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| CocoRosie | |
|---|---|
| Name | CocoRosie |
| Background | group_or_band |
| Origin | Paris, France / New York City, New York |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Touch and Go Records, Sub Pop, City Slang |
| Associated acts | Anohni, Devendra Banhart, Antony and the Johnsons, Björk |
CocoRosie CocoRosie is an experimental music group formed by sisters who create a hybrid of folk music, opera, hip hop, and electronic music. The duo emerged from scenes centered in Paris, New York City, and Los Angeles, attracting attention from critics at publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Their work intersects with visual artists, film directors, and fashion designers, and has provoked debate across outlets including Rolling Stone and The Village Voice.
Formed in the early 2000s amid connections to Portland, Oregon, Paris, and New York City, the sisters recorded early demos that circulated through networks tied to lo-fi music, indie rock, and the freak folk revival associated with figures like Devendra Banhart and Beth Orton. Their debut album on Touch and Go Records captured attention alongside releases by Sufjan Stevens, Animal Collective, and Fleet Foxes. Touring followed appearances at festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties, Le Guess Who?, and SXSW, sharing bills with Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, and Animal Collective. Over subsequent years they recorded for labels including Sub Pop and City Slang, collaborated with artists linked to Antony and the Johnsons and Björk, and engaged in multimedia projects that connected them to galleries in Berlin and Los Angeles.
Their sound combines elements from classical music, hip hop, blues, and electronic music while drawing on aesthetics from surrealism and avant-garde music. Vocal arrangements reference techniques from opera and jazz singers, and their use of found sounds and tape manipulation echoes practitioners such as Brian Eno and Steve Reich. Lyrical themes intersect with imagery associated with French literature and the Beat Generation, aligning them loosely with contemporaries like PJ Harvey and Björk who blend literary influences into songwriting. Production choices show kinship with producers from Warp Records and 4AD affiliated projects, while instrumentation recalls artists on Sub Pop and Touch and Go Records rosters.
Their discography includes studio albums released during the 2000s and 2010s on labels such as Touch and Go Records and Sub Pop, with notable tracks that received press from NME, Pitchfork, and The Guardian. Singles from these albums were remixed by producers connected to DFA Records and XL Recordings; songs have been placed in films by directors who collaborated with musicians from David Lynch to Harmony Korine. Collectors and critics compare particular tracks to works by Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and Sinead O'Connor for their lyrical darkness and vocal delivery. Compilation appearances and limited releases tied them to scenes surrounding Rough Trade and Matador Records.
The sisters have worked with a range of musicians and artists from across genres, including singers and producers associated with Antony and the Johnsons, Anohni, Devendra Banhart, and Björk. Side projects brought them into contact with filmmakers linked to Sofia Coppola-adjacent indie circles and visual artists represented by galleries in Berlin and Los Angeles. They have contributed to charity compilations alongside artists from Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, and Regina Spektor, and have appeared on recordings produced by engineers who worked with Radiohead and Bjork.
Their shows are noted for theatrical staging, costumes, and multimedia elements that place them in the lineage of performers like Kate Bush, Björk, and Patti Smith. Festival appearances include events comparable to All Tomorrow's Parties, SXSW, and European festivals where they shared lineups with Animal Collective and Fleet Foxes. Tours have taken them through venues ranging from DIY spaces associated with the indie rock circuit to established theaters in Paris and New York City. Performances frequently incorporate video art and collaborators from the experimental film community connected to Berlin International Film Festival circles.
Critics from outlets such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times have alternately praised their originality and critiqued their use of cultural imagery, prompting public debates similar to controversies faced by artists like Björk and Kanye West when cultural appropriation is alleged. Academic discussion in journals of popular music and cultural studies has positioned their work within debates about authenticity and identity alongside case studies of Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson. Interviews and op-eds in publications including The Guardian and Vogue have covered both lauded collaborations and disputes over lyrical content and visual representation.
They engage extensively with visual artists, fashion designers, and filmmakers, collaborating with photographers and stylists linked to magazines such as Vogue, Dazed, and i-D. Costuming and stage design draw from runway aesthetics seen in shows by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and collaborations reminiscent of projects by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Their video work has screened at festivals and galleries associated with Art Basel and independent film programs, aligning their practice with contemporaries from visual-music intersections such as Björk and Laurie Anderson.
Category:American musical duos Category:Experimental musical groups