JAMES COOPER BIOGRAPHY 2006
People are saying big things. They say James Cooper is the next… well, James Cooper.
You see artists are unique. Contrary to popular thought, there is no ‘next Bob Dylan’ or ‘next Radiohead’. There’s talk about James Cooper. Not James Fenimore Cooper. He’ll be the first you find on a google search (just so you know, he wrote ‘The Last Of The Mohicans’). This however, is the 25 year old Australian born multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, James Cooper.
There are murmurs around town about Cooper’s songwriting and intimate vocal tones reminding people of Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) or the more recent Bright Eyes. His broader arrangements bring to mind the best of British Sea Power whilst some see similarities in Cooper’s work to a younger Paul Kelly.
Having just played to a sold-out crowd at London’s World famous Ronnie Scott’s, with fellow Australian piano outlaw Tim Freedman (The Whitlams) times are busy. Cooper has been co-writing with Freedman on a particular song for the upcoming Whitlams studio album due in early 2006 in Australia on BlackYak/Warners.
Now London-based, Cooper relocated to the UK late in 2004 with a Maton acoustic, a cherry red Epiphone SG, a month’s rent, and a finished master of his self-funded 10-track debut album “Second Season”. Frequenting both the guitar and piano on the record, Cooper wrote the majority of the album in a small town in South France known as Sarlat. It was during this time, a 6-week hiatus from London, that songs such as “Beautiful As You”, “Couch In Montmatre”, “Save Me From Love” and “Dry Reaching For Grace” were born into the material world.
As fate would have it, Cooper arrived in London and in the space of a month was offered a U.S. deal with independent label Paisley Pop Records based in Portland, Oregon. He signed with Paisley and the debut album has just seen its first release in North America, currently on its second pressing. Soon after, Japanese label Wizzard In Vinyl got wind of the album, tracked James down in London and signed up Second Season for a February 2006 release. To create a special incentive for Japanese fans, Cooper flew back to Australia in September 2005 to work again with Second Season co-producer Michael Carpenter on 2 bonus tracks. The 12-track Japanese release will feature special packaging and additional artwork not featured on the U.S. release.
An artist with a strong work ethic, in a little over a year Cooper has already played key London venues solo, and with his 3 piece band (solo and with his 3-piece band ‘The Protectors’) including Ronnie Scott’s, the Barfly, The Spitz, The Betsey Trotwood, 12 Bar Club, Hope & Anchor, Bull and Gate, and Pleasure Unit. He’s been working as guitarist and harmony vocalist alongside new Universal signing, Dublin-born folk singer Amy Kelly, whose album (produced by Keane’s Andy Green) is due out Spring 2006 in Holland and the UK. He’s been writing for Kelly also, and preparing new material for her live set in 2006. Currently in rehearsals with his 3-piece featuring Welshman Ben Woollacott (Ex-Veils) on drums, percussion and vocals, and Bulgarian George George on standup bass and vocals, he’s getting ready for string of live dates across London beginning on January 11th at The Spitz. This will take them right up to the launch of the UK version of Second Season in February and its official release in March 2006.
A visual artist too, Cooper has designed the sleeve for none other than Sir Paul McCartney’s recent single “Fine Line” (Parlophone), worked on the album art for Macca’s latest offering, and just completed a David Bowie Sleeve for EMI UK through Stylorouge, London.
A classicist at heart, Cooper’s interest in pursuing song-craft sees him balladeering on acoustic guitar, vibing up the room to up-tempo acoustic folk/pop, and changing tone colours altogether once he steps behind the piano for songs such as the album center-piece “Sammy” a song about fragililty and growing up. From one minute to the next you’re never sure if he’ll pull out the semi-spoken word folk story song, the catchy pop hit or the melting piano ballad. It’s this kind of classic song writing combined with a unique voice that will see him rise. Here is a songwriter crafting stories and melodic lines well beyond his 25 years, who gets up on stage to do exactly what he does on record - pursues the impossibly illusive and time consuming art of brilliant songwriting and getting inside the song to live those 3 and a half minutes like they were his last.
Musical inspirations include Aimee Mann, The Jayhawks, Bob Dylan, Josh Rouse, John Lennon, The Waifs, The Finn Bros, Laura Cantrell and Ryan Adams. Second Season: The UK version is released in March 2006 in London. An Australian release is slated for Autumn 2006. Check out James Cooper and The Protectors at The Betsey Trotwood Jan 19, The Borderline (With Amy Kelly and Band) Jan 26, Dublin Radio FM 104 Sun Night Jan 29, and launching the album Feb 16 at the Troubadour Club, London.
UK/Europe: info@james-cooper.net
Japan: Daisuke Kambe, Wizzard In Vinyl Records, daisuke@wizzard-in-vinyl.com
North America: Jim Huie, Paisley Pop Records: info@paisleypop.com