This post was updated Feb. 25 at 11:10 p.m.

Cocona Mori is transcending music through her unique composition of sound and Japanese American heritage.

Mori – a third-year music industry student who performs as Cocona – released her second single “Tokyo Train” on Feb. 13. With a passion for music that began around the age of 10, Mori shares her experiences as a Japanese American and the ways in which her identity intersects with her artistry.

“Music is used as a symbolization of a time you live through,” Mori said. “I love writing and looking back on it later on, being able to live through all those emotions again from the time that I experienced those things.”

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Mori said her passion for singing has always been present, as she recalls singing everywhere she went when she was younger. Her parents recognized this love and decided to enroll her in musical theater at a local community center, she said. From there, her devotion to music grew stronger as she learned about jazz production, orchestration and composition at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

“In jazz, we focus a lot on improvisations and listening to other instruments,” Mori said. “Mimicking that, even as a vocalist, really impacted how I perceive music, … both in performance and composition.”

With a blend of jazz, R&B and soul influence, Mori said her latest single “Tokyo Train” is reminiscent of her summers spent in Japan visiting her grandparents. The song follows a metaphorical story of a man she met while in Tokyo, she said. Through the symbolism of trains, Mori describes the concurrent, side-by-side pattern they follow – despite their never crossing paths.

The themes of the “Tokyo Train” lyrics parallel the circumstance Mori said she found herself in – knowing that each person contained feelings for the other but never explicitly shared them. Instead, she said they witnessed each other passing by. Mori said she wants listeners to think of the track as more than a melancholic love song, and instead envision themselves on their own train ride throughout Tokyo. An accompanying music video for “Tokyo Train” will be released Feb. 22, she added.

With a variety of musical inspirations such as Joni Mitchell, Eloise and Stevie Wonder influencing her artistry, Mori said her incorporation of her Japanese American identity is what makes her distinct as a musician, and she hopes to showcase her heritage within her music. Jude Fucetola – a third-year music industry student, producer, and Garden Party bandmate to Mori – said Mori is effectively able to converge her Japanese American heritage within her musicianship.

“Bringing her identity into her music … makes it really unique,” Fucetola said. “It translates into the music aspect and brings out this unique sound that she has. You can really feel who she is in the songs.”

Like Fucetola, Candace Tsay – a second-year sociology student and Mori’s manager– said she is also captivated by Mori’s artistry. Tsay said Mori’s songwriting and stage presence are some of her most defining attributes as a musician. She added that Mori’s visionary mindset is remarkable.

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Mori is also the lead singer of the band Garden Party, which originated during her first year at UCLA. She said the people within the band are like family, allowing her to be her most authentic self on and off the stage. Mori said her first interaction with her future bandmates didn’t even involve the introduction of their names – instead, the group immediately started playing. It was after that hourlong session that they decided to form a band, she said.

“Garden Party is like a family,” Mori said. “If you see us interact, we are like siblings.”

Similarly to many artists, Mori said she struggles with overthinking when composing, writing and producing music. To overcome this, she said she turns toward her community of musicians who help embody, solidify and build confidence in her vision as an artist. When she works with other musicians, they are able to bring a new life to the music, reframing her outlook on the potential of a song, Mori said. Another component that she said helped develop her craft as a musician is her own experiences, as living through these moments is what catalyzes the creation of art and her origin of inspiration. Mori said she aspires for her artistry to be something novel to listeners, while also revealing who she is as a musician.

“I hope they hear … the many influences that I’ve had throughout my musical career,” Mori said. “I want it to be fresh and new, … something that they haven’t heard before, a new style of music.”