Me & some friends cooked up a cover of The Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon”.

Sent it to Dan Reed at WXPN. He emailed back. He’s playing it

today at 5pm on the 5 O’Clock Shadow.

WXPN 88.5 in Philly. xpn.org everywhere else.
Sunny Afternoon (Kinks cover)
Vox Guitar/Drums: Cookie
Keys/Backing Vox: Tony Reyes
Tone Whitfield: Bass
Everett Gray: Guitar Solo

Listen on WXPN

If you saw the duck on Instagram earlier, that was the announcement.This is theannouncement for normal people who do not get their news from a man laying on a lawn with an inflatable rubber duck.

Tune in if you can.
Do good things

Cookie

But money is what stands between me and the version of my life where I’m just making music full time. So we’re in a weird love/hate thing, money and me. The only reason I want any is so I can stop thinking about it.

Wrote a song about that. It’s called FU$. Up on every platform now.

If you give it a spin and it lands, hit save.
Thanks,
Cookie
Do good things

Three days ago, “I Love This Song” came out. It features John Swana on trumpet. It’s on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube Music. Wherever you listen. It’s there.

Stream it. (stream here) Play it twice. Hit save. That helps me get more reach on the platform to new listeners.

Now. April 9th. The Grape Room. I need to talk about this one.

The Grape is where I played my first show as Cookie Rabinowitz. Over ten years ago. So many changes since then. Some good, some not so good, all part of the journey. The last time I played the Grape Room’s main stage, I was mid performance and got a phone call that my house was on fire. By the time I got there, my studio was gone. Most of everything I owned was gone, My room mate was in the house and barely got out as he was trying to find the cats, sadly they didn’t make it.

I came back to The Grape after that. Played a residency upstairs on Saturday nights while the featured acts were on the main stage downstairs. But April 9th is my first official show on the main stage since then.

I’m not telling you this for sympathy. I’m telling you because in a little over a week. I’ll be back on that stage. New show, new songs. new label deal. Songs on every platform. A completely different life built on top of the ashes of the old one. And I don’t think I’ve fully processed what that’s going to feel like.

April 9th. The Grape. 8:30 PM. I’m opening for Michael James + OE.

Tickets here.

See you there.

Cookie
Do good things

I’m opening for Orlando Jones at City Winery Philadelphia this Monday, March 23rd. Live looping rig. Everything built in real time in front of you.

Two of the songs in the set have never been released on streaming platforms. You won’t find them on Spotify. Saturday night is the only way to hear them right now.

“I Love This Song” gets released on all platforms March 27th through GSR and KMG. If you come Saturday, you’ll hear it live first the first time. Dan Reed at WXPN played it over a year ago before it was even officially released. Now it’s coming for real.

This is why I do this … this is how I like to get social.

City Winery Philadelphia. Monday, March 23rd.

GET TICKETS

I truly hope to see you there.

Do good things,

Cookie

I’m opening for Orlando Jones at City Winery Philadelphia on March 22. This hasn’t been officially announced yet but I wanted to let you know first. This is my first solo performance in years, and the first time I’m performing some of these songs live in front of people. I’m genuinely excited and to me, this is what it’s all about.

In case you don’t know Orlando. He’s the founder of my label GSR, and you may have seen him on the screen (MADtv, American Gods, and Drumline). His stand up is hilarious. I’ve seen comedians open for music artists, but on the 22nd we’re flipping the script. I’d love to see you there.

[Ticket Link]

Oh and WXPN played “Learn To Play” twice now. A Peabody Award-winning station that broke Hozier, Alabama Shakes, and Brandi Carlile. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s been listening . So much more to come

Cookie
Do good things

Share

Friday I released a new single and two tracks from the vault between sets at the club.

Friday morning Dan Reed texted me. He liked the song. He’s premiering “Learn to Play” on WXPN 88.5 today. 4 PM. Drive time.

He had to edit out the emergency broadcast sample. Turns out you can’t broadcast anything that sounds like a real EAS test. My bad.

Dan Reed is WXPN’s music director. XPN has been in my corner for years. This one still hit different.

I wrote this song about perseverance through self-doubt. About building things in public while getting knocked around. “Some days down bad but never dead.” That line keeps proving itself.

Listen live today:

88.5 FM or xpn.org — 4 PM ET

Stream all three singles now:

→ Learn to Play

→ Crack A Smile

→ If I’m Wrong

If you use Spotify, I’m asking you to follow and save the tracks. Saves tell the algorithm this music matters.

April 9th I’m playing The Grape again. The Dough-Jo has things cooking. More soon.

– Cookie

Do good things

Watch this before Friday’s release

Hi,

Before “Learn To Play” drops on Spotify this Friday, I want you to see where it came from.

I just posted a live performance of the full song on YouTube — one take, building it layer by layer with the RC-600 and Ableton Move. This is how I make music, no backing tracks, just hands, voice, and realtime, live looping and recording

Watch it here:

If you watch it and it hits, do me a favor: subscribe to the channel YouTube’s algorithm weighs early engagement heavily, and having you there matters more than you know.

A little context:

Shortly after my debut release years ago, my Northern Liberties home burned down. I lost my 2 kitties, studio, my gear, and the direct-to-listener music platform I’d been building. Most everything.

I took time after that to rethink what I was doing and why. Not just how to present music, but what my real goals and purpose were as an artist, as a human.

I rebuilt. I coded Dough-Jo over 2 years (the platform is a work in progress, live now, 25 active users getting deeper experiences than streaming alone can offer). I signed a label deal with GSR/KMG.

And I’m showing up more to streaming platforms this Friday with “Learn To Play” plus two back catalog tracks, “Crack A Smile” and “If I’m Wrong.”

“Learn To Play” is about perseverance through self-doubt. “Some days down bad but never dead.” If you’ve been following this journey, you know that’s not just a lyric, it’s the last 10+ years.

What I’m asking:

1. Watch the YouTube video. See how the song gets built live.

2. Subscribe to the channel. Early subscribers signal to YouTube that this content matters.

3. Come back Friday morning for the Spotify links. Stream it. Play it twice. Hit save.

The first 48 hours after release tell the algorithm if a song matters. You’re on this list because you opted in years ago and stuck around. You’re the day-one core.

One more thing:

April 9th, I’m playing The Grape in Philadelphia, the same venue where I played my very first show as Cookie Rabinowitz over 10 years ago. My last gig there was the same night my house burned down.

Coming back to that stage, with the solo live looping setup, a label deal, and songs on DSPs, feels like closing a chapter and opening a new one at the same time.

Tickets are here if you’re in Philly: [ticket link]

Thanks so much for being here. Let’s go.

Cookie

P.S. Oh, and it’s my dad’s 87th birthday on Friday. He’s also releasing a song that day made with his lyrics and ideas leveraging Suno (AI music generator). Meanwhile I’m out here doing it the old fashioned way. Father and son both dropping music on the same day. The duality of man.

B )
IIIISOUL

No rollout.
No hype cycle.
Just a song released into the noise to see what happens.

What I’ve learned is simple:
Songs don’t disappear because they’re bad.
They disappear because nobody claims them.

Saving a track is the quiet version of that claim.
No repost. No announcement. Just “this stays with me.”

So I’ll say this plainly:

If Mission Bag hits you at all, save it.

That’s the signal that keeps it alive.

If it doesn’t land, no harm done.
It was still worth making.

I’ve got something new coming on Feb 13.
I’m trying to do this part better this time.
Less hoping. More intention.

Thanks for being here.

– Cookie

Sunday night. 8 PM Eastern.

I’m going live on Instagram with my friend Venice Love. She’s a producer and artist - good people, good conversation.

We’re talking about the Feb 13 Spotify drop: one new single and two tracks from the vault getting a proper release.

No script. Just us chopping it up about the music, the stories behind the songs, whatever comes up.

Where:

- Instagram Live: @cookie_rabinowitz

- Also streaming on YouTube + TikTok

When:

- Sunday, 8 PM ET

Pop in if you want. Ask questions. Or just listen in.

See you there.

- Cookie

“Mission Bag” is out on Spotify - first official release through GangStirRock and KMG. Three more singles drop Feb 13.

If you haven’t heard it yet, give it a spin. If you dig it, save it or add it to a playlist. That stuff actually matters for how the algorithm treats the song to broaden its reach.

I want to reach as many ears as I can so I can get out there and play come spring.

Thank you so much for your support.

Listen:

Also been building something called the Dough-Jo - an experiment in non-algo based music experiences. No cost to join. Just music and stories.

If you’re curious: cookierabinowitz.com

More soon. Appreciate you being here.

— Cookie

Orlando Jones called me a couple months ago and told me he was forming a gang.

When it comes to my music, I go with vibes only. This felt right.

I’m working with his new label GangStirRock. December 20th, “Mission Bag” hits streaming. First of many things to come.

Tomorrow (Monday) at 3PM EST, Orlando and I are going live on his Instagram to talk about what’s next. Set a reminder. Hope to see you.

@theorlandojones on IG. 3PM EST.

Also - to everyone who’s joined the Dough-Jo so far: thank you.

You’re in early. You’re part of this. More quests, more music, more everything coming.

If you haven’t checked it out yet: cookierabinowitz.com

Talk soon,

Cookie

For the last year, while working many hours at the club (my "day gig”), writing new songs, and grinding through the chaos, I’ve been building something.

It’s called The Dough-Jo.

It’s not Spotify. It’s not meant to replace streaming platforms.

It’s a music discovery app where you complete quests, unlock exclusive songs and experiences, and actually engage with the stories behind the music. Think Duolingo meets music exploration - gamified, fun, real, and with the usual Cookie peculiarities.

Why am I telling you this today?

Because I’m sending this to a very limited group. That’s it.

You’ve been following my journey for a while and stuck around even while I was silent and rediscovering myself. You showed up! Thank you.

I want you to be first.

No “limited time offer.” Not a sales pitch. Just an invitation to check it out, give some feedback, and help me make this thing right before I announce it publicly.

Here’s what you’ll find:

- Interactive quests (each one tells real stories) - the songs, the chaos, the come-ups)

- Exclusive music you won’t find anywhere else, plus my back catalog that’s been off Spotify for years

- A community board called The Signal (no blowing up your inbox - if you want to connect, it lives there)

- Leaderboard, rewards, and a Music Vault that unlocks as you engage

It’s free. If you stay in the Dough-Jo long enough, limited Artifacts pop up from time to time - available for purchase or maybe as rewards, if that interests you.

There are more mysteries inside, but only me and my robot assistant Claude are privy to that information at the moment.

I’m just looking for honest feedback from people who actually care about music as much as I care about making it.

https://cookierabinowitz.com

If something breaks, tell me. If something’s confusing, tell me. If you love it, tell me. If you hate it, sorry. If it’s a bit strange, good.

I built this myself - well, I had some coding grunt work from Claude (she’s a robot that helps out while I write and record human music for human souls).

Thanks for being here from the jump.

Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate.

PS. Almost forgot to mention, I signed my first recording contract too B )

– Cookie
feeling thankful

I’ve been putting the final touches on something called The Cookie Dough-Jo. It’s a little behind schedule, but almost ready to open the “doors”.

So WTF is the Cookie Dough-Jo? It’s something I’ve been building (vibe-coding really, see clip below) over the past few months, alongside new music. It’s my response to a wave of so-called “Spotify killers” and the growing frustration many artists feel around streaming royalties.

Full interview at : Rick Rubin: Vibe Coding is the Punk Rock of Software a16z

I don’t think the answer is to burn down the existing platforms—Spotify has its place. But the deeper problem isn’t just money, it’s the loss of some meaningful, immersive music experiences that have seemed to fade (I believe a solution to this disconnect is a key ingredient to keeping us humans alive as a species). Vinyl has made a cool comeback, but for me, the environmental cost outweighs the nostalgia. Tip jars and platforms like Patreon are cool too, but they can sometimes feel like a one-sided exchange.

Maybe I’m nuts, but I believe we can build something better. Not just more fair—but more fun, more alive… more human!

That’s what the Dough-Jo is about. And now I need just 50 of you to help me kick it off (Join the chat at the bottom if you’re interested - cap at 50 people). There are around 1,200 of you on this list, so I’m hoping 50 of you will say yes to being part of this weird little experiment. It's free to participate, and yeah, the first versions will probably be a little janky. But that’s part of the punk rock aspect. If it fails, I like to live by the motto, if you love the process, fail slow and enjoy the ride. If it works, us and others can all potentially gain something. Who knows, maybe it’ll even be useful & fun for other artists and music enjoyooors down the line.

Thank you Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin Sly & for all the gifts you gave us RIP 🫶
(March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025)

Thank You for being here.
Let’s make something together.

Do good things,
Cookie

This past weekend I took off from my usual double shift (which I never do) to take on the WXPN 24 Hour Song Challenge. The prompt was “belong.” You had to write, record, and upload a song, video and all, in under 24 hours.

I felt a little guilty leaving work, since I know it puts more pressure on my coworkers. But they were cool and supportive, and this challenge felt like an exciting and needed break from my usual grind.

I wrote the bones of the song in about 30 minutes, but spent most of the time figuring out how to perform it. No overthinking, no fiddling for days in my home studio. Just write something real and get it out there. It ended up being a great experience, and I put in an honest effort.

Shout out to WXPN for creating a community-driven, friendly challenge that was interesting and entertaining for both artists and listeners.

▶️ You can watch the full performance here:
https://songchallenge.xpn.org/2025/06/01/jump-sing-your-song-cookie-rabinowitz/

I've also been working on something really fun that I’ll tell you more about in the next Liner Notes. In the meantime, everyone on this mailing list is automatically entered in a raffle I'm holding at the end of the year for my blue Ibanez archtop guitar. No purchase necessary. If you're reading this, you're already in.

It’s my way of simplifying life a bit. I'm just one person, and one guitar feels like enough. Plus, I’d love to pass along an instrument that’s been with me through so many songs, performances, and trips. Who knows, it might have a few new songs waiting in it for you.

Thanks for following along on this journey. It means a lot to be able to share these moments with you. More soon.

— Cookie

A couple weeks ago, Sue and I played the Quincy Jones tribute at Ardmore Music Hall. First time I caught York Street Hustle too. Tight, sharp, full of heart. That room was alive. Seasoned musicians dialing in real-time soul, no click track, no safety net. The whole night reminded me how much we need the unfiltered. The ones that breathe, bend, crack, and are real. The moments that don’t snap perfectly on the grid. This is where I find my groove.

Lately, I’ve been ignoring the YouTube tutorials, muting the algorithm, and just doing. Breaking things. Rewiring them. Like I did when I was a kid. It’s wild how all these tools - AI, loopers, drum machines, samplers, code - can either amplify your voice or erase it. Depends on how we use them. With intention, they reveal something raw and human. Without it, they just spit out homogenized mediocrity.

I’m thinking about getting together a small group of people to test something out in a few weeks that I have been building. My plans are to launch it publicly in late June but I think it would helpful to get some feedback. If anyone is following along and wants to experience some new Cookie music in a way I don’t think has been done before, drop a like on this post or something… more to come

Thanks for riding through the noise.

June 20
Something New. Same-ish Cookie.

Cookie Rabinowitz

There’s a lot of noise out there — A.I. homogenized melodies flying past on a scroll, complete thoughts truncated, chopped tiny clips.

There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a time and place for background music - elevators, nightclubs, the mall, Pringles commercials. Platforms like Spotify are perfect for that as well. You put something on and keep life moving.

But sometimes it feels like we’re not using all this new technology the way we could. There are more ways than ever to make music travel faster — but how about making the frequency travel further, deeper.

Growing up, I’d throw on an album, lay back on the bed or the couch, and just listen. Start to finish. Reading the liner notes. Reading the lyrics. Finding out where it was recorded, who played on it, soaking in the photos from the recording sessions. You didn’t just hear the music; you lived inside it, and it spoke to you. When a song from that record happened to pop up on your favorite local radio station, it felt like a small win, a little reminder that maybe today wasn’t so bad after all.

Share Cookie Rabinowitz - Newsletter

What if we could run the tape back? What if that kind of experience could exist again, but with all the new media technologies we have now?

A place you can step into when you want a break from the daily grind. Where the songs breathe. Where the stories behind them - whether extraordinary or just a common moment from an average day - aren’t reliant on an algorithm to be heard by the humans that care. Where the connection between artist and listener feels a little closer to the way it used to be. Major streaming platforms are here, they’re convenient, and they'll always have a place. But there's also room for something deeper.

New music. Same-ish Cookie.

June 20th, 2025.

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The Fallser Club

3721 Midvale Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19129

Hey friends!

I’m hitting the stage tomorrow, December 28th, at Flannel Bar & Restaurant in South Philly, and I’d love to see you there! I’ll be playing a mix of Cookie originals and some fun covers, alongside the incredible John Swana on E.V.I.—it’s going to be a blast!

Come out to enjoy some delicious food, drinks, and live music from 6 PM to 9 PM. It’s the perfect way to kick off your evening.

📍 Flannel Bar & Restaurant
1011 S. 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA

For parking, there are street spots around the neighborhood, but you can also check out nearby parking lots like The Italian Market Parking just a couple of blocks away or 9th Street Parking Lot for a little extra convenience.

As 2024 quickly comes to a close, I’m feeling so excited for the upcoming year. I’ve got some big things in the works 🙏, and I can’t wait to keep the momentum going. Let’s close the year out in harmony and make it a night to remember!

I can’t wait to hang and share the night with you all. Let’s make it a good one!

Do good things,

It’s me, Cookie.

I thought about using ChatGPT to write a slick, polished post for my upcoming show, but now’s the time to embrace the real (even if slightly defective and the name is fictitious 😅).

We need to jam together, and let’s start with showing up at Steel City on Sat, Nov 16th in Phoenixville, PA.

Huge thanks to Stargazer Lily for inviting me to kick off the night with a new solo show that I’m genuinely excited to perform for you all!

Vibes & Soul Guaranteed!

Let’s sell this out!

Details below👇 and here’s your ticket link 🎟️

Sat, Nov 16, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST
Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery
203 Bridge Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460

• $15 Advance General Admission

• $21 Limited Reserved Seating

• $20 Day of Show

Hope to see you there!

Limited Reserved Seating Available

“Beautiful Sign”

Feeling totally grateful & amped to be playing a special home brewed selection of Cookie music, outdoors in Center City Philadelphia this Sunday to help spread the word on an awesome new yoga, wellness, and event venue, Full Circle Yoga.

Come out of the house, say hi.

Do good things,

Cookie

🎶 Sunday, September 15th
🕒 4:00 PM
📍 1611 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
Event: Grand Opening of Full Circle Yoga and Wellness
Enjoy a special outdoor solo performance in the heart of Center City, Philly. Come for the yoga and wellness vibes, stay for the music!

Don’t miss this special event celebrating wellness, community, and great music.

On "X" ? join the conversation!