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Release Club · Est. 2025
Their friendship built the Official Release Club. One year of music, courage, and community.
A music industry veteran, 74 years old, who has lived through decades of evolution. Koko Static brings hard-won wisdom about artist independence, contract literacy, and the importance of self-determination in an industry full of gatekeepers.
You've lived through this industry - the highs, the lows, the shifts. Looking back, what's the one experience that shaped your perspective on music more than anything else?
It's better to learn how to do it all yourself rather than put your life and music career in the hands of the big record companies. I was seemingly on a roll then one person derailed my rise. If I'm going to fail, I would rather it be because of something I did and not some controlling corporation lack of interest and egos.
What was the hardest thing you had to learn about the music industry?
Being approached by people that say sign here and I will make you a star. Then find out that that person talked a good game but had no real connections to help me, and delayed my forward motion.
With everything you've seen and been through, what do you know now that you wish someone had told you at the very beginning?
Be very, very careful about what you sign and who you sign with. When I came up people were signing 5 year contracts with record labels. Then put on the shelf and could not get out of the contract to sign with someone else. They owned people for 5 years and did nothing with them sometimes.
In all your years, what's the worst advice you've seen given to artists? And what is the best advice you could give?
The Worst Advice
Sign here is the worst advice I got. I did not have a lawyer to look over the contracts before I signed. I depended on the people I trusted (managers, producers, etc.) to tell me yeah it's okay to sign. Then finding out they got money for bringing us to the label, then they were gone to recruit other unsuspecting hungry young artist.
The Best Advice
Get your own lawyer and know exactly what you are signing. You can literally sign your life away if you're not careful. It was bad then, and I think it's worse now.
What does your legacy mean to you? Not what you've built, but what you've given?
I try to give good advice through experience when I talk to people about music. I tell them that it's not as easy as you might think it is just because you have talent. They want to learn an instrument. I reflect back when a music teacher would come to the house on Monday for $20 and give a lesson. Then next Monday they come again and if you haven't practiced and learned what they taught you last week, they do not give you another lesson but they still charge you another $20 for coming. That lets them know that they will have to complete the lesson to move on or they are paying $20 every week with no new lesson. I also tell them that what they've heard about the ugly part of the entertainment business is true, and there are demons to look out for in this business. I try to tell them in a way as not to bust their bubble or scare them. For example, my wife was signed to Motown for a 2 year contract and because she would not put out on the couch, the company put their music on the shelf and never released a song for the extent of the contract. And they were pretty good, and could have had some success if given a chance with a caring company. If I help the people I talk to and they avoid the BS in the industry and grab the gold ring, then I feel good about opening their eyes to the REAL of the industry. Example 2: I bought my grandson a guitar one Christmas. He would bring it over and we'd play around and I'd show him a few things. Then he got with his friends and started a band. The next thing I knew inside of a year he calls and said he's playing at this club down the street from me and I couldn't believe it. Already gigging. Now he's playing guitar, bass and piano. Guess I was a good influence on him. Now he's taken the ball and running with it, and still doing good and having fun with his music. That makes me feel good. I talk to my lifelong friends my age, and we discuss the growing old boat that we are in. I give support when they are needing surgeries and are scared. Because I've been where they are and I was scared also. They tell me thank you for talking to them for an hour and making them feel a little better about what's ahead. I let them know they are not alone, and they will get through it just fine. My legacy is giving love and support to the people around me. My brother says I'm too nice. Well, that's who I am I guess, and I find nothing wrong with being nice to people.
What made you decide to release music and build a fan base?
You made me decide to release music and get it off my hard drive and in the ear holes of the music lovers out there. You gave me the courage and means to do the thing. You and Joe and Uncle Brother were my influencers.
What inspired you to release music alongside your closest friends instead of doing it alone, and what did that experience feel like when you finally did?
As you know my last release was 43 years ago. Then I felt the love and support of the group and that kept me going because it felt good after that first release party and I felt the joy of accomplishment coming from everyone that released, and it felt to me that we were all feeling the same emotion, which was so real and honest because we got over the hump together. Thanks to our fearless leader Berlin Redlux. And that's a fact!
What does success mean to you?
Success means a little different for me. Producing, mixing and mastering my own music and knowing how to release it to the public. That in a nutshell is success to me. I don't have to be materially successful. To know that I am confident in the process of making and releasing music is what I consider successful. If I make a dollar after that, then that's just icing on the cake.
You are the official founders of the Release Club at REDLUX Academy. So many artists are going to be releasing their music knowing your name, knowing that you built this from the ground up. How does that feel, and what does it mean to you?
That means that you, me, Joe and Uncle Brother started something that helps others that are where we were before we were introduced to the Redlux Academy. And since those early days, we are now passing on the inspiration, support, love, and teachings that we got from day 1. And now we have 180 other people that are where we were. Undecided, scared, reluctant, and embarrassed to share their music with the public. Afraid to attempt to go down this road of learning how, when, and where to get started doing the thing. I feel really good knowing how far we've come since those early days. And watching the newbies get excited and releasing their first songs. We couldn't be in better hands. Much love to you Berlin for building this powerhouse. And I know you know I'm not the only one that feels this way. To our incredible energizer bunny and Queen of the Redlux Academy!
