How Leonard Cohen’s move to the US made him a mystery of “dark” and “light”

Leonard Cohen moved from Canada to the United States in 1967, uncertain whether his shift from writing to music would succeed. New York’s folk and art scenes gave him a place to develop as a musician and helped shape the contrasts between darkness and humour that people saw in his work.

He spent time around Andy Warhol’s Factory circle and was influenced by the music and people he encountered, including the Velvet Underground. Judy Collins, who first recorded “Suzanne”, described Cohen as lighter and more humorous than his sombre image suggested. The article argues that New York’s welcome and cultural energy helped him feel accepted and build his musical career.