Greta Kline

Greta Simone Kline (born March 21, 1994), formerly known by the stage name Frankie Cosmos, is an American musician and singer-songwriter. She is known for her independent releases, inspired by Frank O'Hara's poetry, DIY ethics of K Records and the early 2000s New York City's anti-folk scene.^[1][2] She is the daughter of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates. Her former stage name "Frankie Cosmos" is now the name of her band.

Greta Kline
Performing, as Frankie Cosmos, in 2014 with Porches
Background information
Birth name	Greta Simone Kline
Born	(1994-03-21) March 21, 1994 (age 28) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Indie rock indie pop indie folk lo-fi bedroom pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Sub Pop Bayonet Double Double Whammy
Website	ingridsuperstar.bandcamp.com

Early life

Kline was born on March 21, 1994, in New York City, the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline and actress Phoebe Cates.^[1] Her father is of German-Jewish and Irish descent^[3] and her mother has Russian-Jewish and Chinese-Filipino ancestry.^[4][5][6] She has one older brother, Owen Kline, who is an actor and filmmaker.

Kline was introduced to music by her family. She settled on guitar as her primary instrument of choice at seventh grade, after playing the piano and briefly the drums.^[1] Home-schooled for most of high school, she spent time by attending underground rock shows in New York and getting involved in the Westchester music scene.^[1][7] Kline attended New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study for two years, and studied English and/or poetry.^[8] Kline found the school to be unaccommodating of her touring schedule, and dropped out.^[9]

Kline and her brother Owen both appeared in the films The Anniversary Party (2001) and The Squid and the Whale (2005).

Career

Kline started performing and recording independently under the alias Ingrid Superstar. She released a number of lo-fi recordings mainly under her Bandcamp account. In early 2010s, she was also introduced to the music community of Purchase College, which introduced her to independent Double Double Whammy record label.^[1][2] In late 2011, she started to perform under the alias Frankie Cosmos, a name coined by her now ex-boyfriend Aaron Maine of the band Porches.^[1][7] Maine played drums for Frankie Cosmos and Kline played bass for Porches at one point in time.^[10]

In 2014, Kline released her debut studio album as Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy, with her backing band.^[11]

Kline released the EP Fit Me In on November 13, 2015, on Bayonet Records. Kline released her second studio album, Next Thing, on April 1, 2016, on Bayonet Records.^[12]

On April 12, 2017, Frankie Cosmos announced a slew of tour dates and that they recently had signed to Sub Pop records.^[13] They stated around this time that they are working on a new album. On June 9, 2017, Kline opened for IAN SWEET and Girlpool at Warsaw in Brooklyn as part of her new project Lexie. Joined by Warehouse members Alex Bailey and Doug Bleichner, their first release is on Bandcamp and it is called "Record Time!".

In January 2018, Kline released the lead single "Jesse" from the album Vessel. The album was released on March 30, 2018, through Sub Pop records. On March 13, 2019, Kline released "Haunted Items", featuring just herself on vocals and piano. The band Frankie Cosmos released their fourth studio album, Close It Quietly on September 6, 2019.^[14]

Two of Kline's songs, "Fool" and "The End", were both showcased during two episodes on the Netflix drama series Hilda (TV series). Her song "Sappho" was also featured in Heartstopper (TV series) for its queer nature.^[15]

Throughout the first few months of quarantine, Kline did weekly Instagram livestream performances.

On August 2, 2022 the band announced their new album, Inner World Peace via Subpop.^[16]

Backing bands

"Frankie Cosmos"

• Luke Pyenson – drums, vocals
• Alex Bailey – bass guitar, keyboards
• Lauren Martin – keyboards, synthesizers, harmonies^[17]

Members of earlier backing bands

• Ronnie Mystery (Aaron Maine) – drums, vocals
• Gabby Teardrop (Gabrielle Smith) - keyboards, synthesizers, harmonies
• David Mystery (David Maine) – bass guitar, keyboards

Discography

 

Greta Kline performing with Porches in 2014

 

Frankie Cosmos performing in 2014

Studio albums

• Zentropy (2014)
• Next Thing (2016)
• Vessel (2018)
• Close It Quietly (2019)
• Inner World Peace (2022)

EPs

• Fit Me In (2015)
• Haunted Items (2019) (series of four digital EPs)^[18]

Bandcamp exclusives

• sickerwinter (2012)
• birth of penis (2012)
• separation anxiety (2012)
• thanks for everything (2012)
• woodchip arthur and his sweaty palms (2012)
• LOSING (2012)
• Wobbling (2013)
• moss (2013)
• why am i underwater? (2013)
• DADDY COOL (2013)
• im sorry im hi lets go (2013)
• pure suburb (2013)
• donutes (2014)
• affirms glinting (2014)
• quick songs (2014)

As franz charcoal

• great scraps (2020)

As Ingrid Superstar

• adventures (2009)
• amnesia the fifth (2011)
• songs about HIM (2011)
• i'mall fuced up (2011)
• Collaborative Farting (2011)
• brown cow chockmilk (patterns) (2011)
• Sunrise Over Interpositioned Buildings (2011)
• suckups vs. lovers (2011)
• shit about fuck (2011)
• the landlord LOVES restaurants! (2011)
• Couch Potato (2011)
• Jared Leto Can't Read (2011)
• Do you KNow my Friend JOM (2011)
• No Can Do (2011)
• sunshine over intertwined feelings (2011)

As Greta

• Songs I Made. Hi (2011)
• Kaleidescoping (2012)

As Ingrid

• ingrid you've done it again (2011)
• in yr dreams (2011)
• sMartyr (2011)
• yellow single (2011)
• long thin monster single (2011)

As Little Bear

• He Is Risen: DANK (2011)

As The Ingrates

• and it made me cry for a long time and i dont like crying (2011)
• The Artist Formerly Known As Ingrid (2011)
• rings left by cups on black tables (2011)

As Zebu Fur

• telescoping (2011)
• i'm bad news (2011)
• skinned elbow = now you're cool (2011)
• i've never been in love before baby, pretend i'm slick (2011)

As Franklin Cosmos

• much ado about fucking (2012)

As Frankie Cosmos and the Emptiness

• love rind (2013)
• told you so (2013)

Singles

• Owen^[19] (2014)
• Birthday Song^[20] (2014)
• Sinister (2016)^[21]
• Is It Possible/Sleep Song (2016)^[22]
• On The Lips (2016)^[23]
• Jesse (2018)^[24]
• Being Alive (2018)^[25]
• Apathy (2018)^[26]
• Windows^[27] (2019)
• Rings On A Tree (2019)^[28]
• Wannago^[29] (2019)
• Slide, split release with Lomelda (2021)^[30]
• One Year Stand (2022)^[31]
• Aftershook (2022)^[32]
• F.O.O.F. (2022)^[33]
• Empty Head (2022)^[34]

Music videos

• "Joe Joe (Boys Are Dogs)" (2012; dir. BJ Rubin)^[35]
• "Art School" (2014; dir. Sophia Bennett Holmes)^[36]
• "embody" (2014)
• "Korean Food" (2016; dir. Greta Kline)^[37]
• "Is It Possible / Sleep Song" (2016)
• "Young" (2016; dir. Eliza Doyle)^[38]
• "Being Alive" (2018; dir. Daniel Martin)^[39]
• "Jesse" (2018; dir. Loroto and Frankie Cosmos)^[40]
• "Apathy" (2018; dir. Tom Scharpling)^[41]
• "Duet" (2018; dir. Eliza Doyle)^[42]
• "Windows" (2019; dir. Eliza Doyle and Greta Kline)^[43]
• "Wannago" (2019; dir. Robert Kolodny)^[44]

Filmography

• The Anniversary Party (2001)
• The Squid and the Whale (2005)

References

1. Pelly, Jean (March 5, 2014). "Rising: Frankie Cosmos". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
2. Thomas, Fred. "Frankie Cosmos". Allmusic. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
3. Dotson Rader (October 16, 1994). . Parade. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
4. Villasanta, Boy (June 23, 2010). . ABS-CBN Corporation. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
5. Slater, Judith J. (2004). Teen life in Asia. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-313-31532-9. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
6. Cohen, Matthew Isaac (2009). "British performances of Java, 1811–1822". South East Asia Research. IP Publishing Ltd. 17 (1): 87–109. doi:10.5367/000000009787586389. S2CID 147291754.
7. White, Caitlin. "Frankie Cosmos Is Here To Show You Her Own Universe". Noisey Vice. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
8. "Porches and Frankie Cosmos". Newyorker.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
9. "Frankie Cosmos Is Ready to Be Herself". Spin.com. March 15, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
10. "Porches & Frankie Cosmos playing 2 nights at Baby's All Right for the venue's 1 year anniversary (and other dates)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
11. Powell, Mike (March 11, 2014). "Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
12. Monroe, Jazz (January 27, 2016). "Frankie Cosmos Announces New Album Next Thing, Shares "Sinister"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
13. "MusicMakers009: Frankie Cosmos". Blog.adafruit.com. March 26, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
14. Strauss, Matthew (June 18, 2019). "Frankie Cosmos Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song "Windows": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
15. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX5KARSfd7WcM
16. "Frankie Cosmos Announce New Album Inner World Peace, Share Video". Pitchfork. August 2, 2022.
17. Simon, Scott (March 31, 2018). "Frankie Cosmos Examines Fear, Fame And Womanhood". NPR. Retrieved May 16, 2021. Kline writes all of Frankie Cosmos' lyrics and most of its music, though the name belongs to the group: She tours with and records with bassist Alex Bailey, keyboardist Lauren Martin and drummer Luke Pyenson.
18. Gordon, Arielle. "Albums: "Haunted Items" - Frankie Cosmos". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
19. Pelly, Liz. "Tracks: Frankie Cosmos - Owen". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
20. Thompson, Paul. "Tracks: "Birthday Song" - Frankie Cosmos". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
21. Breihan, Tom. "Frankie Cosmos - "Sinister"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
22. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "Is It Possible/Sleep Song"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
23. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "On the Lips"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
24. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "Jesse"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
25. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "Being Alive"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
26. "LISTEN TO "APATHY" - THE NEW SINGLE FROM FRANKIE COSMOS - VIA THE GOOD MUSIC LISTENERS AT STEREOGUM". subpop.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
27. Jones, Abby. "Tracks: "Windows" - Frankie Cosmos". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
28. "LISTEN TO FRANKIE COSMOS' "RINGS (ON A TREE)" THE NEW SINGLE FROM 'CLOSE IT QUIETLY' (OUT SEPTEMBER 6TH)". subpop.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
29. Matozzo, Marissa. "Frankie Cosmos Share Endearing New Single/Video, "Wannago"". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
30. "Sad 2/Slide - Lomelda and Frankie Cosmos". music.amazon.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
31. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "One Year Stand"". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
32. "WATCH THE DISORIENTING AND HAIRY OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR FRANKIE COSMOS' "AFTERSHOOK"". subpop.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
33. Rettig, James. "Frankie Cosmos - "F.O.O.F."". Stereogum.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
34. Kenneally, Cerys. "Frankie Cosmos release new cut "Empty Head"". thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
35. "Frankie Cosmos & The Emptiness - Joe Joe (Boys Are Dogs)". YouTube. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
36. "Frankie Cosmos - Art School". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
37. "Frankie Cosmos "Korean Food" Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
38. "Frankie Cosmos "Young" Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
39. "Frankie Cosmos - Being Alive [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
40. "Frankie Cosmos - Jesse [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
41. "Frankie Cosmos - Apathy [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
42. Sub Pop (July 18, 2018), Frankie Cosmos - Duet [OFFICIAL VIDEO], retrieved February 26, 2019
43. Strauss, Matthew. "Frankie Cosmos Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song "Windows": Watch". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
44. "Frankie Cosmos – "Wannago" Video". Stereogum. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.

External links

• Official page on Bandcamp