Leonard Cohen’s “only preoccupation is the new songs he’s trying to finish”, says son Adam

Friends, family and collaborators shed light on Leonard Cohen's working methods and creativity in the new issue of Uncut, dated November 2014 (Take 210) and out now.

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Friends, family and collaborators shed light on Leonard Cohen‘s working methods and creativity in the new issue of Uncut, dated November 2014 (Take 210) and out now.

Cohen’s son Adam, collaborators Sharon Robinson, Patrick Leonard and Rebecca De Mornay, among others, reveal what drives the great songwriter as he prepares to release new album Popular Problems and celebrate his 80th birthday.

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Famous fans including Antony Hegarty, Shane MacGowan and Will Oldham also pick their favourite Leonard Cohen songs.

“He’s always working,” says Adam Cohen of his father. “It’s an isolated process – he went to monastic lengths. He told me, ‘When you’re exhausted and you’ve spent hours and days more than you thought you ever would on a song, that’s when you know the actual work has begun.’ That’s a wonderful emblem of his devotion, discipline and dedication.

“There has never been a molecule of wavering. He’s solely unconcerned with songs he’s already written. His only preoccupation is the new songs he’s trying to finish.”

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The new Uncut is out today (September 23).

Photo: Lorca Cohen

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