Getting To Know... Koh-Dee

After cementing himself with a breadth of warm and enchanting delights these last few years, Australian producer Cody Webberley aka Koh-Dee has now returned to unveil his captivating new LP 'Forgotten Gems'.

Featuring a wealth of mesmerising tracks produced over the last eight years, 'Forgotten Gems' makes for an incredibly powerful listen. Branching out into a diverse and eclectic array of ideas and aesthetics throughout his newest record, he is certainly looking to turn some heads with this shimmering new offering.

So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

I first fell in love with the DJ controller when I was 12, or more so - I fell in love with electronic instruments. I remember watching a video of Araabmuzik mash up multiple Skrillex songs, on two MPC drum machines on YouTube when I was 11. I was encaptured by the flexibility of the sampling mechanics, and the rhythm and timing of his finger-drumming. It was sick.

My parents then bought me a little DJ controller for Christmas that year, and I started practicing. When I started playing more traditional instruments though (during my College years), my favourite instrument to play have been the drums.

What kind of music did you love when you were younger?

The music my parents played when I was 2 - 10 years of age: Lou Bega's 'Mambo Number 5', and Boney M's 'Ma Baker'. During my early teen years I listened to a lot of what my brother played; Yellowcard, pop-punk bands, and songs from various YouTube videos. Which makes my highschool and college years all about the electronic, hip-hop, and trap music that I found upon SoundCloud. Also, dubstep was a favourite of mine since I was 12.

What was the first album you remember owning?

Honestly, it was either my Jesse McCartney 'Beautiful Soul' CD or the soundtrack for the movie Chicken Little. Although, the one I was most happy to recieve, was 'Flume' by Flume. One of my all-time favourite albums.

What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?

None of them, because then they wouldn't of been written by me. Currently, I've really been respecting the rap style and lyrical content of Samsa, an artist from Queens. I'm writing all of the songs right now that I know younger Cody wish he could of.

Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?

No haha. The point of me making music is so I can feel free to express myself differently every time, as I'm always feeling different - in new environments, around new people, and in various moods. I don't like setting expectations upon my music, so I can just let it come out.

I like using the same drum sounds from a hip-hop sample pack I've been using since I started, I guess there's that.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

Samsa is pretty cool, but mainly the people I live with around the jungle; at The Arts Factory in Byron Bay. My homie Kalo Murray has some big things coming. I just enjoy listening to my friends play their music, and playing alongside them. They inspire me to create more.

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

My friends! Popularity doesn't baffle me among known artists, I'd just like to play alongside people I know are cool, that I'm tight with, and can have a boogie alongside yknow?

No one's music is going to sound good alongside mine unless I vibe with them. We gotta be close, I don't want to play with strangers.

What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?

Having the opportunity to express myself, and not be completely scrutinised for doing so. Even better, having people alongside me who can relate through the experiences, or who simply vibe with the constructions of the sonic world's that I have created.

I make music for fun, for therapy, to connect and to share. Those are the most rewarding parts. Oh, and being able to look back at the works that I have done, smile, and be proud of my activity.

And what is the most frustrating part?

The most frustrating part is always having the same feeling bounce back - "you are not good enough" or " you haven't done enough". I think we can all relate to these inner thoughts though. They present the greatest challenge of life, self-doubt. Which means that self-doubt can also be our greatest teacher, on the path to overcome it.

What is life without it's challenges though, it would be boring otherwise. This is the beauty of art. When the time comes when you feel comfortable in front of a crowd, your family, or even your friends, to truly express yourself the way that you feel. To be comfortable in your own skin, regardless of where you are, who you're around and what they might think of you.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?

To always be open minded and listen to a wide-range of genres, and to learn how to appreciate them - regardless of how we originally feel. This goes with people too, learn how to appreciate one-another without the hesitation of fear and anxiousness. It allows us to appreciate more in life - a much larger varied amount of information and experiences. You never know what you might learn from something you would have previously dismissed.

Can you walk us through the production process of your new album 'Forgotten Gems'? What does this album mean to you and were there any inspirations behind it?

The album is a collection of 16 of my favourite songs that I've produced over the past 8 - 10 years. It is a recollection of the amount of styles, genres and moods that I can create.

This album is part of the legacy that I want to leave behind. 'Don't Forget' was my first album (which I now have tattooed on my left hand), which expresses the fear that I had when I was 17 - not to be forgotten about after I die. I had both of my lungs collapse prior to releasing the album 'Don't Forget', so I was feeling rather deeply about the subject.

What's next for Koh-Dee? Are there any upcoming releases or gigs in the pipeline you'd like to mention?

I'm moving back down to Tassie for a while, so I'll be picking up some gigs down there on the weekends. DJing my trap music, maybe playing some intimate lofi hip-hop type of performances - yeah that sounds good.

I'm always making music and releasing though. I'm currently working on my raps - improv and storytelling aspects. I'm working on creating the habit of rapping over my beats and just pushing out more of this kind of content, so we'll see how we go.

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Koh-Dee's new album 'Forgotten Gems' its available to stream now. Listen to it in the player below.