Wyn Starks’ newest single ‘Coco’ is a radiant pop-meets-soul celebration of black identity, which is tenderly addressed to the symbols of “coco boy” and “coco girl” who are themselves the product of generations of resilience, survival, struggle and triumph. The artist’s aim is to lift up anyone who has doubted their worth due to the systems of oppression and racism that still seek to create division among people of different ethnicities, cultures and races. Wyn sensitively acknowledges that life can be difficult, but that doesn’t have to define your existence. The pre-chorus in particular holds a touching message of encouragement and reassurance: “it′s a cruel world, hold on, it’s a hard life, be strong, just keep fighting on, ’cause you′re a champion.”

Set against a rich tapestry of percussion that’s inspired by Wyn’s own African heritage, as well as breezy acoustic strings that root the track within his hometown Nashville, this song is the definition of warmth. The addition of “lele” in the chorus also emphasises the role of a shared history within in the black community, especially in the US. Lele can refer to the diverse languages spoken by the Bantu, Chadic, Mande or Ubangi peoples, a word in itself in Igbo (meaning “to float” or “to swim”) or a celebratory sound used by the Swahili people. Wyn Starks recognises the deep, unifying potential of language, movement and music with ‘Coco’.

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