Balancing between nu-jazz and indie R&B, Stockholm’s own Cosima Olu has given us In Between, a project driven by deep, sophisticated rhythms that glide on velvet-smooth arrangements, soulful deliveries and sweet, jazzy horn lines. Sometimes, hearing an artist discuss their work—the story, the inspiration—makes the music even more compelling. This is definitely one of those times. Enjoy our discussion with Cosima Olu below.
Describe your sound in 3 words
Soulful, honest, melancholic, yet playful.
“Overgrown” is about self-pride and the courage to stay present when life gets tough. Can you share a specific experience or moment that was the primary catalyst for writing this deeply personal message?
A couple of years ago, I lost both my parents. It wasn’t only their absence that took over, but also the beginning of a search for where I truly feel at home. This experience gave me a new perspective. In the midst of grief, my heart was filled with warmth. I feel very privileged to have had two present and loving parents by my side for 25 long years. During this time, I also met the love of my life. It’s strange how life can hold both sorrow and happiness at the same time.
Tell us a few things about your new album In Between. The album title suggests a sense of transition or duality. What artistic, emotional, or personal states are you navigating or exploring within that space on the record?
The album represents the space between sorrow and joy, light and darkness. Trying to stay present in this state of mind can be really hard. With my music, it’s important for me to stay true to my expression. Therefore, being transparent and open has been key in the making of this album.
At the same time, In Between is also a choice. I often hear that my music is hard to label genre-wise, which to me is an awesome thing. I’ve grown quite bored of categorizing art into certain boxes. This album isn’t confined to one genre — it carries different influences that reflect who I am as a songwriter and producer. In my opinion, my music exists somewhere in between genres.
Which song from the album represents you the most, and why?
That’s a hard one… What I love about working with the album format is that it gives me the possibility to tell a broader story to the listeners. Every brick is key.
Your most honest and personal lyric?
I should be grateful for what I’ve got
Sometimes I am, I will not lie
But the unknown could tear us apart
My love, we’ve got to keep on going.
Sometimes I feel like a lonely ghost
I’m heading back to visit home
I’m going through what time has lost
Remembering what we’ve lost.
As a seasoned live musician, how do you envision the bold and heartfelt expression of Overgrown, and the album as a whole, translating to a live performance setting?
I’m sooo looking forward to performing the songs from the album live. I think both the playfulness and the intimacy of the songs will become even clearer when shared with an audience. There are already a few shows in the pipeline this spring! :))
Artists and people that have influenced you?
I’ve always been a huge music lover, regardless of genre. In high school, I listened a lot to R&B artists like Aaliyah. Donny Hathaway has always had a great impact on me — nobody could sing like he did! In recent years, I’ve been listening a lot to jazz and instrumental music. While working on In Between, my focus has mainly been on setting the right mood for each story.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I once almost burned down my shared house — which made us realize we didn’t have home insurance. We got it right away… and got robbed the next weekend. So technically, I kind of saved the day!
Thank you!
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