Cooper T - Scared (Single) + 10 Questions
Photo by Reco Real
Hellraising Mancunian duo Cooper T ready their thought-provoking second single ‘Scared’, following their anthemic track ‘Best Of You’. Reflecting on today’s dysfunctional social systems, the pair give a stark overview on the state of the union .
On the origins of the track, the pair explains “‘Scared’ shines a focus on how society has created an environment where women feel vulnerable, where they don’t even feel safe around authority. It illustrates the cauldron of mistrust and confusion that has been created by a government that has twisted our generation, to a point where decent social values seem to have been eradicated”.
As a rock solid rhythm section holds the line throughout, the accompanying lyrics have been penned as a critique to society for stripping women of their safety and as a wakeup call for Manchester to put its house in order to protect the vulnerable within the community. ‘Scared’ takes listeners out of nightclubs and across the dancefloors, providing that heady mix of adrenaline. It whisks through the dark and dingy ginnels and derelict warehouses where danger lurks. The next minute it bombs along in a taxi to the inner city sanctums and off to the outlying conurbations of Manchester looking for the next fix. The rhythm mirrors the speed of the journey as the city lights rush by and cars zoom past. This is the sound of a dysfunctional country, the new voices of the downturn. Born out of Brexit and a calamitous Tory government, Cooper T represents the good people of this generation who care about the present and want to shape the future. Their lyrics could be taken from scripts straight out of Brassic or Shameless, created from a life in Manchester, but equally, this could be any UK town or city. Kong says, theirs is “misfit music for a world full of misfits”.
Cooper T sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
On the way to football as a kid, my Dad played me early two tone records, such as The Specials & The Selecter, then as we got older we started to go to the dance and rave. Then it just went wild; we started to put on a night, and book for some local acts such as Dub Phizix, Chunky and I guess then music just became our life. It’s is now all we know and all we do.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
The Specials (Terry Hall)
Baxter Dury
Chunky
Inflo
Little Simz
Little Dragon.
3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the coronavirus pandemic?
Not being able to gig I suppose. It’s not too bad now, but at first it was hard work but we managed to write some of our best music in lockdown, so we can't really complain. Having more time came as a blessing and managed to work out our sound more.
4. How would you describe your sound?
We try to make it as gritty as possible, something that has filled a hole for us. We mesh together a variety of music genres ranging from punk, hip hop, indie, soul and jungle, creating an infectious hybrid strain, which is entirely our own. City living can really give you something to talk about, rawness and real shit.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Getting love and recognition from Manchester from the get go. It just proved to us that we are doing the right thing, We ain't even started yet.
Photo by Reco Real
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Just keep doing it, you will find something you like, hone in on it and just keep going. You will either achieve what you set out for or you don't, at least you tried. Keep good people around you who always have your best interest at heart.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
EVABEE is wicked, she helps us write a bit, look out for a Cooper T tune coming soon featuring EVABEE
You should also check out;
Blind Mic
Chunky
DRS
Osappien
CharlieBoyManson
Rainy Miller
Troopz.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently
Children Of Zeus - Balance
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
50 Cent - The Massacre (a very underrated hip hop album in my opinion)
Gregory Issacs - Soon Forward.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
I love to go to the Snooker Hall, I go fishing, go partying (normally ends up in making music), in fact everything normally ends up going back to the studio to make music.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Weed, Rum and good people.
Pre-Order Link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/coopert1/scared