Choose a journey
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Choose a journey •
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A follow up record with fresh new sounds and more collaborators. Message us to order a copy of a limited run vinyl pressing. Click here to stream.
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01 - time
Written by Tristan Armstrong, Niko Hook. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, sampler, synth - Niko Hook.
02 - home again (feat. PHATT Al)
Written by Niko Hook, PHATT Al, Ayaka Kinugawa. Vocals, lyrics - PHATT Al. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
03 - virgo cluster dub
Written by Ayaka Kinugawa, Niko Hook. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
04 - show it (feat. Maiko Munroe)
Written by Maiko Munroe, Niko Hook. Vocals, lyrics - Maiko Munroe. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
05 - sleepwalkers (feat. PHATT Al)
Written by PHATT Al, 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato), Niko Hook. Vocals, lyrics - PHATT Al. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Keys, synth - 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato). Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
06 - no ties (feat. Celia Palli)
Written by Celia Palli, Niko Hook. Vocals, lyrics - Celia Palli. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
07 - what you won’t do for love (feat. Yourhomienaomi)
Written by Bobby Caldwell and Alfons Kettner. Arranged by Niko Hook, Ayaka Kinugawa. Vocals - Yourhomienaomi. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, sampler - Niko Hook.
08 - el visitante
Written by Ayaka Kinugawa, Niko Hook. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
09 - hearts on fire (feat. Rioux V)
Written by Rioux V, Niko Hook.Vocals, lyrics - Rioux V. Keys - 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato). Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, sampler - Niko Hook.
10 - no soy de ningún lado
Written by Nicolás Vergara, Daniel Lanfranco, Niko Hook. Lyrics (sample) - Nicolás Vergara. Guitar, vocals (sample) - Daniel Lanfranco. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
11- follow the moon
Written by 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato), Niko Hook. Keys, synth - 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato). Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, sampler - Niko Hook.
12 - your river (feat. Bina)
Written by Rodnae “Chikk” Bell and Niko Hook. Lyrics - Rodnae “Chikk” Bell. Vocals - Bina. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
13- silence again
Written by 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato). Keys - 鎌田雅人(Kamata Masato). Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
14 - you’ve changed (feat. Rioux V)
Written by Rioux V, Niko Hook. Vocals, lyrics - Rioux V. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Keys - Ayaka Kinugawa. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
15- as the tide turns
Written by Niko Hook. Guitar - Tristan Armstrong. Bass, synth, sampler - Niko Hook.
Artwork created by Emilie Muszczak. All tracks mixed and mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview studios. All tracks produced by Niko Hook.
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From Niko:
I set out to write an album specifically for a vinyl record, which naturally divides the music into an A side and a B side - I wanted it to be a journey split into two chapters, rather than a collection of songs.
As a theme, I wanted to explore the sounds of ‘home’. A sense of home or belonging was something that I had struggled with for many years, and by expressing that feeling through musical instruments, I somehow began to feel that the fact that of who I am is more important than where I am from.
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Debut project from Kokophonix and a slew of featured artists. Blends of funk, rap, jazz and R&B. Click here to stream.
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Phatt Al - Vox+lyrics on all tracks except 6,10&13.
Dana Jean Phoenix - Vox+lyrics on tracks 2,9,12,14.
Tristan Armstrong - Guitars on all tracks except 1,2,3,6,10,13.
DJ Naldo Vianna - One’s & two’s on “Gone”
Nosumb - Vox on “Where U At”
Jeff LaRochelle - Tenor Sax on “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride”
Ayaka Kinugawa -Rhodes, Moog on tracks 1,6,8,9,10,11,12,13&14.
Niko Hook - Bass Guitar, Drum Machine, Percussion on all tracks. Vox on tracks 1&6.
Guitar on tracks 2&3. Rhodes, Moog on tracks 2,3,4,5,7.
Nico Vergara “el poeta” - Vox and “lyrics” on “So It Goes.”
All tracks produced by Niko Hook.
Mixed, Engineered and Mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview Studios on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
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Greetings 2:01
What’s Goin’ On (Pt I) (feat. PHATT Al & Dana Jean Phoenix) 3:54
What’s Goin’ On (Pt II) 2:14
Empty Glass (feat. PHATT Al) 4:30
Ever Was (feat. PHATT Al) 7:08
So it Goes (feat. Nico Vergara) 3:48
Gone (feat. DJ Naldo Vianna & PHATT Al) 4:22 -
Where U at (feat. Nosumb & PHATT Al) 6:39 -Explicit
Funk (Hold on to It) (feat. PHATT Al & Dana Jean Phoenix) 6:11
Children of the Stars 2:42
Everyday (feat. PHATT Al) 6:23
The Edge (feat. PHATT Al & Dana Jean Phoenix) 4:43
Luv Yo’s Elf (Stay Funky) 2:48
Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride (feat. Jeff LaRochelle, PHATT Al & Dana Jean Phoenix) 9:09
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It was the end of summer in 1977 when the Golden Record was launched on the starship Voyager; destined to represent some of the sounds of Earth in the far confines of our galaxy. Scientists did not expect an immediate response from unfamiliar living beings in other neighbourhoods of the Milky Way… If we did receive a response, what would their record back to us sound like? What if they led similar lives to us? What would their message be?
Perhaps like Children of the Stars. The title itself appeared to Niko Hook (producer, songwriter) in a dream, who got to work tying the different songs together and finishing up with an intro that served as an index - titled ‘Greetings’. A message from children of the stars… to their siblings, also children of the stars.
Featuring collaborations with rapper/singer PHATT Al (Juno nominated God Made Me Funky, UFOz), synthwave singer/composer Dana Jean Phoenix, guitarist Tristan Armstrong (Actual Goners, Mother Tongue), keyboardist Ayaka Kinugawa (Mash Up, Karuna Movement), Jeff LaRochelle (Autobahn), and veteran audio engineer Rick Salt (The Irish Rovers).
On writing about Kokophonix’s "The Edge", ; Amer Alkhatib (CBC, Communication Designer) noted the following:
"A throwback to '90s pop and a nod to disco, this dancey jam from Toronto’s Kokophonix comes in advance of the producer’s debut album, which is expected this October. Despite a moody and modestly paced start, the track picks up with help from cleverly produced beats, rap verses by veteran Phatt Al, and backing vocals by Dana Jean Phoenix. What is in Toronto’s water that’s making its hip-hop and R&B scene so damn good?"
‘Everyday’ was featured on the popular TV show ‘Kim’s Convenience’ (S02E02), along with the throwback rap song ‘Gone’ (S02E07).
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A collaboration with the talented queen Tina Ford. Bringing the swagger of Uganda to the laid back summer vibes of Toronto, mixed in with some flavours from Japan. Click here to stream.
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Tina Ford - Vocals
Niko Hook - Bass Guitar, Drum Machine, Rhodes.
Aki Takahashi - Shamisen
Produced by Niko Hook.
Mixed, Engineered and Mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview Studios on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
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A groovy, laid back R&B track featuring the incredible YourHomieNaomi. Click here to stream.
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YourHomieNaomi - Vocals
Tristan Armstrong - Guitar
Ayaka Kinugawa - Rhodes
Niko Hook - Bass Guitar, Drum Machine.
Produced by Niko Hook.
Mixed, Engineered and Mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview Studios on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
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A moody collaboration with the talented Maiko Munroe. Click here to stream.
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Maiko Munroe - Vocals
Tristan Armstrong - Guitar
Niko Hook - Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Drum Machine.
Produced by Niko Hook.
Mixed, Engineered and Mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview Studios on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
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A dreamy, psychedelic journey featuring PHATT Al and Dana Jean Phoenix. Click here to stream.
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PHATT Al, Dana Jean Phoenix - Vocals
Niko Hook - Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Drum Machine.
Ayaka Kinugawa - Rhodes.
Produced by Niko Hook.
Mixed, Engineered and Mastered by Rick Salt at Mountainview Studios on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.