- M
- B
- L
Friends, Family, Music-Lovers:
After several years of growth and refinement, and performances throughout New Orleans and abroad, the Aaron Cohen Band is ready to take the next major step: recording our debut album! Our sound is developed and ready to be shared. In order to continue our growth - reaching larger audiences throughout the country/world - we need a quality recorded product. This process - the magic that captures and preserves music - is not easy. And it is not cheap.
That is why we have launched a GoFundMe to support our goal of creating an unforgettable debut album. With your help, we can take the necessary next step to continue our musical journey!
THE BEGINNING...
I never planned on moving to New Orleans. It wasn't until I first visited at 17-years-old that I became aware of the incredible musical tradition on which the city is founded. For nearly a decade, I spent the majority of my musical experience alone on my bed, writing songs on an acoustic guitar, only imagining the sound of a full band behind me. Many of my friends played instruments, but there was no community in which my ideas could be materialized. In New Orleans, I was exposed to a thriving scene and musicians who were playing every night of the week. As I took in the sights and sounds of the city, I thought to myself, "If I move here, I can meet these musicians, build a band, and play my songs." Half a year later, I was aboard a flight to New Orleans, eager to begin the next chapter, and determined to find the sound that, until that point, lived exclusively in my own mind.
What I imagined was a merging of the styles that influenced my upbringing. My earliest musical memories were rooted deeply in R&B. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Prince were omnipresent during these years, combined with the new wave of R&B singers like Usher, Alicia Keys, and Justin Timberlake, that dominated the airwaves of the early 2000's. I first picked up the guitar when I was 8 (after seeing "School of Rock"), and consequently, began paying attention to the musicians and bands who revolutionized the instrument: Hendrix, Clapton, The Who, The Stones. I also took interest in singer-songwriters like Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and James Taylor, and piano-based writers like Elton John and Billy Joel, whose abilities to craft brilliant songs inspired me to begin creating my own. Throughout middle school and into high school, I continued to write music, honing in on a unique sound that combined elements of R&B and Classic Rock. Of course, at this point, all of this occurred alone in my bedroom. In New Orleans, I intended to change that.
THE BAND...
As soon as I arrived, I began reaching out to musicians. First it was the guys in my dorm, and then within Tulane and Loyola's music departments. By the end of my first year in NOLA, I had befriended Sam Weil - the longest standing member of the band. Over the Summer, I remained in New Orleans, eager to establish a musical foundation prior to the start of the next school year. That July, I was able to build a group, teach them my music, and perform in a band setting for the first time. I'll never forget the sensation I experienced during our first rehearsal when the band fell in on "Blaze," a song I had written when I was only 15. Finally, I heard exactly what I had envisioned all along: each instrument playing a unique and quintessential part in the collective whole.
Here's a demo of the sound we discovered that day:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NSRuvaBEdg4
The process of meeting and playing with new musicians fueled my own creative process. I wrote extensively throughout this period, adding to the repertoire of original music that comprised our set.
Over the course of the next year, following a shifting roster of musicians, the band began to take on it's current form. Dillon Frazier (drums) and Rob Kellner (keys) joined Sam Weil (bass) to solidify the group's rhythm section, while Aurelien Barnes (trumpet) introduced a completely new element to the sound. Born and raised in New Orleans, and son of Zydeco legend Bruce Sunpie Barnes (Sunpie and the Louisiana Sun Spots), Aurelien grew up in the heart of the city's rich musical tradition. The addition of his horn added an incredible energy to our set and bridged the gap between my roots, and the city I now call home. With this lineup, we began performing throughout New Orleans, hitting stages at House of Blues and the Willow.
ACB's 1st Live Show @ The Willow
When Sam and I decided to study abroad during the Fall of 2015, we knew that we couldn't allow any progress to be lost. Instead, we jumped at the opportunity to reimagine our songs in a new setting, performing sets at some of Prague's most popular clubs. The change in environment inspired another period of extensive writing, and we retuned to New Orleans with a handful of new songs, ready to pick up where we left off.
Live @ Cross-Club, Prague
Within weeks of our return, we were back at it performing. First was our BalconyTV appearance: a live video filmed from the helicopter landing pad of a skyscraper in New Orleans' Central Business District.
BalconyTV
Soon after were shows at Howlin' Wolf, The Willow, and live on-air at WTUL New Orleans. Most memorable, though, was our St. Patrick's day performance at the Boot, coinciding with my 21st birthday.
Live @ The Boot
Live @ The Howlin' Wolf
In May, we hit the road for Cleveland, to perform at the inaugural Catch Meaning Festival alongside A$AP Ferg, Torey Lanez, and Joey Baddass. We look forward to returning to the event in the coming year!
Catch Meaning Festival @ Jacob's Pavilion, Cleveland, OH
We kicked off the Fall of 2016 with a show at the world-famous Tipitina's. It was a tremendous honor to perform on a stage that has held host to all the New Orleans legends, and many of music's greatest influences. Trombone Shorty, Galactic, the Meters are amongst the shows I have witnessed live at Tips. To play that same room was an indescribable experience.
It was also the night that Ari Teitel made his debut with the band. Ari grew up in the Detroit area, and we shared a guitar teacher when we were kids. When I caught wind that he was making the move to New Orleans, I immediately reached out. Back home in Detroit, we jammed for the first time since we were 10-years-old. I introduced him to my songs, and was blown away with the direction he took them. With the addition of Ari, our band was complete.
Live @ Tipitina's
THE ALBUM...
Recording an album is no easy feat. That is why we have called on the expertise of Grammy Award-winning producer, Chris Finney, to guide us through the process. Known for his work with Galactic, Dr. John, Rebirth Brass Band, and most recently, The Revivalists, Finney's creative approach aligns perfectly with our mentality as a band: capturing a moment in time. We want this record to serve as just that - a record of what we have accomplished thus far, and a medium by which we can showcase the sound we have created.
The recording will occur at Studio in the Country. Located in Bogalusa, Louisiana (about two hours outside of New Orleans), SIC has held host to the likes of Kansas, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Better than Ezra, Marylin Manson, Jimmy Buffet, Maze, and Willie Nelson, along with local legends like Allen Toussaint, Proffessor Longhair, Dr. John, George Porter Jr. (Bassist of The Meters), and the Nevilles. We are beyond excited to share a space with those who have left an indelible mark on the music world.

Control Room @ Studio in the Country - Bogalusa, LA
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP...
As an independent act, our recording costs are not covered by a record label. That means it is up to us, the musicians, to fund our own production. The process breaks down into four basic steps: tracking, overdubbing, editing/mixing, and mastering. For each step, there are substantial costs included.
The band is comprised of students and recent graduates. On our own, there is no way that we could cover the full expense of recording an album. That is why we are reaching out to you - those who support independent artists, and believe in the power of the community - to help us reach this critical step. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us move towards our goal. YOU can play an essential role in the creation of this album!
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for your consideration. Let's rock 'n' roll!
After several years of growth and refinement, and performances throughout New Orleans and abroad, the Aaron Cohen Band is ready to take the next major step: recording our debut album! Our sound is developed and ready to be shared. In order to continue our growth - reaching larger audiences throughout the country/world - we need a quality recorded product. This process - the magic that captures and preserves music - is not easy. And it is not cheap.
That is why we have launched a GoFundMe to support our goal of creating an unforgettable debut album. With your help, we can take the necessary next step to continue our musical journey!
THE BEGINNING...
I never planned on moving to New Orleans. It wasn't until I first visited at 17-years-old that I became aware of the incredible musical tradition on which the city is founded. For nearly a decade, I spent the majority of my musical experience alone on my bed, writing songs on an acoustic guitar, only imagining the sound of a full band behind me. Many of my friends played instruments, but there was no community in which my ideas could be materialized. In New Orleans, I was exposed to a thriving scene and musicians who were playing every night of the week. As I took in the sights and sounds of the city, I thought to myself, "If I move here, I can meet these musicians, build a band, and play my songs." Half a year later, I was aboard a flight to New Orleans, eager to begin the next chapter, and determined to find the sound that, until that point, lived exclusively in my own mind.
What I imagined was a merging of the styles that influenced my upbringing. My earliest musical memories were rooted deeply in R&B. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Prince were omnipresent during these years, combined with the new wave of R&B singers like Usher, Alicia Keys, and Justin Timberlake, that dominated the airwaves of the early 2000's. I first picked up the guitar when I was 8 (after seeing "School of Rock"), and consequently, began paying attention to the musicians and bands who revolutionized the instrument: Hendrix, Clapton, The Who, The Stones. I also took interest in singer-songwriters like Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and James Taylor, and piano-based writers like Elton John and Billy Joel, whose abilities to craft brilliant songs inspired me to begin creating my own. Throughout middle school and into high school, I continued to write music, honing in on a unique sound that combined elements of R&B and Classic Rock. Of course, at this point, all of this occurred alone in my bedroom. In New Orleans, I intended to change that.
THE BAND...
As soon as I arrived, I began reaching out to musicians. First it was the guys in my dorm, and then within Tulane and Loyola's music departments. By the end of my first year in NOLA, I had befriended Sam Weil - the longest standing member of the band. Over the Summer, I remained in New Orleans, eager to establish a musical foundation prior to the start of the next school year. That July, I was able to build a group, teach them my music, and perform in a band setting for the first time. I'll never forget the sensation I experienced during our first rehearsal when the band fell in on "Blaze," a song I had written when I was only 15. Finally, I heard exactly what I had envisioned all along: each instrument playing a unique and quintessential part in the collective whole.
Here's a demo of the sound we discovered that day:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NSRuvaBEdg4
The process of meeting and playing with new musicians fueled my own creative process. I wrote extensively throughout this period, adding to the repertoire of original music that comprised our set.
Over the course of the next year, following a shifting roster of musicians, the band began to take on it's current form. Dillon Frazier (drums) and Rob Kellner (keys) joined Sam Weil (bass) to solidify the group's rhythm section, while Aurelien Barnes (trumpet) introduced a completely new element to the sound. Born and raised in New Orleans, and son of Zydeco legend Bruce Sunpie Barnes (Sunpie and the Louisiana Sun Spots), Aurelien grew up in the heart of the city's rich musical tradition. The addition of his horn added an incredible energy to our set and bridged the gap between my roots, and the city I now call home. With this lineup, we began performing throughout New Orleans, hitting stages at House of Blues and the Willow.
ACB's 1st Live Show @ The WillowWhen Sam and I decided to study abroad during the Fall of 2015, we knew that we couldn't allow any progress to be lost. Instead, we jumped at the opportunity to reimagine our songs in a new setting, performing sets at some of Prague's most popular clubs. The change in environment inspired another period of extensive writing, and we retuned to New Orleans with a handful of new songs, ready to pick up where we left off.
Live @ Cross-Club, PragueWithin weeks of our return, we were back at it performing. First was our BalconyTV appearance: a live video filmed from the helicopter landing pad of a skyscraper in New Orleans' Central Business District.
BalconyTVSoon after were shows at Howlin' Wolf, The Willow, and live on-air at WTUL New Orleans. Most memorable, though, was our St. Patrick's day performance at the Boot, coinciding with my 21st birthday.
Live @ The BootLive @ The Howlin' WolfIn May, we hit the road for Cleveland, to perform at the inaugural Catch Meaning Festival alongside A$AP Ferg, Torey Lanez, and Joey Baddass. We look forward to returning to the event in the coming year!
Catch Meaning Festival @ Jacob's Pavilion, Cleveland, OHWe kicked off the Fall of 2016 with a show at the world-famous Tipitina's. It was a tremendous honor to perform on a stage that has held host to all the New Orleans legends, and many of music's greatest influences. Trombone Shorty, Galactic, the Meters are amongst the shows I have witnessed live at Tips. To play that same room was an indescribable experience.
It was also the night that Ari Teitel made his debut with the band. Ari grew up in the Detroit area, and we shared a guitar teacher when we were kids. When I caught wind that he was making the move to New Orleans, I immediately reached out. Back home in Detroit, we jammed for the first time since we were 10-years-old. I introduced him to my songs, and was blown away with the direction he took them. With the addition of Ari, our band was complete.
Live @ Tipitina'sTHE ALBUM...
Recording an album is no easy feat. That is why we have called on the expertise of Grammy Award-winning producer, Chris Finney, to guide us through the process. Known for his work with Galactic, Dr. John, Rebirth Brass Band, and most recently, The Revivalists, Finney's creative approach aligns perfectly with our mentality as a band: capturing a moment in time. We want this record to serve as just that - a record of what we have accomplished thus far, and a medium by which we can showcase the sound we have created.
The recording will occur at Studio in the Country. Located in Bogalusa, Louisiana (about two hours outside of New Orleans), SIC has held host to the likes of Kansas, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Better than Ezra, Marylin Manson, Jimmy Buffet, Maze, and Willie Nelson, along with local legends like Allen Toussaint, Proffessor Longhair, Dr. John, George Porter Jr. (Bassist of The Meters), and the Nevilles. We are beyond excited to share a space with those who have left an indelible mark on the music world.
Control Room @ Studio in the Country - Bogalusa, LAWHY WE NEED YOUR HELP...
As an independent act, our recording costs are not covered by a record label. That means it is up to us, the musicians, to fund our own production. The process breaks down into four basic steps: tracking, overdubbing, editing/mixing, and mastering. For each step, there are substantial costs included.
The band is comprised of students and recent graduates. On our own, there is no way that we could cover the full expense of recording an album. That is why we are reaching out to you - those who support independent artists, and believe in the power of the community - to help us reach this critical step. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us move towards our goal. YOU can play an essential role in the creation of this album!
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for your consideration. Let's rock 'n' roll!