The next instalment of The Red Light Sessions – our monthly live music collab with Joe Green – features Sheffield singer-songwriter Ed Cosens.
Each month, we invite a local artist to lay down a stripped-back live session in Greeny’s rehearsal space. One take. No do-overs. You can watch Ed’s session now over on the Exposed Instagram channel (@exposedmagazine) and read on for our interview with the main man himself…
A few weeks after Ed’s session with Joe, we sit down over a brew at Steam Yard for a bit of a debrief. The café’s mid-morning lull has a laid-back vibe that suits the calm, thoughtful energy of the man himself, as we chat about the experience of laying down a couple of live tracks with our enigmatic drummer-collaborator.
“The session was fun – a lot of fun, actually,” says the Sheffield singer-songrwiter and former Reverend music-maker. “Greeny suggested doing it, and I’ve known him a long time, played with him in various bands. It was just nice to play with him again.”
The setup of the session is intentionally raw and off-the-cuff, and a trio including Ed, Joe Green and Jono West from Bromheads Jacket, performed Ed’s song ‘Fortunes Favour’ in a bluesier style. “I didn’t want to just play it like I normally do. We slowed it down, gave it this kind of bluesy trio feel. I think we just about pulled it off.”
The three-piece also tackled a cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire’ – a nod to Joe Carnall’s festive show at Yellow Arch where Ed belted it out to a packed room. “I like to think I do a decent Johnny Cash impression,” he jokes. “We were running through it in rehearsal and Jono turned to me and asked if I’d used AI to get Johnny’s voice on the demo. I was like, ‘Nah, mate – that was me!’”
The relaxed, live nature of the Red Light Sessions added to the appeal. “I like that it’s in a rehearsal space – it’s not polished. It’s a one-take live job, which is really fun. It adds a bit of energy. It is what it is.” That kind of freedom felt especially refreshing for an artist who’s long straddled the line between studio perfection and onstage electricity.
Since releasing his second solo album Somewhere Between Dark and Light in May last year, Ed’s spent time processing the emotional themes behind the record – much of which touches on mental health. “The title reflects that in-between place – mentally flicking between dark and light. I think a lot of people can relate to that,” he says. “For me, it came out of lockdown and learning to understand my own mental health, which I’d never really addressed before.”
The album, which in large part was written in tandem with his debut, took on a more cohesive feel as he explored his inner world more deeply. “I had a few wobbles over the past year or so. It’s something I’ve probably had for a long time, but I never really understood it. Talking about it helped a lot – just saying it out loud helped me make sense of it. Even just going for a pint or a walk with someone you trust and being honest – that stuff makes a difference.”
It’s a reflection mirrored across the music industry, he adds, where support systems are still lacking. “In creative industries, especially music, people are wired differently. The highs are really high, and the lows can be really low. There’s no safety net, so when you stop or step away, it’s a big adjustment.”
Which brings us to a pivotal change in Ed’s career – his decision to leave Reverend and the Makers after nearly two decades. “It wasn’t sudden. It had been coming for a while. Jon and I have known each other since we were 11. We did everything together. But things change – families, priorities – and you start to drift a bit. I wasn’t excited in the same way anymore, and I just needed to step away.”
Despite being an integral part of the band’s songwriting and musical identity, Ed says he was always a quieter presence. “I’m not the frontman type by nature. I’m happy at the back, behind the scenes. But I look back and wish I’d stepped forward a bit more. Doing my own records has helped with that. I’ve found my voice – and I’ve found the confidence to use it.”
The move has also opened up new opportunities, including working with Joe Carnall on his upcoming musical. “I remember him saying he was writing a musical and I thought, ‘Alright, cool!’ Fast-forward a bit, and now we’ve done a first run of Act One with a band, and we’re putting on two shows at the Drama Studio in May.” Ed’s played a key role in arranging, recording and coaching the cast through the music.
It’s a completely different process. You’re cueing off actors mid-scene, trying to time the music perfectly. It’s intense – but so good. Being in that room when it all comes together is magic.”
There’s a third solo album on the horizon too – writing is already underway, with recording pencilled in for this summer into autumn. “I want to go a bit more soulful with this one. Think old-school Stax, bit of a retro soul vibe. I’ve been writing with other people too, getting different perspectives and moving away from writing just about me.”
Though he’s fully embracing his solo chapter, Ed hasn’t lost touch with his collaborative roots. He’s recently been producing a new record for White Horses (featuring ex-members of The Blinders) and playing guitar for rising indie-folk artist Annie Dressner. “Even when I’m not playing, I just love being in the studio, creating something from scratch. And then taking it out on stage – that’s the other side of it. Both are important to me.”
Upcoming gigs include sets at Tramlines and a special acoustic support slot at Bromheads Jacket’s Leadmill gig, something he’s excited about: “It’s nice that they asked me. I’ll just get up there and play a couple of ballads – calm before the storm!”
Life post-Reverend has its challenges, he admits – financially, logistically, emotionally – but also a renewed sense of purpose. “It’s a different kind of stress now. But it’s the kind you want. The kind that pushes you in the right way.”
And right now, with a soulful new album on the horizon, a musical in motion and a Red Light Session that reminds us why he’s one of Sheffield’s most quietly brilliant musicians, Ed Cosens looks every bit at home stepping into the spotlight.
