music video.
CB: The music video was so important to represent everything the song was. It had to be regal, it had to be strong and it had to be original. I made sure I had the strongest team and I made sure that we did everything right. The packaging for Majesty was one of the biggest projects I’ve done in my career, but I have no regrets about anything because all I know is what you hear in the song is exactly what you see in the video. It makes you feel empowered. I feel like once you see it the first time, you want to watch it again to make sure you saw what you actually saw.
CR: While you were on a hiatus, what were some moments that motivated you to create new music?
CB: It was all about a feeling, it wasn’t even just a break for me… at one point I actually quit music because I was so fed up with so many different things, but I knew it was such a passion of mine & that when I was ready, even spiritually when I was ready I knew that I would get back in and the motivation was just a feeling and the support of important people I knew.
CR: What do you like to do during your downtime when you are not writing music?
CB: I love spending time with my children, making memories with them. They inspire me so much every single day and if I’m not in motherhood, I enjoy travelling and eating and all the good things life has to offer. Life can be cut short, so I always recommend live it.
CR: What is the best advice you have received while pursuing your career?
CB: The best advice I’ve received would be to just stay true to who I am, there are so many people doing so many things and it’s easy to get caught up but what’s important is just to be who you are and eventually, those that want to listen to you, WILL listen to you.
CR: Outside dance music, what other styles do you like listening to?
CB: Soul, R&B & classic Pop. I love listening to older music, it brings back so many memories and good feelings.
CR: Now that shows are coming back when you perform live, is there a ritual that you go through before a show?
CB: I haven’t been on a stage in a very long time, but what I can tell you is when I do get back on stage it’s going to be an amazing experience. Honestly the best ritual for me it’s just a prayer to calm my nerves.
CR: This is a 3-part question, Your first gig, your last gig, and your favourite gig?
CB: Open-air concert singing a Destiny’s Child song, I can’t even remember my last gig LOL that’s so sad… My favourite gig was a wedding - no, it was a surprise birthday party and I sang it was one of the best live performances I had done in a while.
CR: What are some of your goals for 2021, anything our followers should know about?
CB: I just want to continue to release timeless and fun music, stay consistent, that’s my goal! I have an EP on the way, so stay tuned for that, it’s an exciting listen.
Lighting Round
Texting or talking? Talking
Coffee or tea? Neither, Soda water
Hard liquor or Wine? Vino
Cake or pie? Cake-a-licious
Hot dogs or hamburgers? Hot Dogs Mmm
Xbox or PlayStation? I’m a Nintendo gal!!!
Movie theatre or arcade? Arcade (skeeball all the way)
Guitar or piano? Piano
Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel
Dog or cat? Meow
Hot weather or cold weather? Hot weather, I love being warm.
COCO BENSON SOCIALS: