As JP Cooper prepares to share his most personal record to date, the singer-songwriter sat down with hmv to talk creative freedom, vulnerability and why this album marks a turning point in his career, ahead of his upcoming live appearances with hmv.
After years of navigating expectation and pressure, Cooper's latest album finds him fully in control, reconnecting with the joy that made him fall in love with making music in the first place.
What was different creatively when making this record compared to your previous albums?
With my first album, you really do have your whole life to write it. There were songs on there that had been around for years alongside newer ones written once I was signed. The second album was different. Suddenly, I was in this commercial world, with top-ten singles and expectations I had not really planned for. No one was telling me what to do, but you feel that pressure when you are on a major label.
This third album came from frustration, but in a good way. I sat down with the label and said I didn't want to chase radio, just wanted to make an album for me. They supported that. I set boundaries. No production in the writing room. No beats. Just songs built simply with piano, guitar, and vocals.
For the first time, I made the whole album with one producer, Cam Blackwood. We recorded live to tape with no click tracks and me guiding the songs in the room. It is the first record where I feel my DNA is in every line and every sound. I finally feel like I know how to make an album now, and the whole process was pure joy.
Are there particular emotions or moments from your life that shaped the album?
I draw a lot from my early life, my family, and my relationships. There are songs for my wife, songs about growing up and songs that feel playful and hopeful. There is a light to this record. It feels like gratitude for where I am now and for the people who helped me get here.
How do you know when a song is finished and ready to share?
We wrote around twenty-five to thirty songs and took them into the studio to see which ones revealed themselves. Some just rise to the top.
For this album, it was about chasing the right kind of excitement. Sometimes that meant obsessing over something as small as the sound of a snare drum. When all the elements come together, and it says what I want it to say with the right tone, that is when I know it is done.
Was there one track that challenged you the most?
There is a song called Something Like This that is very personal. It looks back at my childhood and where I started, compared to where I am now. I would not have chosen how things began, but I am grateful for how they turned out.
Because it is so close to home, I do think about how my family will hear it. I am used to wearing my heart on my sleeve, but they are not. That vulnerability makes me nervous, but those are the songs that matter most.
How important is storytelling to you as a songwriter?
For me, it is everything. I have always been drawn to lyrics and story. Because the songs started so simply, the bones had to be strong. The lines had to stand on their own and feel honest, with just a touch of poetry.
When you land a line that really works, it reminds you why you do this. Even after years of success, there is always that voice asking whether it was all a fluke. Those moments keep you going.
What did working with Cam Blackwood bring to the process?
I wanted someone who would challenge me. Cam's excitement is genuine and infectious. You can tell when someone is truly moved by music, and he was. We spent countless hours focused on tiny details that most people would never notice. I have gained a lifelong collaborator and friend in him, and I know we will make a lot more music together.
What excites you most about performing these songs live (including at our instore events later this year)?
It feels like the beginning of the album journey. I have been holding onto this record for a long time, and now people will finally have it. I remember doing an hmv in-store early in my career, especially in Manchester, where I grew up going into hmv as a kid. Even if this album only connects deeply with a few people, that is enough. I really believe it is going to live in people's hearts. CHECK OUT THE IN-STORE EVENTS HERE.
Is there one song you are most excited to play live?
There is a song called You Give Me Life. We recorded a gospel choir in Durban, South Africa, for it, with arrangements by my close friend and mentor Wayne Ellington. Even stripped back to piano and vocal, it is incredibly powerful. I think it is going to reach people on a deep level.
What is next after this release?
Right now, it is about sharing this album properly. I would love to return to South Africa to film performances with the choir. I have also had more time to write than expected, so there may be another project later this year, as well as a side project under a different name. It is early days, but I am excited.
For now, it is about seeing where this record takes me.
SHOP NOW
![]()
What was different creatively when making this record compared to your previous albums?
With my first album, you really do have your whole life to write it. There were songs on there that had been around for years alongside newer ones written once I was signed. The second album was different. Suddenly, I was in this commercial world, with top-ten singles and expectations I had not really planned for. No one was telling me what to do, but you feel that pressure when you are on a major label.
This third album came from frustration, but in a good way. I sat down with the label and said I didn't want to chase radio, just wanted to make an album for me. They supported that. I set boundaries. No production in the writing room. No beats. Just songs built simply with piano, guitar, and vocals.
For the first time, I made the whole album with one producer, Cam Blackwood. We recorded live to tape with no click tracks and me guiding the songs in the room. It is the first record where I feel my DNA is in every line and every sound. I finally feel like I know how to make an album now, and the whole process was pure joy.
Are there particular emotions or moments from your life that shaped the album?
I draw a lot from my early life, my family, and my relationships. There are songs for my wife, songs about growing up and songs that feel playful and hopeful. There is a light to this record. It feels like gratitude for where I am now and for the people who helped me get here.
How do you know when a song is finished and ready to share?
We wrote around twenty-five to thirty songs and took them into the studio to see which ones revealed themselves. Some just rise to the top.
For this album, it was about chasing the right kind of excitement. Sometimes that meant obsessing over something as small as the sound of a snare drum. When all the elements come together, and it says what I want it to say with the right tone, that is when I know it is done.
Was there one track that challenged you the most?
There is a song called Something Like This that is very personal. It looks back at my childhood and where I started, compared to where I am now. I would not have chosen how things began, but I am grateful for how they turned out.
Because it is so close to home, I do think about how my family will hear it. I am used to wearing my heart on my sleeve, but they are not. That vulnerability makes me nervous, but those are the songs that matter most.
How important is storytelling to you as a songwriter?
For me, it is everything. I have always been drawn to lyrics and story. Because the songs started so simply, the bones had to be strong. The lines had to stand on their own and feel honest, with just a touch of poetry.
When you land a line that really works, it reminds you why you do this. Even after years of success, there is always that voice asking whether it was all a fluke. Those moments keep you going.
What did working with Cam Blackwood bring to the process?
I wanted someone who would challenge me. Cam's excitement is genuine and infectious. You can tell when someone is truly moved by music, and he was. We spent countless hours focused on tiny details that most people would never notice. I have gained a lifelong collaborator and friend in him, and I know we will make a lot more music together.
What excites you most about performing these songs live (including at our instore events later this year)?
It feels like the beginning of the album journey. I have been holding onto this record for a long time, and now people will finally have it. I remember doing an hmv in-store early in my career, especially in Manchester, where I grew up going into hmv as a kid. Even if this album only connects deeply with a few people, that is enough. I really believe it is going to live in people's hearts. CHECK OUT THE IN-STORE EVENTS HERE.
Is there one song you are most excited to play live?
There is a song called You Give Me Life. We recorded a gospel choir in Durban, South Africa, for it, with arrangements by my close friend and mentor Wayne Ellington. Even stripped back to piano and vocal, it is incredibly powerful. I think it is going to reach people on a deep level.
What is next after this release?
Right now, it is about sharing this album properly. I would love to return to South Africa to film performances with the choir. I have also had more time to write than expected, so there may be another project later this year, as well as a side project under a different name. It is early days, but I am excited.
For now, it is about seeing where this record takes me.
SHOP NOW
