Turner Cody

Turner Cody

Turner Cody is a United States singer-songwriter associated with antifolk, blues and indie music. Born in 1980, he grows up in Boston and moves to New York City in 1999, where he begins his career at the Sidewalk Cafe. He records and self-releases a run of albums after settling in New York, and later issues official releases through labels including Boy Scout, BB*Island, Digitalis Recordings and b.y_records.

Recording history

His early albums include Turner Cody, This Springtime and Who Went West, all released in 2000 or 2001, followed by Chills with Andre Herman Düne in 2002, The Cody Choir in 2003, The Class Act; Act One in 2003, Buds of May in 2004, and The Great Migration in 2005. A compilation of early recordings, 60 Seasons, appears in 2007, alongside a UK reissue of Quarter Century. First Light follows in 2008 and Gangbusters! in 2010. He also sets up recording sessions in Paris and New York for Gangbusters.

Collaborations and activities

Cody works closely with Herman Dune from 2003 and tours Europe with Ish Marquez and as the opener and bass player for Herman Dune. He appears on the 2002 compilation Antifolk Vol. 1 on Rough Trade, alongside The Moldy Peaches, Jeffrey Lewis and Diane Cluck. He also appears in Jeffrey Lewis’ Williamsburg Will Oldham Horrour video, and is involved in Williamsburg’s Hassid meets Hipster, a klezmer dance event that he helps found in 2004. He also spins records with Adam Green in East Village.

Style and context

As a singer-songwriter, Cody is described as following in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Daniel Johnston. His work sits within the antifolk scene associated with the Sidewalk Cafe and the wider New York indie and folk circuit.

Aliases and group name

He also records as Turner Cody and The Soldiers of Love.