“Coco” is addressed to two people in particular: a “coco girl” and a “coco boy.” Wyn Starks wrote the song as reassurance for both, a reminder that their worth was never in question and that a champion’s spirit is something they already carry. The Curb Records artist released it on July 16th, and the imagery he reaches for draws on African heritage, with resilience passed from one generation to the next. It’s a message built for anyone who has ever questioned where they belong.
The song itself is luscious and warm, a perfect, empowering chant that will inspire you to feel like you can do anything positively. It’s built around a chorus meant to get people moving, with a melody that goes from tender encouragement to full celebration and a groove that carries the weight. The layers of harmony are rich and have so much soul to them, and it’s impossible not to love this song, I think.
Wyn Starks is signed to Curb and has been building a profile for a few years. He first reached a wide audience on Season 17 of America’s Got Talent, where he sang his original “Who I Am” and earned two standing ovations. That song was later featured in the Prime Video documentary I Am: Celine Dion, and it sits on his 2021 debut album Black Is Golden. According to the press release, he has spent the past two years touring, including several runs supporting Delta Rae, before heading back into the studio for a new album, and “Coco” is described as sitting at the heart of it.
Where “Who I Am” deals in vulnerability and perseverance, “Coco” is billed as a joyful celebration, and the harmonies carry that mood well. For listeners who came to Wyn Starks through the documentary, it’s a good sign of where he’s headed next, and for anyone new to Wyn Starks, “Coco” is an easy place to start.