A huge amount of music and videos is released every day of the week; it can be hard to catch up, and invariably things slip beneath the radar of even the most attuned bloggers (and music fans in general.) Until today, such was the case with Hannah Cohen whom I might never have heard about were it not for a write-up in the latest issue (October) of Vogue, the only monthly I buy off the newsstand apart from Vanity Fair, another superb magazine that makes it a point to spotlight up-and-coming music artists.
The 26-year-old San Francisco born singer-songwriter, daughter of jazz drummer Myron Cohen and from a highly creative family over all, left for NYC as a teenager to work as a professional fashion model after being spotted following soccer practice. Immersing herself in the local music and art scene, she began writing songs and doing photography/videos, eventually performing at The Village Vanguard and seeing her visual work published.
Last year her full-length debut 'Child Bride' was released on UK label Bella Union, founded by Cocteau Twins members Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie in 1997. The stellar collection of ten songs was produced by renowned American pianist/singer Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman. (The album is now up on Spotify.)
Cohen performed in NYC and in Europe last year, but currently there are no dates scheduled for the U.S. or abroad. Check her Facebook page for news on upcoming shows.
American photographer Matthu Placek directed the three beautiful, ultra minimalist b/w videos that accompany Cohen's songs "Sunrise", "The Crying Game" and "Don't Say". He has shot equally striking videos for Trixie Whitley and Kate Earl. The 'Cohen & Kittens' tableau above is also by him.
www.facebook.com/pages/Hannah-Cohen/247034815337526
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/child-bride/id585261570
http://vimeo.com/matthuplacek (director)
