A few days after the shows that rocked our socks off, we chatted with Coco, who spoke to us via Zoom from Portland, in the green room of Mississippi Studios. She was a sweetheart, smiley, and appreciative of us taking the time for the interview. We dove into a lively conversation with a cinematic theme, highlighting the band and some tracks off their debut LP, showcasing them through the lenses/meanings of five iconic Winona Ryder movies.
UFO: Hi Coco! I’m Lexy with Us For Once. I just wanted to say I caught you guys on Tuesday in LA, taking pictures and all that jazz. You guys are so good.
Coco: Oh, thank you so much!
Us For Once: Of course! We're going for a very cinematic Winona Ryder-based interview that will highlight some tracks off your new LP and showcase their meaning through iconic Winona Ryder films. Starting with a classic, Edward Scissorhands, a film about seeing someone for who they are and not judging a book by its cover, and connecting that to you guys, I'm thinking about your track “DON’T WALLOW”; it’s the closing track on the album. But in some ways it can be an introduction. You’ve said this song is a manifesto to who the band has always been. Based on that, what do you want Winona Fighter to stand for? Say they don't know anything about you, their friend dragged them there. What do you want the ideal first impression for potential new fans at a show? Right off the bat, what do you want to get across?
Coco: The funny thing about us is everything we do has such a contrast. Like, Winona Fighter is feminine, but also an edgy name, you know? We stand for individuality and equality, all at the same time. So whenever someone comes to a Winona Fighter show, we want them to feel empowered to be their own person while feeling like we're all in this together. We may be on the stage, but at the end of the day, we're all humans, we're all people, and we're all enjoying this one experience in this room. So yeah, I love it when people leave the show feeling inspired to do something that benefits them, knowing that this whole community will support them.
UFO: That answer makes me think of three people, specifically from the LA show. There was a little girl, maybe 8 or 9, who got crowdsurfed up and back into the crowd, there was a guy who went up and stage dove, and there also was this girl, about our age, stage right, who was just popping off. She knew all the words to every single song. At one point you came over and gave her the mic, too. And I just think about the contrast of these three people. Different ages, different demographics of where these people might be coming from, but they're all coming together at the Winona Fighter show. To relate it to Edward Scissorhands, it’s that contrast. In the movie, you have this guy who's considered a freak, and then this kind of perfect, put together girl, but at the end of the film, they’re the same, you know? They represent the same thing. I think that's cool in both contexts.
Coco: Yeah, I like that! I like that a lot. That's a good connection. I love Edward Scissorhands. My favorite off this list.
UFO: Such a good movie. Now let's flip it, and get sick and twisted with Heathers. A lot is happening in Heather's, but it showcases the destructive consequences of seeking power, popularity, and clout. Which makes me think of the song “Are You Famous?” Very punk, wildly “fuck you clout chasers and industry scumbags”, those people who cling to rising artists for relevance instead of what matters- like the art, the music, the message. I also feel like, to an extent, it could also relate to “ATTENTION”, you know, political/societal issues, a song that belongs to its listeners… I liked when you talked about that. This is what it means to you. But what does it mean to the person listening? So, through all this comes a very typical “punk” question. What are your thoughts on the role of punk in social activism and change?
Coco: The beauty of punk rock is there are no rules. And I think the key thing to it is like not giving a fuck. Winona Fighter is a very emotionally driven punk band. But also, if something is going on in the world that doesn't sit right with me, I won't be quiet about it, whether that's politics or a person that comes through my life. Punk is a great way to speak up about anything and everything, and not feel embarrassed about it, but instead feel like you’re empowering yourself and other people around you. And it's also true that I love people listening to our songs, which ignites something in them. And maybe it's for a different purpose than what I wrote. But that's the beauty of it. I wrote “ATTENTION” about specific political issues close to my heart, but someone could listen to it and think of something completely different. And I think that's awesome.
UFO: For sure! I grew up reading John Green's books, and he always said that “books belong to their readers.” I believe songs belong to their listeners, too. Once you put that art into the world, it is your baby, but it's out there for everyone now. Everyone can interpret it in different ways. I love that.
Coco: I do too. Some artists out there have boundaries on their art and don't like people to interpret it differently than what it's meant. But I'm making it for the listeners, who can do what they want. You can't force people to say, “oh, yeah, I understand this experience that I haven't lived at all.”
UFO: Yeah, it’s not very punk to force people to think like you do—a follow-up question. Do you, or do you feel like the band as a whole, feel pressure to conform, which I know is the worst word to use about punk, but do you ever feel the need to conform to certain punk stereotypes? Or are you guys more like, “nah, like we're doing our own thing”?
Coco: We are doing our own thing. We’re a group of nerds who love the music that we make. I think we have been in situations where we've felt the pressure. Like, we did a festival last year and many bands were dropping off, and in our eyes, although we didn't agree with a lot of stuff that was going on behind the scenes, we thought: We have a duty to our fans. We are a week from the show; our fans expect us. We're gonna be there to give those people at least 30 minutes to an hour of just, a chance to forget about all the shit going on in the world. And you know, it's the same with Warped Tour, some people are having a problem with Warped Tour right now. For us It's like, yeah, there are bands on the bill that have done shitty stuff- we certainly are 100% against that. But we must play to the people who support us and love us. If we can go and play Warped Tour and fulfill that duty, and also at the same time, try to make it a safer space, we're gonna fucking do that. We're not gonna drop out, stand on the sidelines, and hope for something to happen. So, we're doing what we feel is right, not what everyone else thinks is right.
UFO: I feel like that's very punk within itself because, especially in the political climate we live in there's a lot of people that are like “we're living through these crazy times and doing something about it”, while other people are like “damn, that doesn't affect me, that's not my problem.” Which is not cool. Nothing can ever be perfect, but you can do your best to try and make it a safer space or try and make it more inclusive. I love and respect that attitude.
Coco: It's the same with whether it's a festival or a headline show or we're opening for someone, we think: Okay, this is a space for people just to get their anger out and forget about all the bullshit out there, for just a little bit. If we can do that, we do at least a little of our part.
UFO: That's the beauty of music too. Just leave it all at the door. Lock in. That is a good segue into the next film, Girl, Interrupted. All about figuring yourself out, trying to find yourself despite the craziness that can be in here or out there. Which reminds me of “Swear To God That I'm (FINE)” and “Swimmer’s Ear”. Very raw, honest look into internal struggles. What big insecurity have you personally overcome, and what do you feel you're still working on?
Coco: That’s an excellent question because there's still so much I feel I need to work on as a person. I think we all do. I would say getting on the stage and feeling confident in my ability. I think I can be my own worst enemy in that, like, when I was starting, I would get on stage and sing, and every time I'd get off stage, I'd be like “Oh, I probably sounded awful. That probably sucked.” Then, I shift that mindset to “ No, why am I thinking that? I'm playing in front of hundreds of people, and they're here for us. I don't suck. I am good at what I do.” That’s a hurdle to get over, whether on the stage, in the studio, or even in an interview.
UFO: What do you feel like you still need to work on?
Coco: Everything. I try my best. We have tons of little girls who come to the shows with their punk rock parents and I'll like sometimes catch myself- like, okay, there are some male photographers out there who will post just the worst fucking pictures of you on planet Earth. And I'll find myself saying, “God, I look terrible.” But then I was like, what if one of those little girls heard me say that?
And meanwhile, in their mind, they could be looking at the same picture like, “Oh my God, that's so fucking cool. There's a picture of her rocking out.” So I would say just getting better at that and thinking what those girls who look up to me think, you know? I have to get in their mindset. I can't be in an insecure mindset. I'm improving at crushing negative self talk, but I still need to work on it.
UFO: For sure. It seems like you're working on it, you’re self-aware, and you're making strides. That's all we can ask for in life, right? Okay, next one, a classic, Beetlejuice. I'm just going to go straight into the iconic line from Beetlejuice. “I myself am strange and unusual.” Lydia Deetz, you know. She was unique. She was a freak. She blazed her own path, which reminds me of Winona Fighter. You guys have strong DIY roots, which is evident in how you worked on this record/produced it/released it. I'd love to hear a little bit more about that. What does the DIY culture and authenticity in your art mean to you? Why was it so crucial for you guys to do it that way?
Coco: DIY is why we sound the way we do and why our shows go off the way they do. Growing up in the Boston punk scene, it's always been a massive part of my life.
And from the band's early days, it's been like, “Okay, let's get in the van and book some shows and go. Let's do it ourselves, even if we're playing in front of zero people, even if we're playing in front of 20 people.” And we got where we are today because of doing that. We signed with a label, but it was very important to us to still honor our DIY roots. And, in the future, if we do a record and we decide to work with someone else or actually go to a studio, that's fine! But for this, we were like, if we are going to close a chapter, let's do it how we started it—just me, Austin, and Dan in our garage. Let's make a fucking rock record how we want to make it. And we're so lucky. Our managers and our label are so supportive. They said, “Sure, just let us know when it's done.” I think it's really cool being signed to a label as big as Rise and BMG. Those opportunities just don’t come around; a label believing in you that much that they'll let you do a record by yourself. It just doesn't happen. So there’s beauty in the fact that we could keep it DIY. And I think it makes our debut 100% Winona Fighter.
UFO: That is so incredible that you guys found a good support system, good management, and a good label, because it wouldn't be what it is today without that. Alright. The stereotypical question is coming up. Forgive me, but next movie: Little Women. Winona Ryder plays Jo, a feminist icon, independent woman, all that. I know you probably get this like every interview, and I’m sorry, but being a woman in the scene, what do you wish to accomplish as a female front person and who are some of your female inspirations?
Coco: I grew up playing drums in punk bands, and I was never made to feel like I was a female drummer. I was just made to feel like a drummer, a punk drummer. So what I hope I can do for the scene is to present myself as a punk rock front person. I don't feel like I present in a “Oh, we're a female fronted band” way. That's not what we want. I want people to know that I can run with the guys. And so I won't put myself in this box of “female fronted band.” And I think all the greats do that, like Lizzie Hale. I’ve never once thought she’s in female fronted rock band, no, I think “oh, that's fucking Halestorm.” And she's just a bad ass. And I feel like Hayley Williams kind of got the shit end of the stick because everyone’s always like that’s THE female fronted band, pop punk band, whatever. No. That's Hayley fucking Williams. She is one of the best out there, period. And not just one of the best female front people- one of the best. Period. I find how she holds herself in those situations very inspiring, and I hope I can do that. I hope people can just not give a give a fuck about us being female fronted band or whatever, I just hope one day we can like go down as just a great punk band. Period.
UFO: Period. You know, it’s interesting, because I feel like a lot of the times- and it is not an insult, because like you said, she's one of the greatest ever to do it, but you put a woman in front of a rock band of any sort and it's like “Oh my God, just like Hayley Williams!” When I watched you guys, I got more like, Billie Joe Armstrong vibes from you.
Coco: Thank you. That’s the thing to me. I love Paramore, but if I had to name the top 10 influences for Winona Fighter, they aren't even on the top 10, you know? So it's just always funny to me. I don’t know. Maybe we sound like them a little bit, but not really. I've even noticed it because we're on the same label as Spiritbox. I’ll put Courtney LaPlante as a huge influence, too. I think she's a badass. But I see people commenting on our YouTube videos on the Rise Records page and they'll be like, “Subscribed for Spiritbox, unsubscribing for whatever this shit is.” And it's like, okay? Rise has 20 other bands on the label. Why are you picking one of the only female-fronted bands to compare us to? It's so bizarre. We’re not even the same genre at all. The way people put women in a box is so weird. So it's just, it's wild to me.
UFO: I completely agree. Did you even listen, or did you just see a woman singing and make that assumption? Also, those are all my Winona Ryder related questions. I have three shorter bonus questions because we have some time left. These are also cinematic because I love a good theme. So, not a Winona Ryder movie, but Fight Club. You guys call your fans Fight Club, which makes sense because you're Winona Fighter. I get it. But if the band had a Fight Club, like Tyler Durden, where you're meeting in basements and punching each other. What would one or two rules of the Winona Fighter Fight Club be if you had some rules?
Coco: You have to be respectful outside of the ring. In the ring, you can fucking wail on each other and say what you want. But outside of the ring, you've got to be respectful. It's like being in a mosh pit. In the mosh pit, you can go crazy, but if someone falls or if you're outside of that pit, have respect for your peers. You can also talk about Fight Club. That would be my other rule.
UFO: Tell all your friends.
Coco: Yeah. You can come to this show and talk about it. Please.
UFO: Simple, but effective. Here’s another one. I saw that the album and tour name are unrelated to The Bear. I've only seen three episodes of The Bear anyway, so it doesn't matter. But when I think of, “Yes, chef!”, or Send My Apologies To The Chef, I grew up on Hell's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay, which I probably shouldn't have because he says fuck a lot and I was like seven. But anyways, I know it may not be the inspiration for the names, but Chef Ramsay, you know, when you’re watching those shows he is such a hard ass, but he just wants the contestants to be better and become the best chefs they can be. He pushes them, you know? So what pushes you to consistently push boundaries with your art?
Coco: This is all I've ever wanted to do. And I've seen talented people not work the hardest they can and then question why it's not working out. I’ve thought I don't want to be that person my whole life. I want to be the hardest worker in the room. I want to walk in every room, highly confident in what I'm doing. I think it's just the feeling of “I want this so bad that I have made myself delusional.” So that's what pushes me.
UFO: I always say it's only delusional if it doesn't work. If it does, you're just confident and correct, so that's true. You set what you want, and you will get it. But okay, we did all of our movies and TV—you've just won an award, and it's time for your acceptance speech: an Oscar, an Emmy, whatever. Wrapping it up with the theme. What is something that Winona Fighter wants to accomplish this year? And then just the typical rest of your acceptance speech. What do you want to say to the fans or the new fans? Let’s wrap this up.
Coco: We really, really want to play late night this year. That is like a massive goal for us. Will it happen this year? I don’t know. Might be a stretch, but I'm going to manifest it anyway.
We have other goals like touring, but we have already been touring all year. We are already doing XYZ and accomplishing this and that. So the goal that would be like, “holy shit”, if it happened, would be playing late night. And then, it’s tough. Ever since we released the record, I've just had no words. I’m not sure the fans understand how world-shaking this all has been for us and how lucky we feel. We went so long playing rooms to zero people and, like, no one believing in us, to now have thousands of thousands of people coming to see us, listening to us, and believing in us. It means more to us than I think any listener will ever know.
We want to thank them every night that we're on the road. This is such a beautiful community, and I think it's going to be awesome as long as we can keep it going.
UFO: What a beautiful acceptance speech. Here’s your, uh, what would you get in this situation? Oscar? Emmy? Grammy? I don't know. You can have it. And if you guys play late at night, try to play Jimmy Kimmel because then I will be there in that line—front row.
Coco: Front row. Hell yeah.
Check out all of Winona Fighter's links here. "My Apologies To The Chef" is out now!
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