Coco Farmani is a whirlwind of creativity. Singer/songwriter, poet, and full-time actress, she's a passionate storyteller with an incredible 800 songs penned since she began recording in 2022. Her first EP, ‘Slidin' in Yo DM’, is a playful exploration of modern love in the digital age, set to a captivating deep house beat.
We recently caught up with Coco to dive into the inspiration behind the EP, her unique songwriting process, and her aspirations for the future. From the challenges of recording music videos on an iPhone to the unexpected influence of micro-dosing, Coco shares her journey with refreshing honesty and infectious enthusiasm.
It’s fantastic to meet you, Coco. Let’s dig right into things - when did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?
“I've always been singing. My mom was a gospel/blues singer and I always wanted to be like her. When I was around 15, I was in a girl group and I wrote an entire album. This producer would give me tracks and I’d write to them often turning my poems into songs. The group didn’t last and that was the last I saw of music. I always dated musicians hoping they would give me a chance to sing with them, that just never seemed to work out.”
“Fast forward 25 years, I am married to a piano player who plays for some of the biggest singers in the world like Chaka Khan, Diana Ross and Josh Groban. I thought he might help me with my singing aspirations, but he never took me seriously, I mean, can you blame him? He works with real superstars and me. Well, I was an amateur. Then one day my entire life took an unexpected turn. I got a call from Josh Groban. He told me he wanted to surprise my husband with a home studio during the pandemic so he could work from home since touring had come to a halt. It was an exciting adventure but at times things didn't go completely as planned and I felt so responsible and alone. I became severely depressed and constantly contemplated suicide, it was so stupid to feel suicidal looking back but at that time, I could not see a way out of my ruminating, I just didn’t want to wake up, I wanted to die.”
“Then one day, my husband, who had been trying everything he could to help me, sent me an article on micro-dosing. It was really helping a lot of women with depression. Even though I was reading the success stories, I was still scared to try it. Yet, I was desperate to gain back my zeal for life. Well, right after I finished reading my husband broke out this chocolate bar called ‘Polka Dot’. He said, "try one lil square and let’s see how you feel, I will be here with you every step of the way!" And so around April18, 2022, I did my first micro-dose. Nothing spectacular happened that day, I never felt anything physical. The next morning he gave me another dose, and then another on the third day and I remember cracking my first real smile in a long time. I was feeling a gradual joy rising inside of me. On the fourth day, I was so light, happy and free, like I was a butterfly, flying for the first time. It’s hard to explain, but I felt healed from the weight of depression and suicide and I finally came out of my room and into the lovely home studio Josh had built for my husband, it was really my first time soaking up the space. I had no idea at that moment that this studio would change the trajectory of my life”
“Our son, Azad the Great, who was 19 at the time, was recording a song, so surprised to see me he began to play the song he was working on. I was fascinated and asked him how he did it. He explained and then asked if I wanted to give it a try. I said yes and he simply replied, "Are you ready? Because I am about to empower you!” It was a pretty serious moment and he began to lay down the rules. Rule #1 never leave the studio until the song is done. Rule #2 find beats you like on YouTube under ‘typebeats’. Rule #3 Always press record and save in LogicPro cause you never want to forget or lose lyrics you come up with. And so, on April 22, 2022, I wrote my first song, and I never stopped. Morning after morning I became addicted. See, it was in that studio, that creative space that I realised, I never wanted to die, I just wanted to really LIVE! MUSIC IS LIFE! AND IT SAVED MINE!”
“As my son saw my catalogue growing he opened me a Soundcloud page where I have built a fanbase and garnered over 300,000 plays in multiple genres.”
Can you tell us a bit about your latest release and what it means to you?
“My latest release is my very first EP, while I write in all genres, I love EDM music and love to dance! These are some of my favourite songs and the lyrics are so insanely true and a heartfelt expression of my feelings. I love so deeply and passionately, and I have only loved a few. These songs are so current with the new wave of love and how we connect with people online, through DM's. It about the infatuation we all feel even thought we may already be taken or in a relationship. We are human and we are attracted to other humans. Nothing could ever stop that.”
“I believe these are ‘dance anthems’ that capture the thrill of modern-day flirtation in the digital age, turning the art of sliding into DMs into a high-energy soundtrack for clubs and festivals alike. With its irresistible drops and vibrant productions throughout, I just felt EDM and Dance music was the first EP I wanted to share. But I have five more in other genres coming next year!”
“On another note, as an artist I just want to share my art, it’s like, I have to get it out and that is what I do every day. I start writing around 5:00 am, searching for beats on YouTube and Beatstars. This album has tracks I found on Beatstars, and the fact that I did not have to cosy up to some producer or some musician I am sleeping with or who wants to sleep with me to help me, gives me the freedom to create non-stop. I don’t need to beg for help. Once I record my song, I send it off to my engineer, who I found on Fiverr, and I mix and master. To have a real EP out there in the EDM scene is a dream come true, I mean, I am literally living my dreams! ‘Slidin’ in Yo DM’ is a deeply personal yet fun project. It explores how social media has transformed the way we connect and love, blending heartfelt lyrics with playful beats. To me, this EP is about embracing vulnerability while also laughing at the absurdity of dating and relationships in the modern world.”
Are there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the EP?
“Well, to be honest, these songs were inspired by this idea I could love an old lover again. My ex kinda popped back into my life via Instagram during my very depressive state, somehow seeing him on my timeline gave me comfort, that I was not as alone as I felt, so when I started writing he was ever present in my mind. So, I played with the thoughts of us and used that relationship and him as a muse. I create stories and fantasies in my mind about the ‘what if’. What if I just slid in my ex’s DM and told him that I needed him, What would happen? I truly love him and our relationship ended over 20 years ago, but as I mentioned, I didn't love many men, so the ones i did are still very close to me. I should tell you I am often if not daily inspired by my social media feed. I like to tell a good story and I get some crazy messages in my DM's as they say ‘IT GOES DOWN IN THE DM’."
What was your songwriting process for the EP? How did it all come together?
“My songwriting process for ‘Slidin' In Yo DM’ was simple, I'd wake up at the sunrise and write and record before my kids got up for school and before I headed to the movie set. They say it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to truly master something. That idea really resonates with me, and it’s a big part of why I’ve written over 800 songs. Every time I sit down to create, I’m getting closer to mastery. It’s not just about the quantity – it’s about learning, experimenting, and growing with every lyric and melody. Writing is my way of dedicating myself to the process, and it is incredibly therapeutic. I like to make simple to follow songs with an anthem feel, but true to real life experiences. ‘Slidin’ In Yo Dm’ is just a way of life now.”
How would you describe the sound on the EP? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?
“The sound is energetic, vibrant, electric and sultry, I think. I mean, I am not even sure if I am in the deep house genre, I just think I am. My style is constantly evolving as am I and I am looking for new producers to bring out new parts of my creativity I have yet to tap into. this week I wrote two new deep house songs and I just wanna keep writing to find new ways to connect.”
You mentioned that idea of a ‘What If’ moment; is there a central message or theme you were trying to convey throughout the EP?
“Hmm, I think my goal in creating the song ‘Slidin’ In Yo DM’ and the ep was just to show my love, my passion, my desire and need to love and be loved. We all need so much love, I can’t help it, I need it like I need air and water.”
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations as an artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years, both musically and personally?
“Looking ahead I see myself performing at some live EDM shows with some amazing DJ’s and producers mixing my songs in their set. I wanna do festivals all over the world and dance ‘til it hurts! I have so much music mixed and mastered ready to release and I plan to drop a song every month or every week in 2025, I have so many songs! I really wanna write for other artists and get my songs in film and television. I am pitching my songs every day to music supervisors and I love writing for films, like receiving the script and building a song around it.”
“On an educational note, I am wrapping up my master's in clinical psychology which I returned to school for after my bout with depression. Understanding psychology has changed my life, the way I act on set and the way I write songs. Everything has changed, because education changes you. Another big aspiration I have is to do a TED talk on the psychology of music and how music heals. I have already completed my presentation, I just have to get on TED talk now. I know there are people out there who are broken like I was, but healing and happiness is so tangible.”
What's next after this release? Do you have any new releases or shows on the horizon?
“I have several releases coming up, my dedication to Mr. Beast, is an anthem I wrote for the YouTube Sensation Mr. Beast after I was on his show. The song is about my journey to the Beast Games and how my kids inspired me to apply. We shot a funny music video that drops later this month on my YouTube channel. I hope Mr. Beast likes it and shares it with his fans. Right after that I have a love EP dropping, this will be my second EP titled ‘Web Of Love’ and it is full of amazing indie soul tracks for a lovely hot spring and summer!”
What sort of reception have you had to your latest EP? Are there any memorable moments that stand out?
“Because I got my release loaded up a little ahead of time I was able to take advantage of the perks that come with Distrokid, like pitching to playlists, and the morning of my release I woke up to over 16,000 streams and that was just on Spotify. Now, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but to me, it was everything to know that many people had already listened, I was not expecting that, especially since I didn't have a budget for promotion.”
Is there anything you would like to say to our audience? How can they connect with you and help support you?
Thank you for listening and supporting my musical art. Your love fuels my creativity! Follow my journey on social media and share your favourite tracks - it means the world!”
It's clear that Coco Farmani is an artist on a mission, driven by a passion for storytelling and a desire to connect with listeners on a deep level. 'Slidin' In Yo DM' is a testament to her unique blend of vulnerability, humour, and infectious energy. With a string of releases on the horizon and a clear vision for the future, Coco is poised to make a significant mark on the music world. So, turn up the volume, embrace the rhythm, and get ready to slide into the DMs of deep house with Coco Farmani. You can connect with Coco and stay updated on her journey through her social media channels and be sure to check out her latest EP, ‘Slidin' In Yo DM’, available now on all major streaming platforms.
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