Local DJ wants funding to turn up the music in Coffs Harbour

The rising cost of living paired with a crippling lockdown has subdued Coffs Harbour’s once thumping music scene. One man is on a mission to bring it back. Read it here

The rising cost of living paired with a crippling lockdown has subdued Coffs Harbour’s once thumping music scene

One Coffs DJ is on a mission to reinvigorate the local music scene but says more funding is necessary to transform Coffs Harbour into a cultural hub.

Originally from the UK, 58-year-old DJ Coco Varma has seen the industry change and adapt through the challenges of recent years.

A Coffs resident for the past 12 years, he said it used to have a vibrant music scene as it acted as a “stop” between cities like Sydney and Byron Bay.

“All the big artists would drive and not fly – Coffs was a buzzing place with queues outside all the venues,” he said.

Mr Varma said Covid crushed many artists.

“It was a difficult period. You would get optimistic it would reopen – then bang – you’re down again. It became disheartening. It breaks you,” he said.

“Business was completely dead”.

Coco Varma, 58 is a music selector in Coffs Harbour pining for more investment toward the arts and music.

According to “I Lost My Gig”, which was created by the Australian Festivals Association and the Australian Music Industry Network to capture data from musicians who had been impacted by Covid, 32,000 gigs were cancelled during the pandemic.

They also state 99% of musicians had no income protection or event cancellation insurance.

Varma said investment into music and culture is necessary to providing musicians with a viable living, as well as expose the community to new cultures through music.

“They need to invest more into culture, arts and music. People want to do things there just isn't much out there

Coco Varma in his element. Picture: supplied.

Although Varma was lucky enough to ride the wave, he said many artists had to “sell their equipment and move on”.

Varma who had to be his own manager, artist, club promoter, record label and sound engineer says he hopes to see more investment toward culture, arts and music.

“It would benefit the community. I’d like to bring more culture to Coffs.”

Coco Varma hopes music will get the same funding sports in Coffs Harbour receives. Picture: supplied.

He believes Coffs is growing rapidly and will be “one of the future places people will move to.”

“I would love to see the night time economy come to life,” Mr Varma said.

“I’ve noticed people here are exposed to rock and country, they’ve never heard garage, drum and bass. How do you expect them to like it?”

“There are other generations of music.”