Coco Solid – aka Jessica Hansell - is a musician, writer, director, producer and artist who released her debut novel 'How to Loiter in a Turf War' in 2022. Solid’s work is driven by a desire to make visible a more diverse array of life experiences and counter the dominant voices and stories that pervade our society. For Monica Brewster Evening audiences she will talk about her creative practice and her novel and the themes that run beneath and between them.

Jessica Hansell (Ngāpuhi/Samoa) is a writer, multimedia artist and musician from Auckland, long known by her rap nickname Coco Solid.

In 2022 Hansell released her bestselling novel How To Loiter In A Turf War (Penguin Random House), a story of three friends and the city that is gentrifying around them.

She is currently director of underground art space Wheke Fortress in Onehunga, Auckland.

Hansell is the creator of cult Māori cartoon Aroha Bridge with screenwriting credits ranging from comedy Wellington Paranormal, indigenous soap Ahikaroa, through to her upcoming science-fiction series Jupiter Park.

With music projects (Coco Solid, Parallel Dance Ensemble, Badd Energy and Fanau Spa) and an international following, Hansell now heads artist-led record label and production house Kuini Qontrol. Hansell was named the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific writer in residence in 2018, studying at the University of Hawai’i. The following year Coco was named a national art laureate by The Arts Foundation NZ.

Across all mediums Coco consistently strives to prioritise Oceaniac narratives, wahine, LGBTQIA expression and underground creatives of colour.