Cold Specks

Last updated
Cold Specks
Birth nameLadan Hussein
Also known asAl Spx
BornToronto
Genres
Occupationartist
Years active2011–present
Labels Mute/EMI Records (world except Canada)
Arts & Crafts/EMI Records (Canada)

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.").

Contents

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] In 2025 she released Light for the Midnight, her first full-length album since her health issues. [10] It was longlisted for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. [11]

Albums

Singles

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult[ citation needed ]
2012 2012 Polaris Music Prize Polaris Music PrizeI Predict a Graceful ExpulsionNominated
2013SiriusXM Indies Awards [13] Artist of the YearCold SpecksNominated
Female Artist of the YearWon
Songwriter of the YearNominated
Soul/R&B Artist or Group of the YearNominated

References

  1. ↑ "How I survived a psychotic break". Toronto Life . May 8, 2019.
  2. ↑ Jim Fusilli (November 25, 2014). "Cold Specks' Arresting Mix". Wall Street Journal .
  3. ↑ Jayson Greene, "Cold Specks: I Predict a Graceful Expulsion". Pitchfork , May 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ Jordan Zivitz, "Cold Speck: A soul singer by any name". Montreal Gazette , August 15, 2012.
  5. ↑ Sadiya Ansari, "Polaris-nominated Cold Specks back with second album". CTV News, August 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ Beauchemin, Molly (March 11, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens Shares "Should Have Known Better"". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ Alex Hudson, "Polaris Music Prize Announces 2015 Long List". Exclaim! , June 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ Carly Lewis, "Cold Specks is just warming up". The Globe and Mail , January 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ Sarah Murphy, "Cold Specks' Ladan Hussein Opens Up About Living with Schizophrenia". Exclaim! , May 9, 2019.
  10. ↑ Richie Assaly, "After a harrowing spiral into darkness, Toronto singer Cold Specks returns with breathtaking comeback album". Toronto Star , April 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gregory, Allie. "Polaris Music Prize Unveils 2025 Long List, Announces Song Prize". Exclaim! . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  12. ↑ "CANOE -- JAM! Music - SoundScan Charts". Jam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "2013 SIRIUSXM INDIE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED!". SiriusXM INDIES. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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