Sam Kogon

Sam Kogon describes his new approach as that of an “Upstate country rockabilly crooner,” a sound he had once put off while playing in Brooklyn’s psychedelic scene. Kogon lived and played in New York for several years, but nowadays lives in Westchester and spends more time in the Hudson Valley. He has always skewed a little older in his sensibilities, from an early affinity for Chopin and the Beatles to the session work he’s done with Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, fronting the 1960's revived baroque pop group The Left Banke ("Walk Away Renee"), and songwriting with Grammy Award nominee Patty Smyth. He has recorded two albums of psych-adjacent power pop, including 2016’s standout Psychic Tears (Beyond Beyond is Beyond), which was co-produced by Kogon and Sam Owens (aka Sam Evian) and features a duet with Frankie Cosmos on the track "I Was Always Talking." His latest release is a self-titled 4-track EP he made with with Kurt Vile and Dinosaur Jr. producer, John Agnello. His partnership with Agnello came about in a somewhat roundabout way. After coming off three self-booked US/Canadian tours, Kogon was cast as a featured extra in Martin Scorsese’s crime epic The Irishman as a backing musician for Jerry Vale, played in the film by Steven Van Zandt. He hit it off with music supervisor Stewart Lerman and, after sending some demos along, received a recommendation for working with Agnello. The songs were mastered by Steve Fallone (Arcade Fire, Angel Olsen, Big Thief). Little Steven aka Steven Van Zandt (from the E Street Band) has named Sam's first single, "Barbed Wire," as one of The Coolest Songs in The World and featured it on his Sirius XM show "Little Steven's Underground Garage." "A student of 1960s pop, Kogon is paring down his previous psychedelic sound and exploring his country roots. On "Find Out," Kogon's winning falsetto gives the hopeful love song a winning charm." - The Boot "Dusty guitar pop ...recalls late-'70s powerpop acts like Nick Lowe and Marshall Crenshaw" - Brooklyn Vegan 'Kogon’s melody and vocals recall the glam-flavored rock of Bryan Ferry and Lou Reed in the best possible way." - Queerty