Greedmont Park

Under ‘Pressure’ with Quadron

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Team Greedmont | 5 Comments; | Category: Entertainment, Interview, Music, RnB/Jazz/Soul

Feeling good is something that can be taken for granted. For music to make you smile, laugh, or just feel better than you did before is a gift. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with the lyrics, production, voice, or melody. It’s simply just unexplainable. “Pressure” bleeds through my computer speakers as I’m looking what to post on Greedmont Park. I thought I was in search for something cool, something fashionable, something that would make me seem as cool as the website I was writing for. Instead, I found Quadron’s video for “Pressure”. It was cool and fashionable, but more than anything, it made me feel good. Music that makes you feel is the most valuable. I research more and retrieve their CD, and I fall in love.
Coco is the lead singer and Robin is the producer, they mesh together to make soul tunes tinged with European electronic elements that form to make a great sound that is reminiscent of a time that I wasn’t even born for, but it still feels now and ever-present. Songs like “Pressure” and “Average Fruit” are smart and spirited with complimentary production and a crisp voice caressing them. There’s the bluesy and soulful “Jeans” and “Slippin” that are as youthful as they are spirited. Then, there are stand-out tracks like “Buster Keaton” that verge on psychedelic. “Quadron” is a breath of fresh-air. When I’m cleaning, hanging out with a romantic prospect, or busy at work; Quadron’s “Quadron” would be playing.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I get word that Quadron would be coming to Atlanta. Within the next few minutes I get a call that I’m invited to the concert, free of charge (what a life I lead!) and I’m sent into a panic thinking about outfit choices and songs I hope they perform. The night comes of their first performance in Atlanta and notoriously brunette lead-singer, CoCo, is now a blonde. She’s sporting a navy and white polka-dot dress that inspires thoughts of Marilyn Monroe. She apologizes for being under-the-weather and dealing with a voice that is not up to par. However, the crowd can only see a bright personality and soaringly, soulful voice. CoCo is captivating, effortlessly spilling her soul, sipping on her drink, dancing, and telling jokes. The audience, after the show, gets to meet the duo and get pictures. I was amazed by their sense of humor and warm spirits. It was within that moment that I knew that I’d have to talk to them about their stardom, style, and pressure.

It was less than a week before I was given Robin’s number to exclusively chat it up with the Swedish, soul group (again, what a life that I lead!). Just like I imagined it was filled with thoughtful responses and quirky jokes. Foremost, I had to ask them about the origin of their name, Quadron. CoCo reveals that it comes from the fact that both her and Robin are a quarter-black and the word Quadron (or quadroon in English) means quarter Black. The revelation led me to ask how exactly did they become friends, CoCo spiels. “It took a couple of years. We met through a mutual friend and one day took us to a breakfast shop.” She explains how that resulted in a working relationship. “I sung, they were searching for a live vocalist and really liked my voice.”
Going from playing live gigs in Denmark to exploring the U.S. and being critically acclaimed is a hard concept to fathom for either one of the artists. “We still can’t believe what’s going on. Sometimes, we look at each other and laugh, that’s all we can do. It’s like a fairytale.” She even explains how this American scene is totally different to the one they’re use to back home. “In Denmark, soul music is something cute and not that serious.” She explains the surprising reaction when famous, soul-guru Raphael Saadiq visited their home. “People didn’t ask for autographs or photos, people are proud. We both went to see Raphael Saadiq to see him and no one came up to him.” So, the American tour they are on is an important one for them and their music, but how are they taking to the states? “We love America! We loved America before we came here! It felt like we knew America in some ways, but it was different to experience America.” Coco starts to giggle, “It’s just like the movies! Everybody wants to make it in America, somehow. We didn’t expect that from this album.”
Robin Hannibal is a noted producer in his own right, so the intimate approach he took with production on the Quadron LP is fascinating and asked him what exactly was the motive behind the sound. “It was really important to include as much space as possible. Some of the other music that I created was very crowded and massive. I made it a mission to make room for the vocals. We had so many ideas and inspirations.” Since, he did take a left-field approach to his usual production masterpieces, I asked his reaction to the finished product. “I’m proud of it! We just kept on working on songs until satisfied. We went back several times and re-recorded. They all have special places in our hearts.”
To look at a Quadron video is to look at art and style in a four minute segment. From the hometown video “Jeans” to the visually captivating clip “Buster Keaton”, their videos are always awe-inspiring. I inquired how important visual and style is to them and their music. “It’s really important these days. There’s so much going on, it’s really important that your personality and style is shown and focused. We found people we like who are passionate and had style we thought was interesting and could make something that would reflect the music that we do. We try to be very distinct about our visual representation”, Robin explains.
Like any collaboration it takes trust and learning someone. I ask Robin about how it is collaborating with someone on the music and art. “It takes time and you also get to know each other better, what the other person wants. It’s built on trust and respect. The more you get into [the recording process], the more you understand and appreciate each other. You see and believe the other one came into something interesting. We both know that both elements, vocals and production, have to work and be really good.
With such a stylish and sound-conscious duo such as Quadron on the scene, I had to ask what they were listening to while touring the world. Robin chuckles, “I haven’t been listening to extensively to anyone, but at the moment, alot of soul and disco. 80′s soul, late 70′s soul, but no specific artists.” CoCo gets excited, “I’m listening to beach house only! Sade, as well. Sade has the dopest style.”
Listening to Coco gush about Sade’s lovely style led me to ask how exactly she defines style. “Style is to be confident. You don’t have to be the most expensive or fashionable clothing, look, or sound. It’s just being confident in what you do.”
I decided to get more light-hearted and made sure that Quadron wasn’t some crude joke on soul-lovers between a producer and singer, and we could look forward to more music. They laugh, “It’s definitely not an experiment, it’s definitely not the only album. This is the beginning. The party’s just getting started!” I couldn’t leave them without asking another silly question, since one of their songs is titled after the actor Buster Keaton, I wanted to know their favorite films. Robin replied, “‘Ghostbusters 2!’”. Coco exclaims, “‘Fame’! I can watch that everyday.” Yeah, Quadron will fit right in the good ‘ole U.S. of A.

- words by Myles E. Johnson
- live photos by Pastiche