Raised by a photojournalist and a musician on the islands of Canada’s Pacific coast, Canadian experimental singer-songwriter Ora Cogan shaped her approach to music far from big-city scenes. Her childhood home played host to a constant stream of artists as it served as a professional recording studio. Cogan absorbed a myriad of influences growing up, from Ladino and Rumbetico to American country blues and outsider art all feeding into her glacial and cinematic yet tinglingly intimate sound. Cogan has been crafting critically acclaimed records for years, earning her festival slots throughout Europe and North America, residencies in Italy and France, and shows with Mazzy Star and Grouper. Prolific and experimental, she’s collaborated with the likes of Frazey Ford, Skeena Reece and members of Big Brave. Her latest record, Formless, out in august 2023, took form in the abyss of grief and pandemic isolation. The result is an outpouring of ruminations on awkward love, pain, internal struggles, and a fight to find ways to feel good when everything goes bad. Formless finds beauty, absurdity, humour, and unlikely joy in the bleakest of times. Cogan’s smoky, psychedelic approach to gothic country and hazy folk merges with post-punk, groove, psych rock, and traditional balladry. With a singular voice as much sensation as sound, Ora Cogan seeks out new realities within the smoke-and-mirrors labyrinth of our cruel society. Cogan and her close-knit band are supporting Formless with stateside touring as well as EU and UK dates in 2024. Her performances offer a vital antidote to the dystopian alienation of modern life, drawing overlapping audiences of folk, goth, pop, experimental, and even noise and punk fans together.

What She Says: “Writing this album was a very much a lifeline… transformative and healing,Re-calibrating an internal compass constantly thrown off by the magnetism of a deranged world.”

“‘Ways of Losing’ is a tribute to dear friends I’ve lost recently due to suicide and overdose. It is a love letter to those who do not fit well into our cruel society.”

Her Mixtape: “Six Songs That Has Stuck To Me“

Hornorkesteret – Slumpelukko  

These guys dress up like polar scientists and play bowed reindeer skulls and antlers. It’s frigging primordial and majestic and cute at the same time. We’ve jammed and shall jam again someday I hope… Last time was in a forest in Sweden.. maybe next time I hope it’s in the middle of a mall or something. Jonas from the group joined us this past week in Norway… It was killer.

 

And Also The Trees – Mermen of the Lea

Simon is one of my favourite writers and performers. I got to hang with him on the road this tour too and did a portrait shoot with him.. he’s also a talented photographer.

 

The Sadies – Message to Belial

This song has a special place in my heart. I met the Sadies at a festival up north from where I live. They were sweet and also mind-blowing live. When Dallas died, I listened to this song obsessively and cried lots and covered it with my band. It felt good. 

Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead

Immaculate vibes.. this song makes me want to put on a cape and steal sugar packets from a cafeteria… It makes me want to dance with the devil.. a la Legend (Tim Curry).

 

White Magic – Poor Harold

I adore White Magic. She is one of those artists who I really fell in love with when I was finding my sea legs and remain a devoted fan of… I Think she does have a lot of magic.

 

Joe Heaney – Amhrán na hEascainne

The Irish language version of a folk song called Lord Randall. I heard this from listening to my friend Ian Lynch’s podcast, Fire Draw Near. This song came on and I got obsessed with the vocal line. I’d love to learn it someday. The song is incredibly sad… a boy has his hear broken by his lover and also poisoned by her and he’s telling his mum about it.

Formless is out now. Look HERE for more information on Ora Cogan.