Coco Love Alcorn has always followed her spirit, but never so literally as with her latest album, Wonderland. The songs spring from her personal journey, but true to her nature, Coco offers a universal interpretation that invites all listeners to jump in and sing along.

During a 5 year break from heavy touring to raise her daughter Ellie, Coco began working on a new album. She wanted to explore songwriting from a new perspective. Coco was curious to see what would happen if she put down her guitar and wrote with just her voice. She began a journey of layering vocals and rhythms on a 5 track looper. In the fall of 2014 she released a video of herself performing one of these first looper layered songs, ‘The River’.

Something amazing and unexpected happened, the video started to spread across the internet and into the world of community choirs. These choirs started to learn Coco’s looper arrangement and perform The River in their own concerts. Coco has always loved group singing and encouraging anyone who wants to sing to do so, but this grassroots spread of ‘The River’ was a complete surprise. To date there are about 20 choirs singing ‘The River’ across Canada, the States and even in the UK.

As this was happening, Coco was continuing to write and record the songs for this album. She also continued sharing songs online, performing them live and in turn let the listeners shape what this album became. As her new music was inspiring choirs to sing her songs, these choirs in turn were inspiring Coco. And as Coco traveled across Canada performing between recording and home time, these new songs became infused with the spirit of connection. Without choirs grabbing a hold of The River, and fans already connecting so deeply with her new material, this would have been a completely different album.

Just like her career – which has spanned over 20 years, 10 albums, cross-canada tours, collaborations, festival appearances, award nominations and notable success in TV and film licensing – creating this album has been a journey. And it took someone with a spirit like Coco’s to navigate this path.

Highlights:

2010 ECMA – Female artist Recording of the Year (nomination)
2010 East Coast Music Award – Songwriter of the Year (nomination)
2009 Nova Scotia Music Awards – Female Album of the Year (nomination)
2009 Nova Scotia Music Awards – Jazz Album of the Year (nomination)

As sweet and cool as a tub of Häagen-Dazs
– Chatelaine, July 2009

A bright burst of colour
– Lara Purvis, Ottawa Express

The more I listen, the more I hit repeat
– The Vancouver Province

Coco has the voice, look and most importantly presence of a true Canadian star
– Echo Weekly