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

She is the creator of cult Maori cartoon Aroha Bridge with screenwriting credits ranging from comedy Wellington Paranormal to indigenous soap Ahikaroa and is a long-time member of Taika Waititi's Piki Films, producers of her forthcoming science-fiction series Jupiter Park.

As Coco Solid, Parallel Dance Ensemble, Badd Energy and Fanau Spa, she has gained a loyal international music following and now heads artist-led record label and production house Kuini Qontrol, which also makes independent film, audio and animation projects. She is co-director of the Onehunga community space Wheke Fortress.

Hansell was named the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific writer in residence in 2018, studying at the University of Hawai'i, where she started writing How To Loiter In A Turf War while researching gentrification in the Pacific.

The following year Coco was named a national Arts Laureate by The Arts Foundation NZ.

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

Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2022 appearances:
The Radical Possibility of Craft, Thurs 3 November
The Radical Possibility of Loitering, Fri 4 November
Wheke Art life, Sat 5 November

Books