Features · 30 October 2026

Sound Bites: Coco Elise

We ask emerging Perth-based creative Coco Elise a series of rapid-fire questions.

Coco Elise - photo supplied

Emerging Perth-based songwriter and producer Coco Elise (aka Josh Elise) has today released his debut album, The longest bridge in the world.

Featuring the singles 'Porcelain Tiles', 'Avoid Your Stare', 'Rest My Tyres' and 'Sadie', The longest bridge in the world is a post-break-up record that finds Elise contemplating loss, love and heartbreak through warm textures touching on folk-pop, soft-rock and soothing synths.

"This album is made up of my favourite ten songs I've made over the last year," explains Elise. "They all follow the same theme — I was, and still am, going through change. Most of it is about decisions I've made, and worrying whether they're the right ones — and if they're wrong, whether that means I end up washed up and alone.

"It was all written in my old house, right before I moved out, and finished off in Calvin's studio. I think the songs make sense together — there's a bit of everything, some upbeat, some sad. Sound-wise, I got the band to play horns as much as I could, to get that swell running through the songs, and leaned on acoustic guitars to keep it organic. Overall, the album is a synopsis of my last year. Hopefully people can relate to it."

Ahead of The longest bridge in the world dropping, we rattled off a stack of quick-fire questions to Elise and found out his dream dinner guests, unexpected influence, most controversial music opinon and more.

What three words would you use to describe The longest bridge in the world?

Music for couch.

You started with 20 songs and whittled it down to 10. How did you decide which songs made the album?

I kind of had my favourites already and then let a few others tell me the ones they like; if we both like them, they definitely stay. I have a few people who have similar tastes to mine, so I usually just ask them which ones they don't like and that's good enough for me to bin them, especially if I'm already unsure.

What's the one song you've written that you would recommend to people unfamiliar with Coco Elise?

My favourite is 'Porcelain Tiles', but I also love 'Bridge' and 'I am a Gecko', they're the ones I listen to the most. 'Sadie' also has a special place in my little heart. I like the ones that you can most tell are Coco Elise songs. I've just picked four, sorry.

Who are your four dream dinner guests?

Rafael Nadal, my old housemate, Count Dracula and Atarashii Gakko!.

What's your go-to karaoke song?

'Pussy Palace' by Lilly Allen.

What's the most unexpected influence on your music?

Probably the Rafa documentary.

What Australian band is on the cusp of superstardom?

Claire Perrot and James Annear.

The Rolling Stones or The Beatles?

The Beatles.

What's your favourite junk food to eat on the road?

Any sandwich with fried chicken with a full sugar Coke. I'd just like to mention Torta's and Taco's on Johnston Street (Fitzroy). I go there pretty much every weekend; the Pollo Torta with avo is the best thing I have eaten yet in my life.

Who would be your dream music video director?

Christopher Nolan, only in IMAX, $200 million budget.

Guilty pleasure album?

The longest bridge in the world by Coco Elise.

What artist or band is the most unexpected influence on your sound?

I feel like maybe Smerz is pretty distant from the Coco world; I listened to that on repeat when making the album. Also the Roches and probably Adrienne Lenker, but I feel like you can hear more of those influences than Smerz. Also white noise that I listen to when I sleep every night.

If a movie were made about your life, who would play you?

Michael Cera would play me as a teen and then Michael Caine would play me as I grow old, but he wouldn't change his accent.

READ MORE: Sound Bites: The Rubens