COLD SPECKS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, LIGHT FOR THE MIDNIGHT

Photo Credit : Ted Belton // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Singer, songwriter and producer Cold Specks (aka Al Spx) will release her fourth studio album, Light for the Midnight, on limited edition vinyl, CD and digitally on April 9 via Secret City Records in Canada and Mute in the rest of the world.

Light for the Midnight is a 10-track collection of fervent ballads and atmospheric songs, with Spx’s soulful voice channelled into expansive sonic worlds. At its core, it is a raw and deeply emotional personal reflection on endurance, survival, and transformation. 

The new album launches today with “Lingering Ghosts”, which was co-written with British songwriter Ben Christophers (Françoise Hardy, Imogen Heap), and features Adrian Utley (Portishead) on guitar and production, Ali Chant (Perfume Genius / Katy J Pearson) on bass and production, Seb Rochford (Patti Smith / Adele) on drums and Dan Moore on piano.

LISTEN / SHARE “LINGERING GHOSTS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “LINGERING GHOSTS” HERE

MORE ABOUT LIGHT FOR THE MIDNIGHT
Light for the Midnight was conceived during a challenging period in Spx’s life, with work beginning amidst struggles with her mental health, experiences that are deeply embedded in the music. Spx emphasises its universality, despite its personal origins: "I definitely wanted to reflect on the last couple of years because it impacted me so much, but I also wanted the audience to walk away with this album. You know, the songs belong to them once I release them.”

The record was crafted in Toronto and Bristol, with Spx co-producing alongside Adrian Utley and Ali Chant. The album features string arrangements by Owen Pallett (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Sampha) and additional contributions from Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck. Spx also worked with a stellar line up of collaborators, including Chantal Kreviazuk (Drake, Kendrick Lamar) who co-wrote “Wandering in the Wild” and “How it Feels” (the latter described by The Guardian as “… a bruised but unbowed piano ballad”), Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap, Ben Christophers (who co-wrote “Lingering Ghosts”), Terry Edwards, Ed Harcourt, and Jonathan Quarmby.

LISTEN / SHARE “HOW IT FEELS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “HOW IT FEELS” HERE

Since she arrived on our screens with an unforgettable a capella performance on Later… with Jools Holland in 2011, Cold Specks has delivered crackling, pared-down guitar blues, gothic soul, gospel and warm electronics across three albums which won Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award nominations: 2012’s I Predict A Graceful Expulsion, 2014’s Neuroplasticity and 2017’s Fool’s Paradise. Her musical stretch is vast, she has worked with Swans, Massive Attack, and Moby and performed at Joni Mitchell’s birthday concert. This first album in seven years showcases her vast talent as a vocalist, songwriter, lyricist and producer to startling effect. 

LISTEN / SHARE “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE
BUY / STREAM “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE

Light for the Midnight captures Cold Specks at her most vulnerable and powerful, weaving stories of struggle into stunning compositions that resonate deeply. It is an album of hope and transformation.

PRE-SAVE LIGHT FOR THE MIDNIGHT HERE
PRE-ORDER LIGHT FOR THE MIDNIGHT HERE

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LIGHT FOR THE MIDNIGHT TRACKLIST
01 How it Feels
02 Venus in Pisces
03 Wandering in the Wild
04 Cold Goodbye
05 Endlessly
06 Lingering Ghosts
07 Cheap Dreaming
08 Lovely Little Bones
09 Curse Away
10 Closer

PRAISE FOR COLD SPECKS

“’How It Feels’ is a matter-of-fact, raw and vulnerable reminder of how potent Cold Specks’s artistry is” – Dominionated

“Haunting and introspective” – Billboard (How It Feels)

“Compelling and timeless” - The Observee

“Haunting and healing in equal measures” - The Guardian

“… peerless” – Pitchfork

“Haunting doom-laden soul” - Vogue

COLD SPECKS ONLINE
INSTAGRAM
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COLD SPECKS REVEALS NEW SINGLE, “WANDERING IN THE WILD”

COLD SPECKS RETURNS WITH ANOTHER NEW SINGLE CO-WRITTEN WITH CHANTAL KREVIAZUK, “WANDERING IN THE WILD”, OUT TODAY VIA SECRET CITY RECORDS

LISTEN / SHARE “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE
BUY / STREAM “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE

Single Art // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Singer, songwriter and producer Cold Specks (aka Al Spx) releases a new track, “Wandering in the Wild”, co-written with Chantal Kreviazuk. The stripped-back beauty of “Wandering in the Wild” is inspired by Spx’s months in the psychiatric ward (‘If we survive, can we smile and be not sorry anymore / If they decide we’re free, to run and scream / Will we jump for joy?’), and how she survived an incredibly difficult time preceding her bipolar diagnosis.

“Wandering in the Wild” - which follows “How It Feels”, the artist’s first music in seven years - was primarily written by Kreviazuk, following a long discussion with Al Spx about her experiences in the ward. Spx goes on to explain, “I used to be really precious about holding on to as much song writing as possible but then I remembered James Carr did not write ‘The Dark End of the Street’. Thank you, Chantal, for such a timeless piece of music.”

LISTEN / SHARE “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE
BUY / STREAM “WANDERING IN THE WILD” HERE

The spellbinding ballad has an illuminating grace and sense of freedom, as the artist looks back on that time. Al Spx produced and performed the track, recorded by Graham Walsh (of Holy Fuck), and it features piano by Johnny Spence, strings by composer Owen Pallett and brass by long-time collaborator Terry Edwards.

Since she arrived in our lives with an unforgettable a capella performance on Later… with Jools Holland in 2011, Cold Specks has mixed crackling, pared-down guitar blues, gothic soul, gospel and warm electronics in three albums which won Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award nominations: 2012’s I Predict A Graceful Expulsion, 2014’s Neuroplasticity and 2017’s Fool’s Paradise. Her musical stretch is vast: Al Spx has worked with Swans, Massive Attack, Moby and performed at Joni Mitchell’s birthday concert.

LISTEN / SHARE “HOW IT FEELS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “HOW IT FEELS” HERE

COLD SPECKS LIVE EVENT
November 30 - The Burdock, Toronto ON (An Evening with Cold Specks)

PRAISE FOR ‘HOW IT FEELS’

“’How It Feels’ is a matter-of-fact, raw and vulnerable reminder of how potent Cold Specks’s artistry is” – Dominionated

“Haunting and introspective” – Billboard

“… a bruised but unbowed piano ballad” – The Guardian Playlist

“…back with her first new music in seven years” – Brooklyn Vegan

COLD SPECKS ONLINE
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE

COLD SPECKS RETURNS WITH “HOW IT FEELS”, FIRST NEW RELEASE IN SEVEN YEARS

COLD SPECKS RETURNS WITH A NEW TRACK, “HOW IT FEELS”, HER FIRST RELEASE IN SEVEN YEARS, OUT TODAY VIA SECRET CITY RECORDS

LISTEN / SHARE “HOW IT FEELS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “HOW IT FEELS” HERE

Photo Credit : Ted Belton // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Today, singer, songwriter, and producer Cold Specks (aka Al Spx) returns with a new track, “How It Feels”, her first release in seven years. “How It Feels” is a raw and intimate reminder of Al Spx’ powerful voice, and finds the artist assuredly looking back on a difficult period in her life, with a clarity that time often brings to events.

Written with Chantal Kreviazuk (Drake / Kendrick Lamar), Spx explains, “‘How It Feels’ was written in 2019 at a time when I was struggling with money. I was struggling with my mind as well, and I was reflecting on my experiences. It was written one magical night in the dead of winter in a studio around midnight. It came together quite easily and Chantal is a gem.”

LISTEN / SHARE “HOW IT FEELS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “HOW IT FEELS” HERE

DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

The potent new track was written as she contemplated a difficult period in her mental health which resulted in some time in hospital before a bipolar diagnosis. The track was produced and performed by Al Spx, recorded by Graham Walsh (of Holy Fuck) and features piano by Johnny Spence, strings by composer Owen Pallett and brass by long-time collaborator Terry Edwards.

“How It Feels” is the first new music from Cold Specks since 2017’s Fool’s Paradise, and a confident reminder of her electrifying vocal, first glimpsed on an unforgettable a capella performance on Later… with Jools Holland in 2011. 

Since 2011, Cold Specks has mixed crackling, pared-down guitar blues, gothic soul, gospel, and warm electronics in three albums which received Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award nominations; I Predict A Graceful Expulsion (2012), Neuroplasticity (2014) and Fool’s Paradise. Spx has worked with Swans, Massive Attack, Moby and performed at Joni Mitchell’s birthday concert.

PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR COLD SPECKS

“Compelling and timeless” - The Observer

“(Cold Specks) at her rawest, most individual form yet -
and the result is stunning” - CBC Music

“Haunting and healing in equal measures” - The Guardian

“Striking a balance between sinister and comforting…
(her) voice is as strong as ever” - Exclaim!

“… peerless” – Pitchfork

“Haunting doom-laden soul” - Vogue

COLD SPECKS ONLINE
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE