On Thursday October 9, at Backstage by the Mill, Paris was once again wrapped in the rhythm and soft light of cotoba’s universe. The Korean math-rock group finally found their way back more than a year after their last show in September 2023. The reunion was much anticipated, and fans were delighted to finally meet them again.
Written by Lucy Gougeon
The evening opened with Cold Beaches, a Paris-based indie-jazz-rock band who offered a warm prelude to what was coming. With some lovely melodies and occasional saxophone parts, time passed by quickly and before we knew it, it was already cotoba’s time to go on stage after a 40-minute set.
From the first note at 21:00, it was clear they loved being here. The music echoed through the venue as fans were immersed in the sound. “Paris !” said Dyon Joo. The vocalist and guitarist’s voice resonated across the room. Reading carefully from her phone, she delivered a heartfelt speech in French with charm. Each word carried the love she wanted to express and drew cheers from the audience. Her pronunciation was careful but melodic, and every time she smiled, the crowd melted a little more. With her cap never leaving her head all night despite her moving and jumping around, she delivered a beautiful performance.
The band’s chemistry was undeniable. The bassist Hyerim, discrete but radiant, seemed to dance through every measure. Her presence, soft yet magnetic, kept catching our eyes despite her trying to stay hidden behind her large clothes. Though she preferred the shadows, her beautiful smile will always bring her forward. The guitarist Dafne was full of energy. He even surprised everyone by stepping up to the mic for a song. A rare and unexpected moment that left the room holding its breath. He too, challenged himself with a short speech in French, with some help from Dyon Joo for the pronunciation.
cotoba’s music has always felt like a conversation between emotion and precision and that night, in Paris, that dialogue turned intimate. They played 13 songs for us. From the instrumental of Next Movement to reyn and several more, they ended the set with the iconic Melon. The songs flowed into one another so seamlessly that we didn’t want it to end. The band stepped back on stage for the encore and played Feeling Of Mackerel to say not “Au revoir,” but “À bientôt” (“Goodbye” and “See you soon”).
After the set, the band, mainly Dyon Joo, held a small fansign by the merch table. Simple and sincere, fans had the opportunity to get quick autographs, say a quiet thank you, and even take some photos with big smiles. Some lucky fans who stayed a bit longer even got the chance to meet Hyerim, who came out afterward.
Slowly, fans left the venue, and by the time the night ended, Backstage by the Mill felt like it had experienced a moment of beauty, ephemeral but unforgettable. cotoba didn’t just perform in Paris, they returned to it as if answering a promise left hanging since their last time in the city.
cotoba links
Photo gallery all rights reserved by Lucy Gougeon
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