Meet Coy Lim | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Coy Lim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Coy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As a musician, or really as any kind of creative, I think that risk is an inherent part of our careers and lives. If we do this right, we are creating works that are fresh, evocative, and exciting. However, to truly shift this artform forward within our over-saturated and heavily commercialized industry, it is a necessity to divine one’s unique perspective.

As a queer, mixed-race woman, my viewpoint is one that I believe is inherently valuable in the creative realm, because it is one that is rarely represented in artistic spaces. My identity carries ingrained risk, but also informs my distinctive approach to music. My art often rejects “traditional” Western norms, as I have rejected cultural institutions that have not seen my value as an artist and as a human. There is a lot of overlap between the risks it takes to live life as an artist, and to live as an openly queer femme in society. Often, people in marginalized groups are forced to choose between our happiness and societal security. That being said, when I finally began embracing authenticity, I found purpose as both a human and as an artist.

The most common adjective that people use to describe my music is “unique.” I do not take that for granted. I’m so lucky to be able to create music with people I love and admire. Art is alchemy, and at this point in my creative journey, it is the transfiguration of my pain and suffering into medicine and beauty. I create to feel and to heal, and to give people a safe place to be their authentic selves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Once, there was a time when I created art to try and make other people happy. After I embraced my authentic self, I started making art that I enjoy, and embraced the weird and wild that makes me who I am. That is the art that has resonated most with my audiences, and is the art I enjoy creating the most. I have a lot of projects; when I write for me, I’m writing from my own perspective. When I write for others (commissions, film, etc) I try and capture the spirit of what their art is trying to accomplish, and put myself in the same emotional space. I once thought that my music being so emotional was detrimental, but I realize now that it is the best thing about my art. I love looking at the world, emotion, pain, joy, through the lens of an artist. How can I show you what I’m feeling? How can I get you to feel it, too? For a long time, I needed to spend a lot of time dissociated from my reality in order to survive it. Now, I’m in a place where I feel everything. It’s scary here, so many of us choose numbness over growth. But, I believe that healing is worth it. Feeling is worth it. I’m making art that helps me do those things, and I love that my audience gets to do it with me. There is nothing more human than connecting through shared emotion. Our experiences are unique, but our struggles are universal. Every show I play or lesson I teach is a place for us to hold each other up, to practice softness, and to embrace our imperfect humanity together. The world is often cruel, so I will make music that reminds us to be kind.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Unlimited time to go around the city with my besties? The places we’d eat and drink would be: Peter’s Chinese Café (Peter has treated me like his family since I moved to Denver), Tí Café, Saigon Terrace, Star Kitchen, Mango Mango, Yuan Wonton, and Mono Mono Chicken. For nightlife, everywhere I go is live music! So, I’d do Meadowlark/Herb’s on Monday nights, Milk bar on Tuesday nights, Off the Cuff at Meadowlark on Wednesdays, and Gerard’s Pool Hall for pool and music on Thursdays and Sundays. Other favorite venues include Cervantes, Dazzle, The Orchid, Enigma Bazaar, and the Broadway Roxy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my family, Dave, Joy, and Adam for their endless support. Also, my chosen family, Sam Meier, Christina Adamoli, and Dax Oliver. Finally, my wonderful partner Jake Alvarez. Their love and support sustains me

Website: jadeoraclemusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeoraclemusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jadeoraclemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jadeoraclemusic

Other: Insta: @composercocoy

Image Credits
Gab Kaplan Photography, last purple image Hillary Ilyssa Photography