Biography
Chris Cohen works as a songwriter, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, shaping intricate music that carries gentle psychedelic qualities, dense layers, and surprising shifts. In the 2000s he led the indie band the Curtains and later played guitar for Deerhoof, then drew on those experiences plus many other groups when he began releasing solo material, first clarifying his personal songwriting style on Overgrown Path in 2012 and continuing to develop it on later records such as Paint a Room in 2024.
Born in 1975 and raised in Southern California, Cohen grew up with a father active in the music business and an actress mother. He started striking rhythms on a toy drum kit at age three, then added guitar, bass, and keyboards to his percussion skills; by twelve he was overdubbing himself into a full band on a four-track cassette machine. Cohen started the Curtains in 2000 with Jamie Peterson and Trevor Shimizu, and the group issued its first album, Fast Talks, the following year.
The Curtains changed members in 2002, replacing Peterson and Shimizu with Andrew Maxwell and Greg Saunier, and that same year Cohen joined the indie rock band Deerhoof, co-founded by Saunier, appearing on its 2003 album Apple O'. He also contributed guitar to the Deerhoof side project Natural Dreamers on its self-titled release that year. The Curtains followed with Flybys in 2003 and Vehicles of Travel in 2004. While managing those two projects, Cohen remained active with Deerhoof and served as accompanist for Cass McCombs, Danielson, Haunted Graffiti, and White Magic in both studio and touring settings.
After the Curtains paused for an extended period, Cohen brought the name back in 2007 for a solo studio album titled Calamity. In 2008 he formed Cryptacize with Nedelle Torrisi, who had appeared on Calamity, and the group released Dig That Treasure that year, with Mythomania following in 2009. Cohen set other work aside in 2012 to finish and issue his first solo album, Overgrown Path, on Captured Tracks. Four years later came As If Apart, which included two songs co-written with Zach Phillips of Blanche Blanche Blanche.
While focusing on his own recordings, Cohen took on more production work, helming Weyes Blood’s 2016 album Front Row Seat to Earth as well as projects by EZTV and Marietta. His third solo album, self-titled, arrived in 2019 on Captured Tracks and featured appearances by Dear Nora’s Katy Davidson, Zach Phillips, and saxophonist Kasey Knudsen. In 2024 Cohen released his fourth solo album, Paint a Room, on Hardly Art, a Sub Pop subsidiary, collaborating with Jeff Parker and Josh Johnson on horn arrangements that brought ambient jazz touches to his lush, understated songwriting.
Born in 1975 and raised in Southern California, Cohen grew up with a father active in the music business and an actress mother. He started striking rhythms on a toy drum kit at age three, then added guitar, bass, and keyboards to his percussion skills; by twelve he was overdubbing himself into a full band on a four-track cassette machine. Cohen started the Curtains in 2000 with Jamie Peterson and Trevor Shimizu, and the group issued its first album, Fast Talks, the following year.
The Curtains changed members in 2002, replacing Peterson and Shimizu with Andrew Maxwell and Greg Saunier, and that same year Cohen joined the indie rock band Deerhoof, co-founded by Saunier, appearing on its 2003 album Apple O'. He also contributed guitar to the Deerhoof side project Natural Dreamers on its self-titled release that year. The Curtains followed with Flybys in 2003 and Vehicles of Travel in 2004. While managing those two projects, Cohen remained active with Deerhoof and served as accompanist for Cass McCombs, Danielson, Haunted Graffiti, and White Magic in both studio and touring settings.
After the Curtains paused for an extended period, Cohen brought the name back in 2007 for a solo studio album titled Calamity. In 2008 he formed Cryptacize with Nedelle Torrisi, who had appeared on Calamity, and the group released Dig That Treasure that year, with Mythomania following in 2009. Cohen set other work aside in 2012 to finish and issue his first solo album, Overgrown Path, on Captured Tracks. Four years later came As If Apart, which included two songs co-written with Zach Phillips of Blanche Blanche Blanche.
While focusing on his own recordings, Cohen took on more production work, helming Weyes Blood’s 2016 album Front Row Seat to Earth as well as projects by EZTV and Marietta. His third solo album, self-titled, arrived in 2019 on Captured Tracks and featured appearances by Dear Nora’s Katy Davidson, Zach Phillips, and saxophonist Kasey Knudsen. In 2024 Cohen released his fourth solo album, Paint a Room, on Hardly Art, a Sub Pop subsidiary, collaborating with Jeff Parker and Josh Johnson on horn arrangements that brought ambient jazz touches to his lush, understated songwriting.
Albums
Singles
