Alice Cohen
Encyclopedia
Alice Cohen is a New York City based American singer, songwriter
and fine artist.
, the Philadelphia band she co-created in the early 1980s. They were signed in 1984 to the Mercury
label under which they released two albums. They had one minor hit ("Look My Way") and a successful MTV music video.
The Vels toured the U.S. in 1986, opening for The Psychedelic Furs.
Atlantic Records
disco track "Deetour", recently re-released on Horse Meat Disco
After The Vels
dissolved in 1987, Cohen's work changed direction and she became active in the indie/underground and touring scene. Cohen's best-known venture in this area is the band "Die Monster Die
". A pair of "DMD" albums were released on the Roadrunner Records
and Dutch East
labels ("Withdrawal Method
" and "Chrome Molly
").
In 1996, Cohen sang a track (on camera) in the Martin Scorsese
-produced movie Grace of My Heart
(1996), directed by Allison Anders.
In recent years, Cohen has performed frequently as a solo act, as well as collaborating with a number of groups including LYDSOD, Long Lost, Castles, and Espadrille.
With the release of Cohen's solo records, she became active in video and animation, creating music videos to accompany her own releases, as well as composing soundtracks for other animations and video projects.
In 2008, Cohen began to produce animated music videos for artists such as Ducktails, Coasting, Broken Deer, and Greatest Hits, using found imagery and objects in traditional cut-out & stop-motion animation style.
Other video/animation work includes "Single Sentence Animations" for the literary journal Electric Literature as well as gallery and installation work.
In 2010, Cohen had her first solo exhibition of visual works including video, collage, and installation, which took place at Live With Animals gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Cohen's animations have screened in Anthology Film Archives in New York and in festivals worldwide in Copenhagen, New Delhi, Bombai, Greece, and more.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and fine artist.
The Vels
Cohen is best known for her years as the primary songwriter and lead singer of The VelsThe Vels
The Vels were an American New wave band, formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:The Vels began when Charles Hanson, former member of the 1970s New Orleans punk group, The Normals, invited Chris Larkin and Alice Desoto to join him for a show at the now defunct Love Club in Philadelphia. The...
, the Philadelphia band she co-created in the early 1980s. They were signed in 1984 to the Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
label under which they released two albums. They had one minor hit ("Look My Way") and a successful MTV music video.
The Vels toured the U.S. in 1986, opening for The Psychedelic Furs.
Musical History
In 1980, Alice Cohen wrote Karen Young'sKaren Young (American singer)
Karen Young was an American disco-era singer best known for her hit, "Hot Shot".-Biography:Young grew up in a Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rowhouse. Before becoming an international recording star with "Hot Shot," she recorded jingles and background vocals for the Philadelphia based...
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
disco track "Deetour", recently re-released on Horse Meat Disco
After The Vels
The Vels
The Vels were an American New wave band, formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:The Vels began when Charles Hanson, former member of the 1970s New Orleans punk group, The Normals, invited Chris Larkin and Alice Desoto to join him for a show at the now defunct Love Club in Philadelphia. The...
dissolved in 1987, Cohen's work changed direction and she became active in the indie/underground and touring scene. Cohen's best-known venture in this area is the band "Die Monster Die
Die Monster Die
Die Monster Die is a New York City alternative/punk band which was originally formed in Athens, Georgia. Their name is a reference to the 1965 horror movie of the same name starring Boris Karloff Die Monster Die is a New York City alternative/punk band which was originally formed in Athens,...
". A pair of "DMD" albums were released on the Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and Dutch East
Dutch East India Trading
Dutch East India Trading is an independent record label based in Rockville Centre, New York. It has released music by such artists as Sun Dial, The Orb, The Smiths, Soul-Junk, Die Monster Die, Prong, The Cure, Robert Wyatt, A Guy Called Gerald, Bongwater, Opium Den, Indian Bingo, Meat Beat...
labels ("Withdrawal Method
Withdrawal Method
Originally titled "Vagina Dentata", Withdrawal Method is the second album recorded by Die Monster Die, an alternative rock group consisting of Alice Cohen , Evan Player , Kenny Sanders , Shawn Tracy , Jane Scarpantoni , and Joe McGinty ."Withdrawal Method" was published in 1994 under the Roadrunner...
" and "Chrome Molly
Chrome Molly
Chrome Molly is the first album recorded by Die Monster Die, an alternative rock group consisting of Alice Cohen , Evan Player , Donna Smith ....
").
In 1996, Cohen sang a track (on camera) in the Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
-produced movie Grace of My Heart
Grace of My Heart
Grace of My Heart is a 1996 film written and directed by Allison Anders, set in the pop music world, starting off in New York's Brill Building early 1960s era, weaving through the California Sound of the mid '60s and culminating with the adult-contemporary scene of the early 1970s.The plot follows...
(1996), directed by Allison Anders.
In recent years, Cohen has performed frequently as a solo act, as well as collaborating with a number of groups including LYDSOD, Long Lost, Castles, and Espadrille.
With the release of Cohen's solo records, she became active in video and animation, creating music videos to accompany her own releases, as well as composing soundtracks for other animations and video projects.
Visual Arts
Cohen's collages and paintings have appeared in galleries in New York City, San Francisco and elsewhere.In 2008, Cohen began to produce animated music videos for artists such as Ducktails, Coasting, Broken Deer, and Greatest Hits, using found imagery and objects in traditional cut-out & stop-motion animation style.
Other video/animation work includes "Single Sentence Animations" for the literary journal Electric Literature as well as gallery and installation work.
In 2010, Cohen had her first solo exhibition of visual works including video, collage, and installation, which took place at Live With Animals gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Cohen's animations have screened in Anthology Film Archives in New York and in festivals worldwide in Copenhagen, New Delhi, Bombai, Greece, and more.
Solo Releases
- Walking Up Walls (2009) (Olde English Spelling Bee)
- Sky Flowers (2008) (Crinoline Records)
With "The Vels" (Mercury Records)
- VelocityVelocity (album)Velocity is the first album recorded by the The Vels ."Velocity" was published in 1984 under the Mercury Records label, and was produced by Steven Stanley.-Track listing:#"Tell Me Something" – 5:08...
(1984) - Private World/Hieroglyphics 12" Dub (1984)
- Look My Way/Tell Me Something 12" Dub (1984)
- House of MiraclesHouse of Miracles (album)House of Miracles is the second and final album recorded by The Vels ."House of Miracles" was published in 1986 under the Mercury Records label, and was produced by Steve Levine.-Track listing:...
(1986) - Girl Most Likely To 12" Dub (1986)
With "Die Monster Die" (Dutch East/Roadrunner Records)
- "Chrome Molly" (1993)
- "Withdrawal Method" (1994)
Appearing on
- "Breakout" (Chrysalis RecordsChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
) (1979) - "Deetour" (songwriter) (Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) (1980) - "Greetings From Port Authority" Benna Evil Teen Records (1996)
- "The Best of Nilsson" BMGBMGBertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
(1998)
Music Videos
- "Landrunner" - Ducktails (2009)
- "Ichthus Hop" - Talbot Tagora (2009)
- "Black Pepper" - Alice Cohen (2009)
- "Memories of Glaciers" - Alice Cohen (2009)
- "White Woman" - Broken Deer (2010)
- "Kids" - Coasting (2010)
- "Ambulance" - Greatest Hits (2010)
- "Totem" - Weekends (2010)
- "Marsupial Shenanigans" - Linda Hagood (2010)
- "Bummer" - K-Holes (2011)
Art Videos
- "Spools" (2009)
- "Trance Actions" (2010)
- "Mirror Moves for Private Eyes" (2010)
- "Ear Candy" (2010)
Other Commissioned Work
- "Three Girls" -Single Sentence Animation for Electric Literature (2009)
- "Baba Iaga and the Pelican Child" -Single Sentence Animation for Electric Literature (2010)
External links
- Olde English Spelling Bee Blog
- Video archive of live Vels performances (while on tour with The Psychedelic Furs)
- Robert Christgau review of The Vels Velocity
- Interview with Alice Cohen in the Philadelphia City Paper
- Foxy Digitalis review of Walking Up Walls LP
- The Deli review of Sky Flowers