Sam Cohen (musician)
Sam Cohen | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Samuel Benjamin Cohen |
Born | Houston, Texas, U.S. | September 28, 1979
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, musical director, visual artist |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums, bass |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels | 30th Century Records, Easy Sound Recording |
Website | www |
Samuel Benjamin Cohen (born September 28, 1979) is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, artist, and producer based in
Since 2008 Cohen has produced or contributed as a songwriter or musician to albums by Norah Jones, Shakira, Kevin Morby, Pavo Pavo, Dawn Landes, The Bandana Splits, Joseph Arthur, Trixie Whitley, and Walter Martin. In 2012, he was guitarist for The Bridge Session, a collaboration between The National and Grateful Dead's Bob Weir.[3] From 2012 through 2014, he was the Musical Director for the concert The Complete Last Waltz, which featured artists such as Nels Cline, Cass McCombs, and members of Dr. Dog, among others.
Early life
Cohen was born on September 28, 1979, in
History
2001–2009: Founding Apollo Sunshine
External videos | |
---|---|
Apollo Sunshine, "Singing To The Earth," a video collaboration between Cohen and his now wife Sarah Graves |
He formed the psychedelic rock group
2005–2009: Breakthrough albums
In 2005 Apollo Sunshine released the EP titled The Other Side of the World. The band released their second full-length album
2009–2014: Yellowbirds
The band Yellowbirds was first formed in 2009 by Cohen as a solo project, shortly after the dissolution of Apollo Sunshine. Cohen began recording new music in his own bedroom studio.[18] With the assistance of friends on several tracks, he released several singles in 2010. In February 2011 he released his debut album The Color as Yellowbirds,[18] on Brooklyn indie label Royal Potato Family. It was well received by the majority of critics, with Ultimate Guitar calling the guitar work "magnificent."[19] Early members included George Lewis Jr on bass (leader of Twin Shadow), Wynne Bennett on keys (also Twin Shadow), Max Koepke on rhythm guitar and autoharp (Self Righteous Brothers) and Brian Geltner on drums. Later on, Cohen, drummer Brian Kantor, multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaufman, and bassist Annie Nero made up a new lineup which remained consistent until disbanding in 2014.[18]
In 2012 Cohen began writing songs for the band's sophomore album
2009–2014: Recent projects
As a session musician, Cohen has performed guitar on albums such as
External videos | |
---|---|
Yellowbirds "Rest Of My Life", a video that took Cohen 10 weeks to complete[22] | |
"Rainsong" by Chad Stokes |
In 2012, he was guitarist for The Bridge Session,
Cohen is also known for his original collages on the Yellowbirds album covers and his collage animation videos.[24][25] The first Sam Cohen record, Cool It, will be out April 28, 2015, on Easy Sound Records, and will primarily feature Cohen playing all of the instruments. He released the first preview from the album, "Kepler 62", in November 2014 on Stereogum.[26] Hilly Dilly described "Kepler 62" as "partly psychedelic and partly retro, but there's also a sprinkle of cosmic vibes interspersed within."[27]
Musical style
Cohen's solo material and various collaborations are often described as
Discography
Solo material
Albums
Year | Album title | Release details |
---|---|---|
2015 | Cool It |
|
2019 | The Future’s Still Ringing In My Ears |
|
Singles
Year | Title | Album | Release details |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | "Kepler 62" | Promo single for Cool It | Easy Sound Records (Nov 2014)[26] |
2016 | "Clockwork" | 30 Days, 30 Songs |
Self-released (Oct 2016)[29] |
With Apollo Sunshine
Year | Album title | Release details |
---|---|---|
2003 | Katonah |
|
2005 | Apollo Sunshine |
|
2008 | Shall Noise Upon |
|
With Yellowbirds
Year | Album title | Release details |
---|---|---|
2011 | The Color |
|
2013 | Songs from the Vanished Frontier |
|
Studio credits
Year | Release title | Artist(s) | Notes, role |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Stroke of Genius | Marc Black | Banjo, guitar (electric tenor, pedal steel), vocals |
2006 | The Songs of Bob Dylan | Various | Bass, guitar, vocals |
2007 | In Loving Memory | Self Righteous Brothers | Group member |
2009 | The Fall | Norah Jones | Electric guitar (tracks 1, 5, 9) |
Sweetheart Rodeo | Dawn Landes | Bass, guitars, vocals | |
She Wolf | Shakira | Guitar | |
2011 | The Bandana Splits | The Bandana Splits | Instrumentation, producer |
2012 | Get Me Home | Russ Irwin | Guitar, pedal steel guitar |
2013 | The Ballad of Boogie Christ | Joseph Arthur | Guitar (8 and 9) |
Fourth Corner | Trixie Whitley | Guitar | |
2014 | Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One | Various | Engineer, guitar, vocals |
This Is the Town: A Tribute To Nilsson, Vol 1 | Various | Mixing, guitar, organ, vocals | |
EDJ | EDJ | Guitar, synthesizer | |
We're All Young Together | Walter Martin | Engineer, guitar (electric) | |
2016 | Young Narrator in the Breakers | Pavo Pavo | Producer |
Singing Saw | Kevin Morby | Producer | |
2019 | Oh My God | Kevin Morby | Producer |
Lux Prima | Karen O & Danger Mouse | Bass, Drums, Guitar, Synthesizer, Writer | |
2020 | The Archer | Alexandra Savior | Producer |
2022 | This Is a Photograph | Kevin Morby | Producer |
Direction credits
Year | Show | Artist(s)/company | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2012–2014 | The Complete Last Waltz | Various | Musical director, vocalist, musicians |
Further reading
- Articles and interview
- "Yellowbirds Return With Clear Direction on Songs From the Vanished Frontier". Rolling Stone. May 28, 2013.
- "Sam Cohen – "Kepler 62" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. November 5, 2014.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Danton, Eric (May 28, 2013). "Yellowbirds Return With Clear Direction on 'Songs From the Vanished Frontier'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ a b
"Yellowbirds breaking up, playing final show next month; Sam Cohen prepping solo album". Brooklyn Vegan. October 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ a b c "Walkmen Sessions". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-12-06.[dead link]
- ^ summer performance program[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h
"Sam Cohen". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- All Media Guide. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ^ "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Apollo Sunshine: Katonah". Pitchforkmedia.com. 2003-09-29. Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ^ Jon Pareles "Throwbacks With Muscle" The New York Times, February 28, 2004
- ^ "Best of 2005: Editors' Picks in Rock", Chordstrike
- ^ Kevin O'Donnell Apollo Sunshine Heat Up Early wakeup call leads to hugs from Smokey Robinson for neo-psychedelic crew Rolling Stone, November 18, 2005
- ^ Paste Magazine review
- ^ Pitchfork Media review 9/13/2005[permanent dead link]
- ^ PopMatters review 11/10/2005
- ^ Apollo Sunshine Tour Dates/New Album Archived January 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Apollo Sunshine's New Album on JamBase". Jambase.com. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
- ^ Pitchfork Media review Archived 2008-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ a b c d
Thomas, Fred (2013). "Artist Biography by Fred Thomas". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ "Yellowbirds The Color". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
- ^
Thomas, Fred. "Songs from the Vanished Frontier". Allmusic.
- ^ The Fall - Norah Jones | AllMusic
- ^ Paste Magazine (March 2011): Video Premiere, "Rest of My Life"[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Superhuman Happiness". Royal Potato Family. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ Yellowbirds "The Reason" on NPR, w/ the artwork of Michael Arthur
- ^ Yellowbirds "Young Men Of Promise" using artwork of Kara Smith
- ^ a b Stamets, Maggie (November 5, 2014). "Sam Cohen – "Kepler 62" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ "Kepler 62". Hilly Dilly. November 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ James Christopher Monger, All Music, "Apollo Sunshine"
- ^ "Sam Cohen - 30 Days, 30 Songs". 30 Days 30 Songs. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
External links
- Bands