Fort Worth R&B duo Cotinga has released its first single, "Where to Start," capping roughly two years of collaboration that stretched through the pandemic. The project pairs vocalist Njia Martin with Landon Cabarubio, who plays keys, guitar and synth bass.
The partnership began after the two met through a mutual friend and kept running into each other at local shows. Cabarubio said he was stunned by Martin's voice when he found her music online, and equally surprised to learn she was from Fort Worth. After much talk about making music together someday, Martin said it was time to do it or drop the idea.
The pair said they took their time getting the song out. "We didn't want to rush it," Cabarubio said, "and we wanted to make sure it was right." Martin said lockdown gave them room to focus on their craft, and that Cotinga became a way to have fun rather than dwell on the pandemic's negative effects. "We were able to create more of a positive tone and make beauty out of the situation we were in, in a sense," she said.
Cabarubio supplies the music, while Martin writes the vocal melodies and lyrics, building on what he gives her. For the debut single, she took a prompt from Cabarubio when she was stuck on words. He suggested she think about seeing someone attractive for the first time. Martin wrote around that idea, including the instant attraction and the awkwardness of starting a conversation. The result is a jazzy, synth-based ballad.
Cabarubio recorded the instrumental tracks at his home studio. The vocals were recorded at Alpha Omega Entertainment on Fort Worth's East Side with producer Ty Macklin, who worked with Grammy winner Erykah Badu on her 1997 debut, Baduizm. The duo's sound draws on groove-based electronic indie in the vein of Blood Orange, Men I Trust and MorMor, with a soulful 1980s influence.
Both musicians are established in the local scene. Cabarubio plays in the long-running math-rock group Cleanup and produces hip-hop beats under the name Lando Sea. Martin has been singing since the days of The Where House on the Near Southside.
Last June, Cotinga performed a Tiny Desk Concert, part of the popular NPR series. It was filmed at Trust Print Shop in Fort Worth, where Cabarubio works full time. The 3:50 performance has been viewed 612 times.
The duo's next appearances are a SXSW showcase in Austin on Wednesday, March 16, and a National Record Store Day show at Doc's Records & Vintage on Saturday, April 23. Cabarubio said drummer Brian Garcia will soon join the group. A second single, "Tiger Balm," arrives April 15, and Martin described it as having an "upbeat vibe."
Cotinga plans to keep releasing singles, possibly followed by an album, while continuing to perform to build momentum. "It's something we are both very passionate about and are excited to share," Martin said, "and we hope people get behind us."
