Cimo Fränkel x Skofee

What a wonderful discovery. Cimo Fränkel and Skoffee recently released their duet titled “Where Do You Hide Your Love”. Fusing r&b and pop, the single highlights magical vocals and mesmerizing melodies. It is captivating, beautiful and soulful. I’m a big fan of these types of records. The chorus is probably one of the best choruses I’ve heard lately and their voices perfectly match. Cimo Fränkel and Skoffee combined their two distinct universes to create something unique and memorable.

“Where Do You Hide Your Love” is now available worldwide.

What did you grow up listening to?

Cimo: A lot of 70s and 80s artists like Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Hll & Oates, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder etc. But mostly growing up in the 90s I definitely enjoyed Pop and R&B hits from artists like Usher, Craig David and more.

Skofee: There was a lot of Yusuf and James Taylor and Carole King in my house as a kid, my parents were very into bluegrass and folk music so we listened to a good amount of that. My first concert was Hilary Duff though, the best night of my life to this day.

When did you start singing and writing songs?

Cimo: I guess I have been doing it all my life, but the realization of me wanting to be in music and actually try and make my career career out of it didn't come until I was 16.

Skofee: Singing quickly became the center of my day when I was going through elementary and middle school, starting with small theater productions and choirs. I started writing songs in early high school. A local radio station had a songwriting competition so I entered and learned a lot through that process, mostly about how much I needed to learn.

What gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music? What was the biggest challenge when you first started?

Cimo: The confidence was actually built over the years, when songs I wrote were considered great but not particularly for any artist I would pitch them to. The waste of a good song is unbearable. I decided to release songs myself even though for some reason to me that felt like a huge step. The biggest challenge especially as a singer for me was probably stage fright.

Skofee: When I got to college I spent a few years in a folk trio with a few of my best friends. I’m glad I had that band experience because it gave me the confidence and experience to think about what I wanted to say, how my own music would sound and how to start. It was daunting to nail down my “sound” when I was writing for my first EP, but there’s no need to put pressure on establishing that completely in a single project. It’s changed some since then and hopefully will continue to.

"Where Do You Hide Your Love" is your latest single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?

Cimo: Melodically I wanted to create something like Amy Macdonald's "This Is The Life". You might be able to still hear the reference in the second part of the second verse. The song just developed a different way like most songs do. The lyrics just sort of came together in a smooth way I didn't really think about it as much but I guess this desperate touch is just something that I really like.

Skofee: When I heard Cimo’s original song I was immediately struck by not only his incredible voice, but the lyrics. I tried playing through it myself and the song came out as more of a ballad, I started to hear the background vocals as lush and layered and haunting. For a potential duet with both of our vocals this felt like the best way to sonically reflect Cimo’s original lyrics. My label had introduced me to his music and then connected me with Cimo, and I was really excited that he liked my take on his song and was willing to work on it more with me.

Could you describe the songwriting/production for this single? Who helped you create it? What made you want to collaborate with each other?

Cimo: I initially wrote this song with my longtime writing partner Rik Annema and another good friend and amazing writer Yoshi Breen. There were several approaches to this song before landing on this version. One of the other approaches was released years ago and is to be heard on my album. Skofee got wind of it and made a beautiful demo of yet another type of approach that I hadn't explored yet. That also covers the: "What made me want to collaborate with Skofee on this song" part. I heard her demo and was blown away by how a song that I wrote could sound so new to me. And of course her vocals are amazing, it was a no brainer for me.

Skofee: This was a unique situation since the song was already written so the process was more about differentiating it from the original and figuring out how each of our voices would fit into it. I wanted to work with Cimo because he’s unbelievably talented, and we shared a vision for what a reworking of the song could be. Mikhail Beltran, aka Sad Money, co-produced the song as well.

How was it like to work with each other on this song? How did you guys meet?

Cimo: It was refreshing, I was scared I would be too used to the older versions but I wasn't at all, it felt like collaborating on a new song, she is very easy to work with and really has a great ear for detail so that made it all the more smoother. We met after she did her demo version and connected soon after that to finish it.

Skofee: It was a lot of fun, I laughed a lot through the process of remaking the song and that’s something I value in a creative partnership. We met at his house for the first time. He made me a pumpkin latte and we recorded the first pass of the song.

What made you want to release "Where Do You Hide Your Love" as a single?

Cimo: It is my first duet as an artist, that was exciting and milestone. Besides that it shows a new side of me that I hadn't explored yet.

Skofee: I think it works well as a single since both of us have separate artist projects. I like that it’s had its own moment to shine.

What can you tell us about the artwork?

Cimo: Skofee and I both agreed on keep it simple but also edgy and almost vintage looking, the artwork was shot the same day we shot the promo visuals.

Skofee: The artwork was shot by Christina Bryson, aka Average Cowgirl. Could not recommend her highly enough, she’s doing really cool things. The shot of us in the grass was outside Hollywood High School after we finished getting footage for a visualizer.

As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?

Cimo: The hardest part is wanting a song to work, wanting people to hear it and wanting to succeed even though it takes time to build a fanbase and an identity. The best part is, making music and finishing a product, releasing it regardless of the outcome, just because it's my dream, no expectations, I need to keep telling myself this sometimes but it is a blessing either way.

Skofee: The hardest part is probably the disconnect between the period of time where you’re writing and releasing music and playing shows creatively. Also, it can be hard to balance an artistic career with life in general. My favorite part is the moment when a new song is finished. Thinking about how it will fit with other songs I’ve written and my overall message for a project is fun too.

What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?

Cimo: The industry today is very disposable. It's a fast culture, like swiping on Tinder: next, next, next. A lot of record labels are also more interested in the amount of followers or engagement an artist has over the quality of the music. Not saying that there is no quality but to me the focus should be reversed. I would work with a great musician in a heartbeat over a mediocre one with a million followers.

Skofee: I know a lot of artists are struggling with daily content output and while simultaneously making music that they can stand strongly behind, which takes a lot of time and resources. I think those skills are very different and it can be hard to know how much energy to put into creating content for social media and how much to save for writing new music and playing shows etc. That being said, I recognize how important social media platforms are for fostering relationships with fans and gaining visibility for your music. So I hope to one day harness the power of TikTok.

What advice would you give to artists out there?

Cimo: Stay true to yourself, and remember why you are doing it.

Skofee: I think it’s also okay to take some time to pursue other passions that make you feel good. It’ll only make your music better if you also allow yourself a little bit of space every now and then. I’m really just starting out still in my career so maybe someday that advice will be different.

In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?

Cimo: No social media.

Skofee: Huge question with a lot of answers, but I think gun control and reproductive rights are places to start at the moment.

What message do you want to give to the world?

Cimo: Remember who you are, try and do the right thing at all times.

Skofee: I love you!

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