Cold Specks is the stage name of Somali Canadian singer-songwriter Ladan Hussein,[1] who was previously known as Al Spx.[2] Her music has been described as doom-soul. The name Cold Specks is taken from a line in James Joyce's Ulysses ("Born all in the dark wormy earth, cold specks of fire, evil, lights shining in the darkness.").
Cold Specks | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ladan Hussein |
Also known as | Al Spx |
Born | Toronto |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | artist |
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels | Mute/EMI Records (world except Canada) Arts & Crafts/EMI Records (Canada) |
She released her debut album, I Predict a Graceful Expulsion, on May 21, 2012, on Mute Records and Arts & Crafts in Canada.[3] The album was a shortlisted nominee for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize.[4]
Her second album, Neuroplasticity, was released on August 26, 2014.[5] It featured trumpet playing by Ambrose Akinmusire and backing vocals from Michael Gira of Swans, was supported in part by selected dates opening for Sufjan Stevens on his Carrie & Lowell Tour,[6] and was longlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.[7] Her third album, Fool's Paradise, followed in 2017.[8]
Following Fool's Paradise, Hussein suffered a mental health breakdown, and underwent several months of treatment at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.[9] She has since announced that she is retiring her stage name, and will release future music under her own name.[citation needed]
Albums
- 2012: I Predict a Graceful Expulsion #86 CAN[10]
- 2014: Neuroplasticity
- 2017: Fool's Paradise
Singles
- 2011: "Holland"
- 2012: "Winter Solstice"
- 2012: "Blank Maps"
- 2012: "Hector"
- 2014: "Absisto"
- 2015: "Bodies at Bay"
- 2017: "Fool's Paradise"
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result[citation needed] |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 2012 Polaris Music Prize | Polaris Music Prize | I Predict a Graceful Expulsion | Nominated |
2013 | SiriusXM Indies Awards[11] | Artist of the Year | Cold Specks | Nominated |
Female Artist of the Year | Won | |||
Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | |||
Soul/R&B Artist or Group of the Year | Nominated |