Tired Cossack – Shashka (2021)
The solo project of singer-songwriter Stephen Halas, Tired Cossack is a post-punk meets 80s pop with a hint of indie-rock in the mix. Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, he draws on his Ukrainian heritage and folklore to create a soothing, ambient soundscape. Unfortunately, Halas has not yet performed live due to Covid-19 restrictions; however, he has featured on several radio stations from Dandelion Radio to CILU 102.7. Moreover, he has received the attention of American Pancake, From The Strait and Bad Gardening Advice. The latest addition to his growing discography is the single ‘Shashka’.
A product of Covid-19 restrictions, Tired Cossack’s music is all produced and recorded by Halas himself. The latest single ‘Shashka’, along with five other singles, was recorded in Winnipeg when Halas spent a week at his late grandfather’s cabin on Lake Winnipeg. Halas notes that he “had precious little to do” in the cold, non-insulated cabin so why not bang out some original material? Makes sense to us.
Reflecting on youthful romances, ‘Shashka’ is an exploration of anxiety, isolation, self-doubt and frustration. These issues are whimsically represented by the cascade of synth-laden melodies carefully interspersed with haunting vocals. Reminiscent of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, Halas’s hollow voice showcases a delicacy and fragility within the single. Yet, while the deep vocals have an ethereal quality, they add a sense of richness with a lingering spine-chilling harmony.
“The song came from my reflecting moments of doubt in relationships from my youth. Of an insecure need for assurance, while simultaneously wrestling with the thought of what it really is you want from and are able to give the other person. It is called ‘Shashka’ after the Ukrainian name for the Cossack sabre as it reflects the biting, cold and steely sound of the song.” – Stephen Halas on ‘Shashka’
For more from Tired Cossack check out his Bandcamp, Instagram and Spotify.
