Track of the Day: Courtney Nord – Cold (2024)
Unafraid to dip into the grittier sides of humanity – the fragility, vulnerability, angst and tragedy – Courtney Nord’s music, as she puts it, is about “…finding who I am, overcoming what I have been through, and facing my fears…” Yet, through the tragedy, her powerful vocals and moving melodies preach hope, empowerment, optimism and resilience. Hailing from the USA (Los Angeles to be exact), singer-songwriter Nord intoxicates audiences and takes them on a sonic journey with her intimate songs. Come with us as we jump headfirst into her single ‘Cold’.
Inspired by the creativity of LA’s diverse culture, Courtney Nord brings a unique eclecticism to her music. Joined by producer Adam Teller, her discography is a plethora of rock sounds pushing the genre far beyond its conventional categorisation. Recorded and produced with Teller in an obscure little studio in Santa Ana, California – in the basement of a 1920s department store – ‘Cold’ is a kaleidoscopic concoction of old-school alternative rock and grunge. The thing is, just as a retro rock tone flows in the track, a contemporary alt-rock edginess clings to its edges.
One aspect I find intriguing about ‘Cold’ is the duality in the song. Opening with softer tones wistfully floating along a cinematic soundscape, the first half of ‘Cold’ oozes poignant vulnerability; then you hit the halfway mark. A flash of scorching guitars meets crashing drums while Nord’s vocals turn to hard rock brimming with ferocity. Nord explains:
“The song ‘Cold’ is a breakup song… I went straight for the throat with this one. It is an energetic and anthemic breakup song… The song dives into my own affliction of apathy and coldness. In the beginning of the song, I question if I am meant for relationships or if I am even healed enough from previous relational trauma to try again. The latter half of the song acts as a polar twin and blames the other person for the shortcomings and pitfalls. The first half is sombre and introspective, then it explodes into rage and resentment…”
In addition to the single, Nord released an official music video for ‘Cold’. You can view the video below or on her YouTube channel.
Find out more about Courtney Nord on her official website, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
For more hard rock songs listen to The Other Side Reviews Hard Rock playlist:
