{"id":20576,"date":"2022-03-28T14:51:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T18:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=20576"},"modified":"2024-08-26T17:01:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T21:01:13","slug":"what-is-cosmic-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-cosmic-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmic country: What it is and why it will always be relevant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Illustration:<\/strong> Jackie Ferrentino<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From living in Austin, Texas and working in its music community for two years, I\u2019ve learned that cosmic country is a term that can raise eyebrows, get passionate fans going, or spark intense industry debate. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Cosmic country\u2019 or \u2018cosmic Americana\u2019 came into the collective consciousness in the 1960s and continues to exist, evolve, and influence other styles of music. In addition to its intriguing history, the story of cosmic country music demonstrates how categorical genres can either create a movement or be exploited as a press stunt\u2014neither of which needs to be exclusively portrayed as right or wrong. It also shows the lasting impact instrumental and songwriting experimentation can have on a genre (country music in this case) and how a niche music style can maintain a community around it for decades. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is cosmic country music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cosmic American music (sometimes referred to as “cosmic country”) is a term popularly attributed to Gram Parsons<\/a> in late 1960s southern California. It’s a musical genre that merges psychedelic and exploratory music with traditional American roots music, similar to how psychedelic cumbia<\/a> was developed in Peru and Colombia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That definition varies depending on who you\u2019re asking, as subjectivity clouds any debate over music. To either clear things up or confuse you further, No Depression has a list<\/a> of what cosmic country is not<\/em> (i.e. outlaw, pure country, country rock, and usually not singer \/ songwriter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The origins of cosmic American music<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gram Parsons was on a mission to reclaim an experimental streak rejected by traditionalists in Nashville by creating American music distinct from what he called the \u201cplastic dry f***\u201d of country-rock,\u201d according to The Guardian.<\/em><\/a> His vision revolutionized country, leading to the catch-all subgenre\u2014or movement\u2014known as \u201calt-country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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