After landing on several high-profile playlists curated by some of the biggest names in K-Pop, Filipino singer-songwriter/producer Young Cocoa returns with “Nova,” his new single under the pan-regional label, OFFMUTE.
Incorporating a bossa nova sample as the foundation for the rest of the beat, the prolific hip-hop artist raps about young love with awe-inspiring giddiness and delivers one of the breeziest crossover tunes to come out in a while.
The smooth bop was produced by Cavill, who captured the energy of the lyrics with undeniable ease. It will be part of his upcoming debut EP to be released in the latter part of 2022.
“We wanted to create a song that was easy to listen to, had a lot of bounce, and felt ‘bubbly’ in the same way the lyrics were written,” reveals the rising Asian rapper. “Nova’s creation really just started off of the exploration of a different sound and progressed into a song that I wrote about having an innocent crush, or puppy love. The title is directly inspired by my favorite snack, Nova, and the use of Bossa Nova elements in the production.”
The song comes with a performative visual that aims to bring to life the single art inspired by Wes Anderson—in some capacity. Young Cocoa adds, “The video is set in sunrise, midday, and sunset, where I basically perform as if I’m talking about/to the person I like.”
The Manila chart-topper also tapped filmmaker friend Miko Del Rosario to direct the “Nova” MV with Leo Malli as DOP.
Check out Young Cocoa’s “Nova” on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE. Watch the video here.
Follow YOUNG COCOA on socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyoungestcocoa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngcocoa_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_youngcocoa
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offmuteASIA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/offmute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offmute/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offmute
About Young Cocoa
As one of the most promising hip-hop artists in the Southeast Asian region, OFFMUTE signee Young Cocoa quickly rose to fame after BTS’ resident rapper RM included his track “Manila” in one of the global superstar’s online playlists. The trailblazing bop, which finds the Filipino artist rapping over lo-fi beats and jazzy soundscapes, eventually went viral and received endorsements and playlist inclusions from Korean artists such as RM of BTS, Jay of ENHYPEN, Yeri of Red Velvet, Eric of The Boyz, Omega X, Dawon of SF19 and Lia Kim from 1Million Dance Studio.
Currently based in Manila, the 24-year-old rapper and songwriter have established himself as genre-averse artist whose music draws a lot from his personal narratives and observations on life. With groove-oriented production and smooth urban sound, Young Cocoa’s work explores a diverse range of genres and sonic template that often reflects a state of dreaminess and escape, but whose verses embrace the confessional and authentic side of storytelling.
The eclectic Filipino artist considers Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Anderson Paak., Saba and Tyler The Creator as some of his music influences. He works with some of the most underrated and innovative hip-hop and electronic producers in Asia, from Korean-based beatmaker Lazy Wanderlust to Indonesia’s very own Ghidd. Blending his own artistry with sonic collages set up by his collaborators, Young Cocoa provides a unique music stamp with layers of childlike nostalgia, countryside daydream, and city futurism, and touches on themes derived from his experiences as a third culture kid.
As the first hip-hop artist under the pan-regional music label, OFFMUTE, Young Cocoa is determined to push the Southeast Asian sound to the next level, while retaining his personhood in the creative process. He is currently working on new songs off his debut EP to be released soon.
His first official single is “Zesto,” a bouncy electro-pop tune that reimagines the very definition of a summer anthem.
ABOUT OFFMUTE
OFFMUTE is a new pan-regional label by Sony Music Entertainment focused on championing new and emerging Southeast Asian artists from across all genres, giving them a dedicated platform to pursue their creative vision and reach audiences across the region.
The new label will support Southeast Asian artists in amplifying their music and building a strong pan-regional audience base with the enhanced promotional, marketing, and artistic development of Sony Music’s global expertise and resources.
OFFMUTE is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, embracing the eclectic appeal and rich diversity that Southeast Asia has to offer and empowering artists with the resources and expertise to find cross-border success.
OFFMUTE was launched in March 2021 with new artists signed from Indonesia (Mezzaluna), the Philippines (Clara Benin), and Malaysia (liesl-mae).
