Breathing New Life in Music and Food with Cöshe
In the words of Shakespeare,
“If music be the food of love, play on.” It’s cliché, yet befitting of Cöshe. Her carefully-sourced mixes and playlists composed of nuanced sounds of the past, to her company, Endulge, an ode to food and gathering - Coshë is a renaissance woman, breathing new life in secondhand kitchenware and old music.
Where are you from?
Japan
What was your experience with music while growing up? What did you listen to?
I come from a very musically-inclined family. My dad grew up playing HS band and he makes music, my uncle raps/freestyles and my mom loves R&B. If music wasn't playing in the background, someone was probably singing or humming. I have a very wide range of genres but would say r&b soul, pop, neo-soul were in a cycle.
We have a strong connection to a lot of the music you play: R&B, soul, and hip-hop from various eras, Kaytranada to Rene & Angela, and even The S.O.S. Band’s “Take Your Time” in JIGGLET PT. 1. What's your process behind your curated collections/mixes?
It all depends on my mood. I usually start off with a song that instantly makes me feel good and I'll literally hum or sing a song I think would sound great on top of it. Sometimes I'll go through my library and play songs beforehand, or think of lyrics that fit the situation in both songs. Often times, after I record... I'll play it on my headphones and see if I'm grooving to it. If I don't, I'll start from scratch or I'll just keep it.
Jigglet Pt. 1
Your taste in music would lead your listeners to believe you’re an old soul. Would you say that’s true? What is your favorite decade for music?
Definitely, old soul - Favorite decade of music would have start from late 60's early 70s and 90's.
Smooth Daddy
What are some places you go to dig for music?
I really love using SoundCloud and sometimes I'll splurge on YouTube. I also have a lot of friends who make music so I try to use some of their songs in my live sets or mixes.
We dig the Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry Boomerang pic on your SMOOTH DADDY playlist. How big of a role do visuals like these play in influencing or driving the mood you set for your playlists?
Wow thank you for acknowledging that. Boomerang is one of my favorite movies. Back to my childhood, my mom loves her some 90's movies so a lot of my favorite songs are based on clips or message that the movie gave me. Boomerang is such a good movie, very smooth, sexy and a great depiction of how love can be. Many in which we've all experienced. I made the playlist first, and thought 'oh yes! This would be playing when Halle and Eddie had their cute kiss on the couch (the picture was that scene.) If not them, then I'd hope this playlist can set the vibes for my ladies and gents listening. tee tee
Your passion for music also extends into the eclectic playlists you make for your second-hand home goods shop, endulge. How did you get into selling?
Yes! So, I'm the founder and owner of endulge. Endulge is a second-hand shop, but also focuses on community building. I feel like as you get older and living away from family, you aren't able to meet for holidays or just have your traditional family dinners. So during those times a lot of us have to make dinners alone or eat out. Luckily for me, I've always had friends to prep and eat communal meals with and there is SO much value in being around like-minded people. With that, at endulge my objective is for the pieces that I sell to encourage everyone to host dinners, parties any type of gathering.
Endulge defines itself, you endulge in the moment of cooking, talking, eating, etc.
When sourcing glassware, bowls, and plates, how often do you keep what you find for yourself? Also what has been your favorite piece you've sold?
I actually don't keep anything for myself UNLESS I'm looking for something particular. However, I would keep all the pieces that I sell. So in other words, I don't shop to sell, I shop like I'm buying for my home. My favorite piece that has been so hard to let go is the splatter bowls and the amber butter dish.
Endulge is a very community-minded project which you mentioned (pre-COVID) hosted dinners. We can just imagine how inviting these events may be with your refined taste in music curation, cool products, and good food. How did this all start? Walk us through endulge’s first dinner experience.
Yes, all of that! So my first dinner was very small, I invited 4 people over to my house. I picked these particular people because I wanted to share my idea with them, get some feedback, but also just to experience endulge. I sent everyone a three course menu a month in advance. Nicole and I made the food, decked my house with a delicious charcuterie and we all just drank wine before dinner was served.
We sat, shared some basic information (name, background, where we were from, etc) after that we start eating, we made an amazing salmon and salad dish, then ended the meal with crepes and toppings. Once everyone was done with their food, I asked everyone to flip their placement cards and I had some endulge questions that everyone had to ask. After that, we were all just diving in and really getting to know each other. From then on, I realized that endulge isn't just a shop, but a practice because anytime your interacting with "endulge" you are endulging (:
Your endulge vol. 2 playlist is super eclectic from Sade to Rubén Blades, Kool & the Gang, and Minnie Ripperton. What’s the mood you’re trying to create with these playlists?
So endulge vol.2 was actually put together by one of my best friends/co-founder, Nicole Button. Her and I have somewhat similar taste in music and cook together A LOT and so I asked her to make a playlist with music she enjoys cooking to. She made the perfect playlist, very smooth, chic vibes.
What equipment do you mix on? Do you also perform at events?
Serato program, and DJ SB-2. Yes I do, usually speakeasy in Chicago or bigger events.
Do you believe in shuffle? (shuffling playlists, albums, etc.)
I do and don't. If I'm listening to a new album, I start from start to finish. When it comes to my playlist I don't mind shuffling.
Endulge Vol.2
Who are your top 3 favorite artists?
Oh this is tricky! Top 3 that are on heavy rotation: