COCC (VN): Why COCC rule the (under)ground
Insiders' revelation upon Vietnam's underground best-kept secret, COCC as the power trio release Loài người bị điên (Insane Human) EP this July.
The Vietnamese alternative trio with Phuc on guitars and vocals, Cuong on drums and Quoc on bass was born in the vibrant city of Saigon. They burst onto the scene with a debut concert in Dec 2010 and the debut album "6 giờ", quickly earning widespread recognition and a devoted following across Vietnam, and equally quickly retreating to their basement, literally and figuratively.
The titular live session encompasses the latest compositions from what would make a concept album, something they are very much cut out for while wire-walking between immense creativity and self-scrutinising perfection.
Where and how does this live session from the basement situate in COCC’s fascinating yet obscure journey? What would best summarise this journey, to those who are curious and keen to know more about you, upon this release?
The founding trio consisting of Phúc on guitars and synth, Cường on drums and Quốc on bass have been playing music together for 17 years. We are as always active, practising and writing new songs. After 6 giờ (“6 o’clock”), the debut full-length, being released in physical CD format in 2011, COCC worked upon Cóc Kiện Trời (inspired after a Vietnamese folk tale called Why Toads Rule the Sky), another concept album, to be released in 2017; for various unexpected reasons, the project was eventually shelved, though audiences could still enjoy the album in its entirety in our live shows performed and recorded in the same year.
After a slumberous while, COCC returned with a brand new concept album, fully aware that our unique circumstances in which we operate i.e compose for and listen by ourselves are making us a lesser known entity in the local music community, and much less an artist that can fill up venues. However (or not), simultaneously, we keep playing in our den, a self-built basement studio, and record them in the Live Sessions upcoming, wherein the interested audiences would be given access to our large repertoire, and of course, our latest compositions.
Artwork by Kicu
2. In this live session, are the compositions coming from a single source of inspiration (being a band known for concepts), or viewed as individual works put together?
Like said, COCC has a penchant for writing concept albums, or concepts built upon a central, dominant theme, for each album. After enjoying our Live Session: Loài người bị điên (Insane Human), audiences can fill in their own interpretation and feelings towards our current concept, titled Suối Nguồn, or Fountainhead (if the name Howard Roark mentally pops up, bull’s eye!)
That being said, in our writing process, and jamming, we come up with a good deal of songs that do not fit in one concept or another album of ours; some of which could be previously found in our live performances such as Rùa Kìa, Đi xe dù, Em đâu rồi, or Chán.
3. Creativity does never come out of thin air, without being influenced by, or blocked from influencing others. Could you possibly locate your current position amidst this endless stream?
It is natural that we are indebted creatively and musically to the artists and music that we choose and listen to daily. However, for the longest time, our music does not prioritise or emphasise any necessity to sound like our favourite artists, or specific genres or styles. Instead, we place utmost importance upon our songwriting DNA, conveyed through the messages articulated in our concept album, in our songs. Simply said, ours is just music, Vietnamese, and by Vietnamese folks.
COCC from left to right: Phúc - Cường - Quốc
4. By deliberately removing yourselves from the contemporary mainstream in Vietnam, and even from the smaller music-loving communities, what does it bring upon and take away from COCC? Is there any potent for future basement sessions that can be revealed, or is it too early?
The one (and perhaps only) advantage of being an outsider is we are independent completely from any financial pressures while giving ourselves absolute freedom of expression. The disadvantage, however, is the lack of public exposure. We cannot release our albums as planned, nor engage more often in live performances, against a very simplistic intent: to release and share our music to the largest possible audience. Balancing our own passion, our preoccupations and regrets, as well as the anticipated collaboration with dedicated scene players, COCC looks at having greater amount of activities, Basement session being one of them.
Credit: Son Hoang - COCC live at Darts Darts Darts, 28 July, 2013 supporting Japan’s Zeni Geva x KK Null x Ruins Alone
5. Please select three compositions that you think best represent the band’s ADN, for both hardcore fans and newbies alike? Is there some sort of negotiation between the lyrical content and music?
We really cannot choose when it comes to our own compositions. Each phase is a unique experience, each album a story. Even with individual compositions, there exist numerous versions, weighed in by our tosses and turns, our reworks and modifications, and above all, the great excitement upon finding out what works best.
Sounds are the expressed medium, therefore our music and lyrical content are of equal importance. Audiences can get our message right from the first listen.
A true story from Phúc. Once, while wandering in a museum in Thailand, he came across a busking guitar player. After a brief exchange and being asked to play his original work, he strummed the given guitar and sang “6 giờ”.
Poster for COCC’s first ever Hanoi appearance on 13 September, 2014, organised by The Onion Cellar
6. If you are to choose the ultimate song to cover, which one would that be, and by whom?
From time immemorial, we only play our own compositions. As for a favourite song to cover, perhaps it is Help by the Beatles. For reasons unknown even to us, we do play the song many times, each in our idiosyncratic growls and wails.
“Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone
Help!
When I was younger so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors
…”
May 2024
Loài người bị điên - Full live session from the basement