Based in Paris, Coco Mbassi is a Cameroonian singer/songwriter whose rich, expressive voice graces an array of styles from R&B-inflected pop to vocal jazz and Central African traditions. Already a seasoned backing vocalist, she made the jump to solo music with 2001's Sepia and its follow-up, Sisea. Appearances at the Live 8 festival and a starring role with Cirque du Soleil followed ahead of 2014's Jóa, after which Mbassi composed her first musical, Haendel on the Estate. Her fourth album, 2020's Ashuka Series, Vol. 1, was an entirely a cappella set focused on vocal polyphony.