Coko - The Winner In Me - Artist of The Week
Cheryl “Coko” Clemons returns to the music scene with a truly distinctive body of work that reveals an intimate portrait of her heart and her love for God. THE WINNER IN ME is the second gospel album from Coko. She made a smooth transition from R&B to Gospel with the debut release “Grateful” in 2006. That album gained Coko her first solo Grammy nomination, solidifying her position on the gospel music scene. This Summer Coko presents THE WINNER IN ME as her most cherished and personal recording.
The album is heart-felt and with an added personal touch of a shared experience resulting in a special album that is both passionate and transparent. Coko’s smooth style creates a pop-oriented sound that is equal parts Gospel and R&B while emotionally drawing inspiration from the struggles of her past and present. The outcome is THE WINNER IN ME, a project that is individualized yet universal all at the same time.
THE WINNER IN ME speaks to those who may journey through a dark and difficult time – Coko presents them with hope and encouragement through the music, which is replete with messages for the discouraged and depressed, for people dealing with insecurities and frustrations.
The title track, “The Winner In Me,” embodies all that the album hopes to accomplish.
A song tailor made for today’s times, it is an encouragement anthem that all of us can relate. By far it is Coko’s most personal and favorite songs. The song written by her pastor, spoke exactly how she felt. “I remember when I left SWV, I didn’t know where I fit in and didn’t know how to move forward … but something pushed me forward. That was Jesus pushing me forward … that was the ‘winner in me.’” “The Winner In Me” reminds us that we don’t walk alone and that Jesus is there to push us forward and sometimes carry us when we feel we can’t go on.
The lead single off THE WINNER IN ME is the sweeping orchestral ballad “Wait.” Written by friend David Caton, this song establishes Coko’s position as a true gospel vocalist. “I wanted something just for the Church and this was the perfect song. Some times we act on our own timetable or question God … I wanted to encourage people to Wait on the Lord … we can’t rush God” Coko said.
Coko’s sophistication and subdued soulfulness shines through on “Rescue Me.” Her clear and bright soprano vocals are wonderfully presented on a song that ministered to Coko as she was even recording it. “I remembered a time when I was depressed,” explained Coko. “There wasn’t anyone around … “no one” I felt “I” could turn to … and all I could say was Lord, rescue me and He was there.”
Family and friends join Coko on THE WINNER IN ME with exciting collaborations. As always Coko invited her mom, Lady Tibba, a singer / songwriter in her own right. Mother and daughter come together on ”Renew My Mind,” a song that was written by Lady Tibba. “My mom was a praise and worship leader when I was younger and we used to do this particular song all the time in church,” said Coko. “I think she really touches a chord and speaks to people’s hearts with this song … we all need to renew our minds and present ourselves with a clean heart.”
Another highlight is the hard-hitting “Make A Way,” featuring breakthrough star Canton Jones and rivals any urban club hit on radio today. Coko had the chance to team up with her husband, producer and drummer, Mike Clemmons on this track. “Mike is a great producer and it was cool to work with my husband in the studio; at first it was hard to separate the husband and wife thing … he’s very bossy,” Coko said laughingly, although the chemistry is evident.
Long-time friend Kelly Price lent her talents on the riveting and ultra-relevant, “Oh Mary.” The sisters-in-Christ come together to sing empowerment, strength and self-esteem into the lives of today’s young women. “So many young women and teens suffer from confusion, self-doubt and insecurity issues,” said Coko. “We wanted to reach out to them with this song … it speaks about peer pressure, depression. We say they are beautiful, tell them there’s a better day ahead and no matter what they are a child of God.”
“This Is Me” is an honest and open song where Coko speaks her mind. “I was very transparent on this song,” said Coko. “I remember the times when I was on top, people were calling a lot and wanted to be around me … but when I wasn’t the phone wasn’t ringing so often,” she said. “It is my real story and it really echoes the theme of self-esteem that is throughout the album.”
THE WINNER IN ME offers a great balance of straight up and down gospel with contemporary mainstream-friendly songs. Coko proves she can still make hits with an intrinsic R&B swagger she carries while maintaining a very real Gospel message in all she does. Both “Let Me Go” and “Maybe The Last Time,” are bona-fide hits for Gospel radio and beyond. It is music for Coko’s audiences old and new with head-nodding tracks and her amazing vocals. While on the more traditional end of the pool Coko gives us “Just Like You,” a melodious rendition of “Create In Me A Clean Heart,” and the big choir Sunday-morning ready “Surrender.”
