MEET
Cocoa
Marie
"She realized her voice could do more than carry a melody.
It could move people."
Cocoa Marie’s earliest memories revolve around music.
Her mother, also a singer, would play her favorite songs while they sang and harmonized together.
Long before there was a stage or an audience, Cocoa learned that music was something to be shared.
By grade school, Cocoa had discovered her own passion for singing and performing, as others around her began to recognize her natural gift.
A childhood friend, Christine, was one of the first to point out that her voice was not the same as everyone else.
Her music teacher, Ms. Ungar, also took notice and made sure Cocoa had a place to sing in every school production, giving her opportunities to develop her talent and experience performing for an audience.
One of her most defining early moments came at her eighth-grade graduation. As Cocoa was performing Regina Belle’s
“If I Could,” she watched the audience smile, wipe away tears and connect with the emotion of the song.
For the first time, she understood the impact her voice could have. She realized her voice could do more than carry a melody. It could move people.
That connection between music, emotion and the audience became her inspiration for performing and continues to influence the artist she is today.
The feeling of connection that is created when music inspiores someone feel something, is what turned Cocoa's natural gift into a lasting passion,
and continues to fuel the performer she has become.
As an adult, Cocoa’s musical journey led her into gospel ensembles and eventually into singing background vocals for local artists.
Her love of harmony gave her an appreciation for more than simply being the voice out front. She learned to listen, to blend, to understand the music happening around her and to recognize how every part of the music, contributes to the experience of a song.
Cocoa brings that same awareness to every stage and every audience. Rather than giving every room the same show, Cocoa considers the people in front of her and the occasion that brought them together.
For Cocoa, the performance may begin onstage,
but the experience belongs to everyone in the room.
Her setlists move across genres and generations with intention, finding the music that can create the right experience, for that particular moment.
Today, what excites her most isn't only how far she has come, but how much there is still to explore. She is proud of the growth in her overall musicianship and continues to challenge herself not simply to become a stronger vocalist, but a more complete musician and performer.
Looking ahead, Cocoa hopes to carry her music into new markets,
reach new audiences and begin sharing original music.
"She learned to listen, blend & understand the music happening around her."
