A Chat with Quko (21.08.2020)
Manchester-based artists Quko might still be finding his musical feet but is doing so in the most captivating way. His single ‘This Was Meant To Be A Sad Song’ was self-recorded and is a wonderful introduction to his developing sound. We sat down with Quko to talk about the single, the accompanying music video, his music and much more!
OSR: Was there a moment or person who first got you interested in music?
Quko: I’ve always been interested in music from a young age. I used to have a little mp3 player that could record all my weird and wonderful ideas, writing songs about hating school to songs about spongecakes. I always kept it to myself though until I got recognised by Future Bubblers back in 2018, which gave me the confidence and belief that people are interested in my story.
OSR: What drew you to your preferred genre?
Quko: Actually, I don’t really have a preferred genre I love folk, gospel, modern classical and all sorts. What I love about RnB is that it nicely portrays youthful expression and there are certain freedom and looseness to it.
OSR: Is there a backstory to ‘This Was Meant To Be A Sad Song’?
Quko: Well, it’s as literal as it gets, no lie. I was writing a sad song but the lyrics sucked and it was way too depressing and a certain someone was on my mind so I threw out the old lyrics and gave it a retouch. Then voilà that’s where the story ends. I was also applying for a singing comp at Pirate Studios where it came first place which was cool.
OSR: What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome when making this single?
Quko: You can probably hear that it’s under-produced because I’m not a producer but hey what can you do in quarantine? Also, lovey-dovey songs like this cringe me a little, writing about spongecakes is definitely easier.
OSR: How did you decide on the creative direction of the music video?
Quko: I bought a new green screen and, along with a broken umbrella, I decided to mess around with them. Also, lockdown has got me interested in animation so this was me doing my first ever animation, hence the shoddiness.
OSR: How do you feel your music has evolved over time?
Quko: I care less nowadays so I just let my music be whatever it wants to be. I used to want it to be structured and formed but my mind just doesn’t function like that.
OSR: If your music was a new addition to the crayon box, what colour would it be and why?
Quko: Turquoise because my music is weird like that. Like is it green or is it blue? I’m always in the middle of nowhere, I can never decide.
OSR: What is your favourite and least favourite aspect of making music?
Quko: My favourite bit is being your own biggest fan and having genuine excitement to everything you do. Also, I get to express myself in ways that I can’t do in reality, my diary is essentially my music.
However, there’s a lot of anxiety to it, it is dependent on whether people dig it or not. So having to sit tight waiting on people’s response can be a killer for me.
OSR: If people could remember one thing about you, what would you like it to be?
Quko: That I’m comfortable being different and that I would’ve been playing in the NBA and getting nominated for an Oscar if it weren’t for my damn knee injury.
OSR: What can we expect from you in the next 12 months?
Quko: More releases, festivals, EPs, music videos. I’ll be joining the We Out Here festival. I’m doing a lot so it’s easier if you find me on @stayquko Facebook and Instagram and on stayquko.co.uk.
Thanks to Quko for chatting with us! You can find more about him on his website, Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.
