| Cold Specks | |
| Birth Name: | Ladan Hussein |
| Alias: | Al Spx |
| Birth Place: | Toronto |
| Occupation: | artist |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
| Label: | Mute/EMI Records (world except Canada) Arts & Crafts/EMI Records (Canada) |
| Associated Acts: | PJ Harvey Massive Attack Moby Swans Ambrose Akinmusire |
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] She has since announced that she is retiring her stage name, and will release future music under her own name.
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2012 Polaris Music Prize | Polaris Music Prize | I Predict a Graceful Expulsion | |
| 2013 | SiriusXM Indies Awards[11] | Artist of the Year | Cold Specks | |
| Female Artist of the Year | ||||
| Songwriter of the Year | ||||
| Soul/R&B Artist or Group of the Year |