cotoba’s Singular Style

The band describes the sea of emotions their music involves and what it means to “swim through sin.”

Photo courtesy of cotoba

Please introduce yourselves!
Hyerim: I'm Hyerim, cotoba’s bassist and maybe the calmest member. I love cats and Chiikawa.
Dafne: Hello, I'm Dafne. As the guitarist and producer of the band, I contribute a lot to songwriting and conceptualizing our albums. I also probably eat the most and cook the best in the group.
DyoN: Hey, everyone. I’m DyoN, the vocalist and guitarist who jumps around the most on stage. I’m also in charge of [picking our] hair colors. These days, I’ve got sky blue hair to match our new album cover.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “cotoba is ___” or “cotoba’s music is ___”?
Hyerim: “cotoba's music is weird."
Dafne: “cotoba is [a] volcano,” [and] “cotoba’s music is [an] eruption.”
DyoN: “cotoba’s music is way too introverted”!

What is the story behind how you became a band?
Hyerim: I was friends with our former drummer Minsuh, and I joined cotoba through her introduction.
DyoN: The beginning goes back to when Dafne and I played “Nandemonaiya” from the anime Your Name and “Unravel” from Tokyo Ghoul together. That sparked the formation of the band.

How are your individual music tastes similar and different, and how do those tastes influence cotoba’s sound?
Hyerim: I don't have a fixed taste; I listen to many genres. But I do particularly enjoy Japanese band music, and I think that seeps into our sound.
Dafne: I like toe, tricot, and Kinokoteikoku. Lately, I’ve been listening to honeydip and Hitohira a lot.
DyoN: We all share a love for Japanese band music. Hyerim listens to a lot of trendy stuff, which gives our music a modern, refined edge. Dafne has a knack for discovering lesser-known but deeply emotional bands. It’s like their music floods into him like a waterfall, and he stores it inside like a dam, then releases it in his own compositions. As for me, I gravitate towards emotionally stirring melodies, and that shows up in the songs I write. If a cotoba song ever tugs at your heartstrings, chances are [that] I wrote it.

How has cotoba changed over time?
Dafne: At first, we had more instrumental tracks. Now, we’re leaning more into vocals. I often make demos that the rest of the team develops and arranges together.

What three words or phrases best describe your newest EP, sin swims?
Hyerim: “Ice,” “Fire,” [and] “Soil.”
Dafne: “Human,” “God,” [and] “Will.”
DyoN: “Mono-eyed creature.”

What is the meaning behind the title sin swims?
Dafne: It started with the idea that humans inherently carry sin. We live with our sins, and through embracing them, we navigate and shape our lives. Along the way, we experience joy and happiness. Water symbolizes the journey of life, and “swimming” through it means living it on your own terms. That process is almost god-like.

Please talk about each of the songs on sin swims:
Hyerim on “syhi”: When I play this song, I actually picture a scene from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Dafne on “away home” and “ice sea”: [They] were originally released as digital singles. Singles need to carry a full story on their own, so these were quite long. For the album, we trimmed them down to fit the pace and structure of the whole record. I also wanted to bring back the concept of a “Radio Edit” like the ones I used to see on old CDs!
DyoN on “sin”: There’s a lot of wordplay in the lyrics. For example, “cart, bone, air, ash” are all coal-mining-related words, but when said together, they sound like “Carbonara.” That pasta actually got its name [from charcoal] - pretty fun, right?! There are a bunch of Easter eggs like that in the lyrics. Try and find them!
DyoN on “contigo”: This one blends English, Spanish, and Japanese. The words have different meanings, yet they sound similar and all stem from the same emotions. For instance: “They are okay” (in English), “No yo” (in Spanish), [and] “だらけの夜” (in Japanese). These disjointed phrases all express the same feeling from different angles. 

Bonus story: We recorded this track in Bangkok. While the others were busy recording, I was out in the front yard skateboarding, [and] I actually got a little better at it!

What can fans expect from your European tour this fall?
DyoN: A bigger setlist, more intense stage performances [from] Hyerim, Dafne playing guitar in increasingly strange ways, and me with blue hair! [Laughs] I’d be thrilled to see familiar faces from 2023 again, and I’m also really looking forward to seeing new fans who are surprised by our shows. We’re visiting some cities for the first time, and honestly, we’re already excited about all the food. Let’s be real: we tour so we can eat delicious things!

DyoN, are you currently working on any new solo music?
DyoN: Funny you ask. I just wrote a song two days ago that’s incredibly sad and pitiful. It was so emotional I kept listening to it over and over by myself! [Laughs] For cotoba, I write songs hoping they help people live a better life, that they bring some light to the listeners. My solo work feels more like I’m vomiting out my inner self. That’s why my Instagram bio says “Singer Vomiter Songwriter”! [Laughs]

Please talk about your contribution to Sanullim’s 50th anniversary project, “Alone in the garden”!
Hyerim: The legendary musician organizing the project personally suggested that song to us. DyoN has been a fan of Kim Wan-sun, who sang the original version, since she was a kid. We felt the song’s lonely and solitary emotion really resonated with our vibe, so it was a perfect fit.

Did you set any goals for 2025? If so, have you achieved them yet?
Hyerim: My goal was to keep a diary throughout the year. So far, I’m still going strong.
Dafne: I wanted to write a lot of music that I could be proud of, music that moves people. I think I’m doing pretty well with that.
DyoN: My goal was just to live properly. Somehow, thanks to all the unexpected help from the people around me, I’m making it through… Thank you, everyone.

What are your long-term career goals?
Hyerim: To keep making music while staying healthy.
Dafne: To make great albums and keep going on international tours.
DyoN: To be the second-stage headliner at a giant music festival!

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?
Hyerim: I want to grow as a person and as a musician.
Dafne: Through our music, I want to share and celebrate the good in humanity.
DyoN: We’re giving our whole hearts to this band so that our fans can think, “I’m really glad and proud that I like cotoba.” Thank you so much for your support.

Check out sin swims here!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.