KOAN is an exploration of the works of Leonard Cohen, with a focus on his later material. Staying true to the original key and time of the songs while introducing divergent elements that may speak to other audiences. This format hopes to work with protocols such as Camelot to invite unlimited opportunities to mix the original with the cover and beyond. 

Originals into Interpretations

One-minute sample starting with original Cohen work transitioning into KOAN version

Darker Still,

A multi-genre reimagining of Leonard Cohen’s final works

Darker Still

  • The Treaty

  • You Want it Darker

  • Moving On

  • Steer Your Way

  • What Happens To The Heart

  • Because of

  • The Letters

You Want it Darker

Reimagined as a powerful, synth-driven exploration of mortality. With a voice that is more than reminiscent, the vocals feel like a continuation of Cohen's, and the haunting lyrics are delivered with a renewed intensity. A complex layering of intricate synth arrangements creates a modern soundscape that amplifies the song's dark and introspective nature.

Heavy Synth

Moving On

A raw and intimate recording, the song's emotional arc mirrors the cyclical nature of hope and despair. Recorded in a single take, in the immediate wake of heartbreak. The minimalist arrangement, featuring delicate piano and a haunting violin, creates a space for the most vulnerable vocals. Evocative imagery paints a vivid picture of lost love.

Classicly treated

Steer Your Way

"Steer Your Way" takes on a haunting, industrial edge to reflect the decay of modern life. The interpretation born from a walk down 5th Avenue, in a light rain. A driving electronic pulse, analog drums, and a violin punctuate the starkest lyrics. The song's exploration of time's relentless passage be it glacial or granular "year by year... thought by thought," echoing the darker side of surrender, to create a compelling and cautionary soundscape.

Synth Drums, Violin

The Treaty

Deeply personal and emotionally charged, born from the raw experience of love and loss. The artist's voice, filled with vulnerability, navigates the complex terrain of a relationship marked by both brilliance and sudden shifts. Captured with lyrics like "I've seen you turn the water into wine, I've seen you turn it back to water too,” The enduring hope for reconciliation, expressed in the line "I wish there were a treaty," resonates with a universal longing for peace and understanding.

True to the original classical feel

BECAUSE OF

A celebration of the transformative power of personal connection reimagined as a slow, western-tinged blues. Interpreted as a win for the empathetic man, featuring a warm and inviting soundscape of slide guitar, organ, and ethereal pad sounds. This cover evokes the beauty, magic and rewards of understanding others.

Blues-centered band . Thank. you the unknow artist for providing picture used in video

LEAVING THE TABLE

transformed from its minimalist, slide guitar-infused style, typical of late period Cohen, into a classical arrangement for piano, violin, and French horn. Vulnerable vocals navigate themes of memory, disconnection, and acceptance. The music creates a space for introspection, inviting listeners to contemplate the passage of time and the complexities of human experience. The delivery, while not a surrender, reflects a weary acceptance.

Classical Form

The Letters

"The Letters" Cohen's words transform into a heartfelt expression of unspoken emotions, tinged with an air of "I told you so"—not gloating, but a sense of quiet ambivalence. The musical interpretation, with its fun and refreshing "Gypsy" feel and random “synth glitches”, alongside female backing vocals, drums, and violin, creates a rich and storytelling soundscape.