Words by Paige Cobos
People are complex beings. With the demands of our current society, you are either labeled this or that, but never both. It is considered important that everyone needs to be clearly defined or fear losing one’s place in the grind of life. That kind of outlook is a limiting one and the greatest gift against the terror of today’s society is embracing every side of oneself.
Ora Cogan’s Hard Hearted Woman is that needed embrace. The Canadian songwriter pulls from a gothic americana that is both ethereal and folk to create an album that shares the complex human spirit. Experimenting with different genres, the influence of life experiences, and what to do when the world feels heavy.
Off Shelf: Hard Hearted Woman feels like a complex balance of toughness and softness in the journey of the self. How would you describe the creative process of this new album?
Ora Cogan: I was writing in a steam of consciousness. Reckoning with my feelings about the world and about my own weird little world. I was going from reading and talking with people I respect to writing in a chaotic mess. I try to write as uninhibited as possible and try to pay attention after to see if there might be something coming through that isn’t total nonsense.
OS: Your two singles “Honey” and “Division” feel and sound like they embody those two sides of the album. Is there a kind of creative intention in choosing singles?
OC: They just turned out to be the boldest songs. I think it’s an interesting observation you made. I can’t say that was intentional.
OS: Did it feel natural to experiment with different genres of sound?
OC: Totally! I think genres can be great but they can also be emotional straight jackets. No one has a life where they are always only in one fixed in one mode. I wasn’t trying to be all over the place, I’m just being honest. I am all over the place! I connect with all of these modes and styles. I don’t think that should be as weird as it is.
OS: In the years between your albums Bells in Ruins (2020) and Formless (2023), you went into different occupations such as photojournalism and climate activism. How have these diverse experiences impacted you as a musical artist?
OC: Writing about life gets heavier when you are learning about systemic human rights violations and also much more inspiring when you are spending time with people who have dedicated their lives to taking care of each other and the earth. Both with activism and then when I got into journalism it felt like I was going towards the pain – which isn’t a bad thing. It is a painful world. They were very different experiences for sure though.
OS: To add to that, do you feel that there is a kind of balancing act one needs to have being both an artist and also having an occupation?
OC: I worked labor and service jobs through my teens and twenties. It was a bit easier to switch gears to working on music at night cause I wasn’t taking my job home with me. But after working all day cleaning or doing yard work your body is tired so it can be hard to find the motivation to write. With media and communication or other work I took on it was harder to switch gears. I just had to put music away for a while… but honestly that isn’t a bad thing! Everyone has their own way. I don’t think stepping away from music for a while makes you less of a musician. It can make you a better writer to take breaks and maybe try to experience life without trying to report on it.
OS: You have lived in Vancouver and in the British Columbia province. How has the distinctive character of that landscape impacted you as an artist?
OC: I lived in Vancouver years ago. I’ve lived on Vancouver Island for many years now. I’d say the broody Pacific Northwest makes me a little slower and moodier then I might be in the desert. I feel more introverted and more misty.
OS: Hard Hearted Woman is also a collaboration. This was partially recorded with producer David Parry, also of the band Loving and a local of the area. At this point in your career, how important is collaboration between artists?
OC: It is everything! I love my band. I love the people I work with and feel very grateful to work with such incredible artists who are also incredibly kind humans. I’ve worked with David for three records. I’ve worked with Finn Smith now for two, and me and Tom Deis have been collaborating for over a decade. With instruments, we have these other voices we are working with and when you work with people who believe in each other and are curious and fun it feels like you can do anything. I think problem solving is so interesting when it comes to creative desires and self expression. There is so much I’m constantly learning from collaboration.
OS: You have a tour through England and Ireland coming up this month, any plans for a North American tour?
OC: It is announced! We’re going down to New Mexico in May.
OS: What are you looking forward to the most during this chapter of promoting this album?
OC: I love playing live. I’m an old road dog. There is nothing like being a glorified truck driver. It is also where I do my best writing. I get to see friends along the way, we get to see a lot of interesting artists we share the shows with… there is literally nothing I’d rather do. If we could bring my dog along for the ride, that would be a dream.
OF: Finally, what art or media right now inspires you?
OC: I’ve been loving Elaine Malone, One Leg One Eye, my bandmade Ida Maidstone put out a record that is very sweet and my partner Atticus has a psych punk band called Pond Scum that is very good. I love the new Hilary Woods record!