We are all instruments of art & beauty and we can find ourselves through musical embodiment.
Coco Bastien, aka CocoSol, is a magnetic world fusion vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and educator from Montreal, Canada. In the past 20 years, CocoSol performed with the finest musicians in the community, including: Owen Brown, Marc Johnson, the Philadelphia symphony, the late Doug Grisby and Jeff Lee Johnson, and many more, She always brings her multi-ethnic flavor and soulful presence to the mix.
Coco has toured internationally with Ustad Shafaat Khan, world renowned Indian Classical sitar and tabla player, accompanying him on vocals, guitar, keys and hand drums.
After 20 years as a vibrant member of the Philadelphia music & yoga scene, Coco relocated to Oakland to begin her latest artistic project, Black Swan. She is currently recording with Dre Johnson, chief engineer/producer at Dreamcatcher Studio, in Vallejo, CA.
education
Music & Fine Art BA. Concordia University. Montreal, Canada
Music Education BA. University of Quebec. Montreal, Canada
Orff Schulwerk Music Certification. Mills College, Oakland CA
Kripalu Vinyasa Yoga teacher certification, 2018 Lenox, MA
Certified Fitness Instructor for YMCA, Canada
Teaching
Coco’s professional teaching experience extends to 17 years as the head music teacher for elementary and middle school students at Gladwyne Montessori, where she also conducted a 60 seat ensemble and the school’s touring rock band. In 2008, Coco founded Sowelu Music, a studio delivering excellencies in private training, artistic development and production.
Since 2022 Coco has been a popular full time instructor at Guitar Center, Emeryville, specializing in guitar, piano and vocals.
Lesson methodologies are founded on the Sowelu principle of finding wholeness through music.
From theory, technique and execution, her innate intuitive gift is directed to unlock and unfold your potential.
Offering customized guitar, vocal, and piano lessons for individuals or groups
The Wholeness within Creativity
Production
With Coco’s extensive music business network, Sowelu Music is able offers music & video production services for private students’ recording projects.