In conversation w/
ko aka koala

NOVEMBER 13, 2024 → PHOTOGRAPHY, CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING KO AKA KOALA JEWELRY & SPECIAL THANKS VITALY PR COAKLEY PUBLIC RELATIONS

Aspiring to collide the worlds of music, fashion, and art, LA-based pop star ko aka koala learned from an early age that music isn’t just for your ears. KO’s dexterity and imagination shine when she creates visual landscapes that mirror her music.

Her music blends various genres into catchy, femme-forward bops dripping with cheeky lyrics and clever cultural references, proving that pop music is totally limitless. KO’s most recent single, “Brand New” is another amazing addition to the popstar’s musical repertoire, touching on the dissolution of a crush. Ironically, though the song touches on KO being released from a spell and seeing someone for who they truly are, her vocals are hypnotic and the fast-paced tempo draws listeners in.

In light of her new single and more new music in December, the pop star, songwriter, and all-around multifaceted artist provided SICKY with an exclusive look into one of her many pockets of imagination. Wearing mostly pieces she’s collected herself, KO also collaborated with experimental design studio Vitaly, which produces accessories constructed from 100% recycled stainless steel. KO prioritized movement in her SICKY photoshoot, shedding light on her current fixation: dance and body movement. It’s no coincidence that “Brand New” is impossible not to dance to, with several moments that hint at potential choreography breaks.

We picked KO’s brain on her influences (past and current), her process with imagery and music, her most recent single, “Brand New,” and more.

What is your first memory of music, and how did it set the stage for your eventual musical career?

One of my first memories is watching music videos on YouTube with my sister. I tried to mimic the voices and the choreography, and I think that’s when I realized that music isn’t just something that you hear but something you feel. So it made me really want to pursue creating something that also connects with other people.

You’re covered in studs with your most recent single, “Brand New”, in your album art. Your album art and photoshoots surrounding your music always capture a unique and well-styled look. How do you come up with the imagery and connect it to that particular song?

Well, the feeling that I kept getting when I was making “Brand New” was that I was growing spikes on my skin because I was changing, and I didn’t want this person to get too close to me. I wanted to kind of repel them in a way. So I kept seeing this image in my head, and then I just created it, and it was cool because it doesn’t always end up looking like what you see in your head, exactly the way you envisioned it, but this time it did.

Can you share some of the lyrics for “Brand New”? What is the song about?

It’s about a turning point in a relationship where you see things for what they actually are, and you’re kind of waking up from an illusion, or a spell that you were under that was finally broken. So the lyrics are: “Your disposition, inclinations, it’s your DNA. It’s demystified, we’re unsynchronized. I'm so unaddicted. I just got the sickness.” And that’s just me saying you are who you are and I can finally see it clearly, but there’s no hate. It’s just the realization that everything this person is doing just irks me.

What instrumental element do you start with when you’re producing a track? And how do you build the song from there?

It’s actually pretty different every time. Sometimes I’ll start with the chords or the bassline. Usually, I’ll just start with the element that I think is the most interesting that carries the song and then just build around that.

How has your musical persona changed and grown since you first began?

It’s definitely broadened musically, I think, and it’s way more developed. I’ve experimented a lot, and I’ve also grown in the way I view dance and performance.

What songs or artists can’t you get enough of right now?

I’m listening to “Whiplash” by Aespa and I’m obsessed with the choreography.

What would be a dream collaboration for you?

The k-pop girl group, Twice. It would be really cool to collaborate with them.

Your primary genre is hyper-pop, yet you excel at weaving in other genres like punk rock in “I don’t want anything to do with you anymore” and hip-hop in “Brand New”. Are there any untapped genres or musical styles you want to experiment with?

I have been in a dance music moment even though I have kind of done dance music in the past - there are a lot of different genres of dance music though. But lately, I’ve been making dance tracks for some reason.

What inspired your photos for SICKY? Please describe the incredible look and concept. What brands are you representing here?

In the photos, a lot of what I’m wearing is my own clothes. I love collecting pieces. The jewelry pieces I’m wearing are Vitaly jewelry. For this photoshoot, I wanted to incorporate dance and movement. There’s a set up of me in a lyra and a lot of moving around in weird positions. I think that was kind of the inspiration just moving and being free.