Introduction
Cobi is an American musician from Grand Marais, Minnesota. A former original member of the Boston-based band Gentlemen Hall, Cobi released his solo single "Don't You Cry For Me" on May 3, 2016 under 300 Entertainment.
Early Life and career
Cobi became interested in music at about age 8, when a family friend visited their home with an electric guitar and began teaching Cobi and his brother a few chords. Once he was able to play them, his interest in music grew. That summer, he bought his first guitar, a Squier Stratocaster, by saving up money made from mowing lawns for $3 an hour. From then on, he taught himself to play guitar by ear, listening to songs over and over until he mastered them. Shortly after, Cobi and a long time friend formed a blues band, playing covers of songs at local bars in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Cobi is an alumni of Berklee School of Music in Boston.
In 2008, Cobi and 5 others formed the band Gentlemen Hall. The success of the band, which was signed to Island Def Jam Records, came rather quickly. In 2009, they won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Breakout Boston Artist and performed at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.
Present
On December 18, 2015, Cobi signed with 300 Entertainment. In April 2016, he joined English progressive trance group Above & Beyond's international tour, providing vocals for much of the songs. The tour included dates running through June 2016 at iconic venues such as Royal Albert Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and the Sydney Opera House. On May 3, 2016, Cobi released "Don't You Cry For Me", which premiered through Interview Magazine. The track was later released through digital retailers and streaming services Spotify, Google Play, iTunes, Apple Music, and Amazon Music on May 6, 2016. In July 2016, the track was trending on Billboard's and Spotify's Viral 50 list. A music video for the song was released in September 2016 and premiered through the Huffington Post. As of its release date, the song has over 12 million streams on Spotify. On September 29, 2016, Billboard premiered his second single "Prophet Story."
Artistry and Influences
Cobi's Blues-like sound has been compared to that of Hozier. His single "Don't You Cry For Me" features a gospel choir providing background vocals, giving the song a soulful sound. Cobi grew up listening to, and found musical inspiration in, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page.
Discography
- “Don't You Cry For Me" (single) released May 3, 2016
- "Prophet Story" (single) released September 29, 2016