The Bandwagon: Cosmo Pyke
With a name like Cosmo, was there ever going to be any other direction that this 19-year-old singer/songwriter from Peckham was headed but up into the stratosphere? Yes, you read right, 19 years old. And in addition to being one of the country’s most outstanding musical talents Cosmo Pyke is a model, skater and graffiti artist, and if you’re scratching your head as to why you recognise his face it might be because he featured in the video for Frank Ocean’s ‘Nikes’. Makes you wonder what you’ve been doing with your life doesn’t it? If that thought leaves you in need of some cheering up then his unique brand of soulful, stripped back indie music is exactly what you need in your life.
His sound takes you down the river at a leisurely, meandering pace that practically puts your feet up for you. No song more so than latest release ‘Great Dane’, the jewel in the crown of this summer’s mellow and engaging ‘Just Cosmo’ EP. The track has jazz-infused ambiguity of structure, particularly lyrically, with a regular use of internal rhyme; Enveloped in the elephant of the room I’m already in”, being a particular favourite, while also chipping in towards the songs low-fi rap elements and occasionally creating a sound reminiscent of King Krule and Rex Orange County. From the release of ‘Social Sites’ last year, through his breakthrough single ‘Chronic Sunshine’, the release of the ‘Just Cosmo’ EP and beyond, Cosmo Pyke’s bandwagon has picked up a lot of momentum and followers and the only elephant left in the room is demanding to know why Cosmo isn’t on all of your most hammered playlists.
In his own words for an interview with The Guardian the South Londoner said “I’m trying to get famous, get my name everywhere, make sure everyone sees. It’s a lot like graffiti: you want to get as many tags as you can all around the city.” This is one bandwagon sprayed too bright to miss. Get on board or get out of the way because there isn’t a speed bump large enough to slow Cosmo Pyke down.
