Chris Cohen (musician)

Chris Cohen
Cohen in 2008
Cohen in 2008
Background information
Born1975 (age 49–50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • producer
  • multi-instrumentalist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • drums
  • bass
  • keyboards
Years active1990s–present
LabelsCaptured Tracks
Formerly of

Chris Cohen is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his solo albums as well as for having been a member of the band Deerhoof between 2002 and 2006.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1975, he is the son of former music business executive Kip Cohen and former Broadway actress Lynn Cohen (known professionally as Lynn Carlisle).[3] In 1991, Cohen appeared in the Sonic Youth video "Cinderella's Big Score" by Dave Markey.[4] His sister is public radio reporter and host Alex Cohen.

His first instrument was drums, which he began playing at the age of 3,[5] later learning to make music by overdubbing himself on a cassette four-track.[6]

Career

Cohen has released three records under his own name on the Captured Tracks label – Overgrown Path (2012), As If Apart (2016), and Chris Cohen (2019). Cohen performed and recorded his first two albums himself,[7][8] describing them in an interview as "companion pieces."[9]

Overgrown Path was called "a perfectly conceived album" by Allmusic[10] and As If Apart a "powerful, exquisitely realized journey" by Pitchfork.[11] Captured Tracks' owner Mike Sniper stated via Twitter that "whenever I get depressed about running an indie rock label in 2016, I can take solace in knowing I put out 2 Chris Cohen LP's."[12] In 2012 Cohen was listed by Mac DeMarco in Pitchfork as one of his "favorite new artists."[13]

Before beginning to use his own name, Cohen wrote music for his band, The Curtains, as well as for Deerhoof, Natural Dreamers, and Cryptacize, which was a collaboration with Nedelle Torrisi and Michael Carreira.[1] After the dissolution of Cryptacize, Cohen played drums or guitar with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and White Magic.[14] He also toured and recorded with Cass McCombs[15] and has performed and recorded with Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Danielson and EZTV.[1]

In 2016, he co-produced and played drums on the album Front Row Seat to Earth by Weyes Blood.[16]

Cohen currently performs in his own band and in the duo Park Detail's Band with Yasi Perera.[17]

He has toured the US and Europe extensively with his band since 2012, performing at Primavera Sound,[18] Le Guess Who?,[19] and End of the Road Festivals,[20] performing alongside such artists as Eleanor Friedberger,[21] Tortoise,[22] DIIV,[23] Andy Shauf,[24] Mac DeMarco,[25] and Parquet Courts.[26]

Discography

Solo albums

The Curtains

Deerhoof

Natural Dreamers

Cryptacize

Other contributions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Mark Deming. Chris Cohen Biography by Mark Deming at AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Natalie Caamano (March 28, 2016). "Chris Cohen Creates A Dreamscape 'In A Fable'". Spin. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Staff (undated). "Chris Cohen" Archived January 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Captured Tracks. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "Sonic Youth Site Menu". www.sonicyouth.com. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  5. ^ "Chris Cohen on the Troubles of Expression and His Latest Album – KCPR". KCPR. May 13, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  6. ^ "Chris Cohen". Subbacultcha. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  7. ^ "Chris Cohen: Now As If A Part". Free Press Houston. May 19, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Chris Cohen on the Release of "As If Apart" – Ravelin Magazine". Ravelin Magazine. May 6, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  9. ^ "Chris Cohen, l'interview | HARTZINE". www.hartzine.com. 13 October 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  10. ^ "Overgrown Path – Chris Cohen | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Chris Cohen: As If Apart Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "LP Review : Chris Cohen – As If Apart (Slowcore)". Still in Rock – Brooklyn based webzine. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Mac DeMarco | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 10 October 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  14. ^ "Chris Cohen, Idiot Glee, Thin Hymns". Chicago Reader. 23 September 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "Cass McCombs To Release A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, Out December 11th". Domino USA. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  16. ^ "Review: Weyes Blood, 'Front Row Seat To Earth'". NPR.org. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "Interview Still in Rock : Chris Cohen". Still in Rock – Brooklyn based webzine. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  18. ^ "First Names For Primavera Sound 2013". Clash Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  19. ^ "Le Guess Who? Festival expands 2012 lineup". Consequence of Sound. October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  20. ^ Anderson, Hassan. "End Of The Road // Festival Review". www.londoninstereo.com. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  21. ^ "Eleanor Friedberger, Chris Cohen, Meganet, Icewater". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  22. ^ "Tortoise, hula and Vegas acts to entertain Sonoma this weekend". Sonoma Index Tribune. April 28, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  23. ^ Reyes, Montse. "Reverb-laden Dream Pop Fills The Catalyst | City on a Hill Press". Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  24. ^ "Andy Shauf touring with Chris Cohen". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  25. ^ "MAC DEMARCO + CHRIS COHEN + DJ DOUGGPOUND @ THE FONDA THEATRE". Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  26. ^ "Parquet Courts Announce New LP, 'Human Performance,' Share Gritty Video For 'Dust' | SPIN". Spin. February 4, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.