INTERVIEW:CUCO
INTERVIEWED BY ANDRE LAVILLE
STYLED BY KOJO HAMMOND
PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRAY BRAME
What was the first song you made off the album and did it shape the project?
The first song that was made off the album was Foolish. It was the first time that me and Manu worked together in Mexico City, and I feel like it kind of cemented this idea of wanting to make an album together. It shaped the project in the sense that it helped me to realize that I can expand to a sound that I’ve always wanted to get into without getting too out of my comfort zone, but also still thinking outside of the box.
The video for Sitting In The Corner is like a telenovela slash dream. Who had this idea initially?
Dan Streit came up with this idea of creating this wild world with prosthetics on me and Adriel with the noses and big ears, kind of creating this world, like in the sense that Fantasy Gateway is its own world and dimension. We wanted to create that same feeling with the music video for Sitting In The Corner.
You started your career on an absolute high. Lo Que Siento racked up 191 million views so quickly. How did you handle that artistically? Did it apply more pressure or was it a relief that it was a hit?
Honestly, I never really thought about it, I didn’t even know it had this many views. I just put the song out and was happy that people liked it. And I’m still very happy that people like it.
If you could compare your current sound to a designer/fashion house, who would it be?
I don’t know that I could compare it to a lot of things. Off the top of my head, when I think about my music and clothing, I think about Brain Dead and how they have really crazy ideas but in such a chilled-out way that it works. I think that’s really dope and I think it all comes together pretty naturally whenever I’m making music and just have really insane ideas.
Who is getting your attention on the international music scene?
Recently I came across this artist named Ntski who has this album called Orca, which is probably one of the craziest albums that I’ve heard in a minute. And also the Lazy Eyes from Australia. They have some insane songs that I think are really awesome and I think their whole project is really great.
What do you want people to get or feel from Fantasy Gateway?
When people listen to Fantasy Gateway, I want them to be able to get away from reality for a bit and just be able to feel like nothing is real.
What can we expect from Cuco in the next 12 months sonically and visually?
There is a lot of new music that I’m working on, and everything sounds very different. The trajectory is not certain, so I would just encourage everybody to stay tuned.
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