Coco Solid, AKA Jessica Hansell (Ngāpuhi/Samoa), is a writer, multimedia artist, musician, director, and producer. Her work explores and challenges gender stereotypes and sets feminist issues alongside cultural identity. Her Māori, Pacific and German heritage is intertwined in her work, making for complex, edgy and innovative art, videos, and music.
Coco Solid is the creator of cult Māori cartoon Aroha Bridge with screenwriting credits ranging from comedy Wellington Paranormal to indigenous soap Ahikaroa and is a long-time member of Taika Waititi’s Piki Films, producers of her forthcoming science-fiction series Jupiter Park.
As Coco Solid, Parallel Dance Ensemble, Badd Energy and Fanau Spa, she has gained a loyal international music following and now heads artist-led record label and production house Kuini Qontrol, which also makes independent film, audio, and animation projects. She is co-director of the Onehunga community space Wheke Fortress.
Coco Solid was named the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific writer in residence in 2018, studying at the University of Hawai’i. The following year she was named a national Arts Laureate by The Arts Foundation NZ.
In May 2022 Coco Solid released her debut novel, How to Loiter In a Turf War “…The story has a vital pulse. It is written beautifully, laden with the infinitely quotable, generously peppered with the poetic and the profound …” – Natasha Lampard, The Spinoff
All genders welcome, NZSL interpreters provided. There are only 90 seats available so please book earlier so that you don’t miss out.