COCO AND THE LOST – WATERBEAR VENUE, BRIGHTON 6.10.26
Launching her debut album ‘Modern Lover Girl‘ at Brighton’s Waterbear Venue, Coco And The Lost delivered a performance that felt both celebratory and deeply personal, presenting the new record as a confident artistic statement while reinforcing her growing reputation as one of the city’s most distinctive pop performers.
The evening began long before Coco herself took to the stage. A pre-show DJ soundtrack of 1990’s pop classics helped establish the atmosphere, with a section of the audience already dancing. Behind the stage, a screen displaying the album title in sparkling glitter-style lettering against a pink candyfloss backdrop hinted at the glamour and theatricality that would define the evening.
When the house lights finally dropped and the music stopped, Coco emerged to a warm reception, opening with ‘Icon’. Throughout the set, powerful programmed beats provided a constant thread, reflecting the album’s move away from the more guitar-led alternative pop of earlier releases towards a fuller synth-pop and art-pop sound. Yet despite the electronic focus, the performance never felt detached or mechanical. Instead, the songs remained rooted in personality and emotional honesty.
From the outset, Coco commanded the room. Sometimes sultry, sometimes playful and always assured, she projected the charisma of a pop star while retaining an accessibility that allowed the audience to feel part of the performance rather than merely spectators.
‘Drum Machine’ brought an immediate burst of energy, with Coco bouncing around the stage as she sang, while ‘Sweet Lullabies’ introduced heavier dance rhythms and disco-inflected grooves. Strong vocals consistently rose above the electronic backing, demonstrating that the songs were driven as much by performance as production.
Between songs, Coco reflected on recent trips to Berlin and Hamburg promoting the album, underscoring the sense that this launch represented an important milestone in her project’s development. That growth was apparent not only in the music but also in the confidence with which it was delivered.
The new material showcased a broader sonic palette than previous releases. ‘The End’ explored themes of betrayal through softer, more melancholy vocals, its starker chorus recalling elements of the band’s earlier work. Elsewhere, the title track ‘Modern Lover Girl’ introduced a more cinematic dimension. Beginning with Coco singing on her knees, the song traded dancefloor momentum for sweeping orchestral textures and a striking sense of scale, highlighting the album’s artistic ambition.
One of the evening’s most engaging aspects was Coco’s ability to create connection. Whether dancing with the microphone stand, exchanging playful glances with audience members or holding eye contact across the room, she combined theatricality with intimacy. At times it felt as though songs were being sung directly to individuals rather than to the crowd as a whole, giving the performance the atmosphere of an invitation to a private celebration.
That balance between confidence and vulnerability was a recurring theme throughout the set. ‘I Could Go On’ returned to a more upbeat tempo while allowing Coco to alternate between gentle and more assertive vocal delivery.
An excursion into earlier material came with ‘Everything Is Fine’ from the 2023 EP ‘I’ve Got Nothing John’. Reworked for the current live setup, the song sat comfortably alongside the newer material. Its bass-driven groove and conversational vocal style provided a reminder of Coco And The Lost’s roots while demonstrating how far the sound has evolved.
Among the evening’s highlights was ‘Kill The Fantasy’, introduced as a reflection on the transition between girlhood and adulthood. Delivered with notable warmth and lightness, the song felt almost like a conversation with her younger self. Similarly, ‘What Would You Know About Love’ offered one of the night’s most emotionally affecting moments. Replacing the set’s dominant dance beats with delicate, twinkling synthesisers and dreamlike textures, it balanced fairytale beauty with a faintly cinematic undertone. Coco’s delivery, particularly the sadness she brought to the closing refrain, captured the song’s emotional complexity.
Audience participation reached its height during ‘Um And Ah’, the 2025 single about frustrations with indecision and non-committal answers. Several audience members joined in with familiar lines, while Coco’s playful yet forceful delivery gave the song a welcome sense of bite.
As the set moved towards its conclusion, ‘Wonderful’ slowed the pace with a heartfelt ballad that celebrated friendship and its support in tough times. The gradual build in both arrangement and vocal intensity culminated in an impressive sustained closing note.
Closing with ‘The End, Pt 2’, described by Coco as both her favourite song on the record and “a song to make you feel hopeful”, proved an inspired choice. Drawing together musical motifs from across the album, it served as a fitting summary of the journey presented throughout the evening. Uplifting, ambitious and full of dynamic shifts, it left the audience on an emotional high.
A visibly emotional Coco received an enthusiastic response as the final notes faded. Few people appeared eager to leave, with many remaining afterwards to chat at the merchandise stall. It was a scene that reflected the atmosphere of the evening as a whole: not simply an album launch, but a genuine celebration of an artist taking a significant step forward.
Coco And The Lost:
Coco – vocals
Coco And The Lost setlist:
‘Icon’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘Drum Machine’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘Sweet Lullabies’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘The End’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘Modern Lover Girl’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘I Could Go On’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘Everything Is Fine’ (from 2023 ‘I’ve Got Nothing John’ EP)
‘Kill The Fantasy’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘What Would You Know About Love’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘Um And Ah’ (a 2025 single release)
‘Wonderful’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
‘The End, Pt 2’ (from 2026 ‘Modern Lover Girl’ album)
