Tanja Markovic, aka Cookbeat is a 37 year old music producer, DJ, songwriter/rapper, video creator/editor, picture/cover art designer with 13 years experience in the hip hop game. She is also a fitness professional, natural bodybuilder and personal trainer with 23 years experience, as well as being a former basketball player. Cook is also a Sports events organiser.

Formerly she was a member of Ryan Leslie's "Black Phoenix Beat Club" as well as a catalogue producer for LA's "Smash Haus Music Group".

Owner of "CoCo Beatz Music Group" (music production, mixing and mastering and artist representation). Most of Cook’s beats from the beginning of her career ended up on "Got Instrumentals" volumes, Cook say’s “I cannot count how many volumes there are. I really appreciate the support of those guys”.

For many years Cook has been an event Dj, from daily events like store promotions ("C&A"), to artist promotions, artist DJ support, DJ host at Hip Hop parties and DJ at the local Hip Hop dance competition events throughout the country.

Cook is also the creator of Instagram "Beat Moves Challenge" where she creates free music and beats to dancers all over the globe to promote them and promote her music and give underground artists support.

Cookbeat sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Music came to me at a very early age. I think subconsciously through my parents, who were music lovers, mostly pop music at that time, late 60s and 70s... So I had a bunch of audio cassettes to listen to.

They must have transferred that onto my older sister, because everything I have listened to for the first time and learned about music came from her also.

At the same time, my dad bought me my first synthesiser, an electric guitar with a speaker in the form of a toy for kids, without me even expressing any affection towards playing an instrument...but boy, what a good guess was that! I was instantly in love with playing, I wouldn’t leave my room all day and all that. I must have been around pre-school age (I was around 6 or 7 I think).

I'm forever grateful to my parents and sister, for opening my audio horizons from such an early stage of life.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

There are so many artists that made me fall in love in music overall, especially in creating my own, from 2Pac, DMX and Aaliyah to Timbaland, Ryan Leslie and Missy Elliott. The list goes on and on, Dark Child, Pharrell, Anomalie, Snow Tha Product etc.

I would def like to work with Timbo, Missy and Ryan for starters. But since the list is so long, it would mean a lot to work with any of the big cats in music industry, but also the ones that are less globally known but are simply amazing at what they do.

3.  What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I am currently making a seventh edition workout mix I create for my clients at Fit Cut Fitness as I am also a fitness professional and personal trainer. So the "FITCUT WORKOUT VOL.7" is in the oven, ready to be dropped any second, as far as DJ mixes are concerned.

As for my music production projects, I have a new single coming up, for which I planned to collaborate with another great female musician, a colleague singer/rapper from around here. And even if she can't make it, the single will still get out, as I am super satisfied where it is going right now, since I'm somewhere in the middle of its completion and I know the final outcome will be nothing but fire.

I write and rap both my native tongue and in English, and this one will be in my native, Serbian.

I can only add that, like most of my rap performances, it is going to be raw, sassy and truth-spitting to the core, everyday life inspired as that is my main signature.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Huh... That is a hard question for me to answer... I must speak from the mouth of others, because first impression feedback is everything.

My nature is that I try to be as original and diverse as I can in anything I do, whether it's music or fitness. Even in small things like simple photo/video edit, quote writing or social media post, service and advice I give, the way I process my songs or put on my make up.

And I'm glad that same recognition comes from the people listening to my music, from my closest friends and family to complete strangers. I often get the feedback that I create a new sub-genre with one single and completely blend into another but still maintaining my distinctive and original note with any project.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Wow, these are getting harder and harder to answer!

Proudest moment or should I say moments are various recognitions by radio stations, by people, by organisations who picked my singles for their mixtapes... organisations who called me to perform and work for them as a event DJ. First getting picked for USA and German radio stations (Dash Radio, Eldoradio), then for music projects like "Femixteta" with homeland organisation "Femix" supporting all female artists and especially musicians (I have been picked twice now for Femixeta 5 and Jubillar 10th edition).

Then moments in music production - when Ryan Leslie likes and picks one of your beats from his beatmaker club. Or when you get to the point of production when you make a production move in mixing and/or mastering and after a while find out that professionals do it the same way. Those kind of moments are truly un-replaceable.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

I have plenty. Maybe they heard this so many times before, because it basically comes down to two things: hard work and lots of passion towards what you do.

Also, it's hard, everything is. Every path will have bumps and tricky curves. The key to success is passion, freedom of creativity (thinking outside of the box), believing in the voice inside your head and your instincts, and combining all that with haaaard, haaaard work.

There are always going to be good and bad days like with anything in life. Get used to it, make it a lifestyle and just keep going. Find your essence and role in this whole beautiful mess of creative, talented things surrounding your spirit inside and out.

Be bold, but not cocky. Come to the point where you exceed so much from the experience and knowledge and don't be afraid to ask for help or to mingle among the big fish. Change your perspective of your self, but stay realistic, and you don't have to chase the luck and success, it will come to you naturally.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Oh yeah, I always have someone on the come up that is dope. First you should check out my lovely friends and colleagues from Serbia here:

Jasmina Todorovic - https://youtube.com/channel/UCwBZ80p5PeEnbTzkmASM_BA

Realma - https://youtube.com/c/Realma

Darka Rah - https://youtube.com/channel/UCn4B5OgmGnzKgAuMkOBibOw

MISH - https://youtube.com/user/MrsLeeloo7

Fia Moon - https://youtube.com/c/FiaMoon

BrandNeu Stadium Beatz - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l-UZcb_TkoAROhrD6UgtmpVPYdVlwoKCs

Iniko - https://youtu.be/_mOsM9QSlcs

Amun - https://youtube.com/channel/UCAdVCg3NOhfkk3WfxQW48bw

Lolo Zouai - https://youtube.com/c/LoloZouai

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Rosalia - Motomami - https://open.spotify.com/album/6jbtHi5R0jMXoliU2OS0lo

Beyonce - Reniassance

Pusha T - It's Almost Dry

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

Edit photos and videos, work on my fitness (exercise, bodybuilding), create new graphics for various topics, sport events like game matches and stuff like that, edit and create a new photo/video post for my Insta.

Other than that, I like to travel, read a good book, enjoy a cosy coffee place with my favourite cappuccino and my people.

Watch a good movie and/or Tv Show because I'm addicted to those.

Enjoy a quality time with my mix-breed pointer pup Leeloo.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

1. Fl Studio.

2. My creative zoning.

3. My Rode mic, Krk Monitors and M-Audio Axiom keyboard.

Follow Cookbeat on IG @cookbeat