The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)
06/11/23
Multi-talented artist Corinne Savage, known professionally as corook, took to The Echo stage in Los Angeles, CA on June 11th. The Pittsburgh native and now Nashville-based singer-songwriter-producer attracted the most kind-hearted, adoring crowd inside the iconic venue, with ages ranging from young children to middle-aged adults. After spending most of the past year on the road opening for artists such as Maddie Zahm, K.Flay, and more, corook is finally getting the recognition they deserve. Their recent E.P. release, serious person (part 1), includes several hits such as “tiny little titties,” title track “serious person” and the unforgettable viral hit “if i were a fish.”
The night began with an intimate performance by corook’s girlfriend, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Olivia Barton, who is recently back from opening for Lizzy McAlpine on her latest tour. As soon as she walked onstage, it was obvious the amount of pride she has for her partner, Corinne, and their recent success. Olivia couldn’t have more good things to say about corook, getting emotional as they talked about how no one is more deserving of the recognition they are getting. She strummed away on her acoustic guitar to both released and unreleased tunes, starting off with “I Don’t Sing My Songs” from her sophomore album, followed by Good Day and Control Freak. Barton also played several unreleased tracks for the audience, including “Big, Sad, and Fun” and “I Love You Just For Trying.” For each of her songs, the audience quieted down and listened intently to the lyrics she was singing.
After Olivia’s set, yellow kazoos with corook’s logo inscribed were passed out to every person in the audience who wanted one. There are several tracks with kazoo solos and the audience was up to the challenge of accompanying Corinne during the songs. On the stage were multiple instruments including a keyboard, banjo, as well as electric and acoustic guitars. Hanging on each instrument was a different style of hat – some recognizable amongst fans such as their green frog bucket hat and wide brimmed Mickey Mouse cap. Within no time at all, corook walked onstage, immediately sat down at the piano and began to talk to the audience through the microphone.
My personal favorite corook song is called “the dog.” The simple acoustic song tells the story about what would happen to Olivia and corook’s dog if they were to break up. As an avid dog lover and also as someone in a queer relationship, this song makes me tear up every time I listen to it. Hearing them sing it live only heightens the emotional experience, as I witnessed several people around me tearing up as well.
One of the most emotional moments of the night was when Corinne wanted to play one of their unreleased tracks entitled “the grass is blue.” They asked the audience to put away their cameras, afraid that they would feel vulnerable and get emotional over the severely honest lyrics. Singing the lyrics based on their personal experience over a simple piano melody caused several audience members to sob.
Towards the end of the show, corook invited Olivia Barton back onstage to join them for a few songs. The two sang their biggest hit, “if i were a fish,” while sharing the same mic, as well as several others that they collaborated on. Their voices blended flawlessly together as they turned to face one another, their tones and raw lyrics dancing beautifully together in unison. From the audience’s perspective, it is easy to tell how in awe and in love with one another they are.
It is the most heartwarming experience to see someone who is wholeheartedly themselves every single second. The nonbinary and queer artist is so unapologetically themself no matter what people online have to say about them. Their viral hit song, “if i were a fish,” with their girlfriend, Olivia Barton, was written together in just 10 minutes when Corinne was having an emotional day and feeling insecure and out of place. It has amassed over 18.4 views and 2.9 million likes since they posted it on TikTok. All of corook’s music contains raw and honest lyrics with high-end creative production, creating the most emotionally wholesome concert environment I have ever experienced.
Catch corook in your city this fall as they embark on their first ever headlining tour if you want to attend an uplifting show in a safe space!
