Flowerovlove and Facesoul are confirmed as Koko's first Luno Eclipse artists

18 August 2022 - Press release

THE NEW BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST PROGRAMME INTRODUCES A NEW WAVE OF VITAL NEW ARTISTS 

WATCH EXCLUSIVE NEW CONTENT FROM BOTH ARTISTS AT THE ECLIPSE BY KOKO WEBSITE

  

Today, KOKO today launches its new Luno Eclipse initiative, a new breakthrough artist programme that allows the venue to celebrate its rich cultural history while fiercely embracing the future of music, produced and directed by KOKO Studios.

KOKO is proud to reveal that its first two Luno Eclipse artists are; flowerovlove and FACESOUL. The new initiative is launched in partnership with Luno, KOKO's cryptocurrency partner, creating exclusive new content from both artists.  The content has been shot and directed by KOKO Studios,KOKO's newly launched content studios which is looking to help artists and brands develop exciting new content and formats.  The videos are now available at the new Eclipse By KOKO website. 

KOKO's Luno Eclipse programme helps essential new artists develop and promote next level, emotive content to engage with fans to cultivate the following that they deserve. KOKO will work with each chosen artist to tailor the initiative directly to their interests and needs. High-end creative content will include live performances, DJ sets, piano sessions, interviews or playlists. In addition to the visual content, KOKO will also support each artist via its myriad of platforms, including airplay on KOKO's soon to launch KOKO Radio, a lead editorial feature on KOKO's app and website, and various marketing initiatives, brand partnerships and social media activations.

Still just 17-years-old, flowerovlove's early tracks - including 'Hannah Montana', 'I Love This Song' and 'Malibu' - have seen her earn a growing Gen Z following. Her versatile style defies genre, as her melancholy melodies blend dreamy bedroom pop with trap-tinged beats and jazzy flourishes. Despite that eclectic sound, her approach is unified by her desire to uplift and empower, as well as the palpable sense of nostalgia that she infuses her music with.  flowerovlove (real name Joyce Cisse) is currently touring Europe as guest to ROLE MODEL and will also play the Pitchfork Music Festival Paris in November.

flowerovlove's session performance of 'Hannah Montana' provides a first taste of what to expect from the Luno Eclipse programme.  Her magnetic performance is the video's centrepiece and is complemented by a rich array of inventive visual touches, from the vibrant set design to the striking use of shadows and a flurry of falling confetti as she bounces into the song's irresistible hook. The performance is released alongside the short film The Penthouse Diary with flowerovlove, which was filmed within KOKO's elegantly designed penthouse.  She discusses the life-affirming allure of music, her approach to songwriting, and what she hopes people will take from her music. Both videos were directed by the award-winning production team Hamblin Imagery.

flowerovlove says, "Being chosen as the first artist under KOKO's new Luno Eclipse programme is really exciting. I'm so thrilled and happy to be a part of it.  The industry is so new to me so having the support of people who care and take the time to do things properly has been a really wonderful experience".

The second Luno Eclipse artist is the London-based Somali talent FACESOUL. His music is crafted with nothing beyond his magnificently stirring vocal gift, which is layered, textured and looped in a way that renders any other instrumentation redundant. Not only is it a unique approach, but it also establishes an ambience that's spiritual, transcendent and at times hymnal. His lyrics on songs such as 'Grow' and 'Through The Dark' shimmer with a soulful optimism that really speaks to this moment in time.

FACESOUL's performance of the brand new song 'Hope' is an inspiring introduction to his talents. Accompanied solely by a guitarist, he uses intricate layers of vocal harmonies to construct a rich soundscape around his emotionally-charged topline. By the time he concludes the song by singing, "All I want is just something more to believe in," FACESOUL has proven that he is an artist who delivers exactly that. The video's aesthetic perfectly complements his performance. Bathed in soft, shadowy lighting, it uses subtle, esoteric visual embellishments to heighten the class provided by FACESOUL's utterly compelling performance.

FACESOUL says, "The KOKO team really took the time to be caring and insightful to find a unique way of sharing the human behind the artist. I feel truly honoured to have been part of such an awesome project with a really capable team. This format that they've put together shows this is going to be something exciting. I hope it will continue and I'm really blessed to have been part of it." 

The Luno Eclipse programme is curated by KOKO's Programme Editor, Alex Odubote (also Executive Producer).  Of the programme Odubote says:  "There has never been a better opportunity to ensure breakthrough artists have a platform to tell their story, their way, through all digital mediums. At KOKO, we feel it's imperative we can endorse artists at every level with standout initiatives that go beyond live concerts and bring artists closer to their audience, wherever they are"

Sam Kopelman, Country Manager, Northern Europe at Luno: "Luno is proud to be taking our partnership with KOKO further with the launch of Luno Eclipse, playing a key role in nurturing the next generation of artists.  At Luno, we believe it's essential to embrace new technology when building for the future. We look forward to working with more artists and showing them the opportunities of cryptocurrency, giving them greater control over their music and their futures."

The next two Luno Eclipse artists will be announced later this autumn.