Finnish producer-artists Misha and cocabona are championing a different perspective with their latest EP JOMO (The Joy of Missing Out). Crafting a collaborative and reflective project that spans a global roster of artists across cities like London, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and New York, they bring together similar mindsets that capture the vibe of choosing stillness over chaos.
Whether it’s the soulful intimacy of their single “JOMO” featuring UK R&B star Kadeem Tyrell and recorded at Spotify’s Metropolis Studios, or tapping Jamiroquai’s legendary Derrick McKenzie on drums for “The Present,” the EP expertly fuses soul, R&B, jazz, and indie influences into an evocative, boundary-breaking sonic journey.
Misha and cocabona have a European tour on the horizon while redefining what it means to find connection and creativity. Earmilk caught up with the duo to discuss the ethos behind JOMO, their collaborative approach, and the pressures they’ve let go of to make their music more personal than ever before.
JOMO can be described as a soundtrack for evenings when you don’t go out. Can you share a recent moment of “joy of missing out” in your own lives that directly inspired the mood of this project?
Misha: I became a father three years ago, so honestly, the last few years of my life have been about the “joy of missing out” when it comes to nightlife. That shift really shaped how I approach both life and music.
cocabona: Lately, I’ve been exploring a bit of Buddhism, and it’s brought a real sense of peace amidst the chaos of everyday life. I feel grounded, like I’m exactly where I need to be right now, and that mindset has deeply shaped the way this EP came together.
The EP opens with “JOMO” featuring Kadeem Tyrell, recorded at Spotify’s Metropolis Studios. That’s a bold first statement. What was it about that track, and that specific session, that felt like the seed for the entire record?
We had this unique chance to record at Spotify’s Metropolis Studios in London, and the track came together from scratch in that one session. Everything just flowed naturally. The idea for the single, and eventually the whole project, was sparked during our studio conversations. We were talking about slowing down, spending more time creating instead of constantly being out. Someone mentioned FOMO (fear of missing out), and we flipped it into JOMO – the joy of missing out. That phrase summed up how me and cocabona approach both music and life. It felt like the perfect concept to connect the whole project.
You recorded with artists from London, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and New York across different creative communities. How did you know those voices would work together, and what did each of them bring that surprised you?
This project was about connecting with people who share the same mindset and passion for music. Half the record came together remotely with production in Helsinki while vocals were recorded in New York (Relyae), London (Kadeem Tyrell, Amelia Rose), Amsterdam (Joya Mooi), and Copenhagen (Tamara Mneney). Each artist brought their own unique flavor, which made the EP really diverse.
The process was surprisingly seamless. Most of our collaborators are great at recording themselves, so distance was never an obstacle. Remote work has actually been part of our process from the beginning since we’re based in Finland. In many ways, that’s also very JOMO – creating where you are, on your own terms, without pressure.
You’ve got Derrick McKenzie from Jamiroquai on drums for “The Present.” That’s legendary. How did that collaboration come about?
Derrick had heard our song “A Night In Rio pt.2” with Debórah Bond and Jussi Halme and told me he really liked it. That gave me the courage to reach out to him on Instagram, and we exchanged a few messages before our trip to London. We met for the first time at his friend’s studio in North London. I remember stressing the night before about how to mic the drums, but everything was already set up by his friend Fred when we arrived, so we could just dive right in. We grew up listening to Jamiroquai, so having Derrick on the track was a real fan moment for us.
Your sound blends soul, R&B, indie, hip-hop, pop, and even some jazz. Was there a moment in the process where you consciously broke away from a “rulebook” of production to chase something freer?
Me and cocabona come from different musical backgrounds – I started as a rapper, and cocabona studied jazz, so blending genres is second nature to us. We usually lean towards programmed drums and slower BPMs, but with “The Present” we decided to break that pattern. That choice gave the EP the spice it needed.
Ten years in, your partnership started in Finland’s beat scene and now includes collaborations across continents. What’s one creative disagreement you’ve had recently that actually led to a breakthrough on this EP?
We went back and forth on whether “The Present” fit the project sonically. We both loved the track but weren’t sure if it matched the overall sound of the EP. In the end, I’m glad we decided to include it – not only did it become one of the lead singles, but its theme really ties everything together.
Your upcoming European tour hits cities like Amsterdam, London, and Berlin. Will the live show lean into the reflective, intimate vibe of the record, or are you reimagining the songs to bring more movement and energy to stage?
The plan is to take these songs to another galaxy with funky, vibrant arrangements and psychedelic, spacey visuals. We’ve got two singers and guest performers, each adding their own spice to the mix, so it’s definitely going to have more movement and energy than the record.
Joya Mooi said “The Present” is about listening within instead of chasing external expectations. That feels like a thesis for the whole project. Looking back, what external pressures did you personally have to let go of to make JOMO the way you wanted?
Misha: This is the first project we released through our own label, Feals Music. Letting go of the idea that we needed a third-party label overseas to handle everything and learning to trust our own gut was a big step.
On a personal level, becoming a father forced me to let go of “grind culture.” I started slowing down, valuing my time differently, and focusing on actually enjoying the creative process instead of burning out. That mindset shift is at the core of JOMO – creating freely, at your own pace, and having fun again.
cocabona: A few years ago, I was doing well financially, but the music I was making didn’t feel true to me. I realized I was chasing what the labels wanted more than what I actually believed in. That disconnect forced me to take a step back and ask myself what I really wanted out of music. Making that choice helped me to find the excitement and curiosity I had when I first started making beats back in 2012.
Connect with cocabona: INSTAGRAM
Connect with Misha: INSTAGRAM
