Cold Specks

Cold Specks
Cold Specks
Birth name	Ladan Hussein
Also known as	Al Spx
Born	Toronto
Genres	Soul; gothic rock;
Occupation	artist
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Mute/EMI Records (world except Canada); Arts & Crafts/EMI Records (Canada)
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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.").

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

2012: I Predict a Graceful Expulsion #86 CAN^[12]
2014: Neuroplasticity
2017: Fool's Paradise
2025: Light for the Midnight

Singles

2011: "Holland"
2012: "Winter Solstice"
2012: "Blank Maps"
2012: "Hector"
2014: "Absisto"
2015: "Bodies at Bay"
2017: "Fool's Paradise"
2024: "Wandering in the Wild"

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result^{[citation needed]}
2012	2012 Polaris Music Prize	Polaris Music Prize	I Predict a Graceful Expulsion	Nominated
2013	SiriusXM Indies Awards^[13]	Artist of the Year	Cold Specks	Nominated
		Female Artist of the Year		Won
		Songwriter of the Year		Nominated
		Soul/R&B Artist or Group of the Year		Nominated

References

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

External links

[TLEssay-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.

[openingacts1-6] 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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Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF WorldCat
National	United States
Artists	MusicBrainz
Other	Yale LUX

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