Hailing from Milton on the New South Wales South Coast, singer songwriter Hein Cooper was performing one of his regular sets in a small pub when manager of legendary rockers Half Moon Run, Franz Schuller stumbled upon Coopers’ set, blown away by what he was hearing (understandably), Schuller invited Hein to write and demo his songs in Montreal (Canada) and he was quickly signed to Indica Records.
This discovery resulted in Cooper releasing his stunning self-titled debut EP in early 2015 and kick started a killer 12 months for the young talent.
The past year has seen Cooper clock some pretty amazing achievements including serious triple j love, spins on the BBC, a slot at Falls Festival, record deals across three continents, the best part of a year crossing the globe playing festivals from the UK to Canada, a successful tour of France, and the release of his current single, the breezy slice of summer acoustic pop ‘Rusty’.
Now 2016 sees him come back Australia to celebrate the release of his debut album The Art of Escape and an extensive tour across the country.
To celebrate the release of the record (out today via MGM/ Indica) Cooper has kindly penned us a track by track which you can check out below along with the record stream. For more info on Cooper pop by www.heincooper.com.
Art of Escape
“This song was written over two years. The theme of ‘Escape’ was very relevant in my life at the time. I didn’t feel content with my life and its direction. I found myself daydreaming and laying up at night thinking about what was missing. It was a ‘young adult’ type situation. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, who to hang out with and more importantly how to attain these things. So this song became a connection to the life I wanted.”
Rusty
“I had been partying a lot when I wrote this song. I was feeling tired and empty because of the people and lifestyle I was surrounded by and found myself indulging in things as a way of coping. This song is a reaction against that time.”
Overflow
“This is about feeling very high. Flying in the sky high. It’s a spiritual celebration for me. Something I wrote to lift my audience up during live shows. It’s slightly non-sensical and drifts through imagery to capture the imagination rather than reality.”
Curse My Life
“I wrote this song around three years ago. I had broken up with my girlfriend at the time and was feeling guilty and at the same time at peace because I had made a decision I had been thinking about for a while and knew was right. We didn’t click in the end and it took me a while to realise it. So this song is basically a moment of reflection and learning better for next time.”
Dopamine
“This is about moving from my hometown in the country to the city. I felt so conflicted by the way people carried about their lives and the wastefulness and disconnection they had to nature. It honestly gave me an insight and answer into why this world is falling apart. So this song is a call for nature and for embracing it. Dopamine is a naturally made chemical our body releases when we feel success or victory. It’s a satisfaction or pleasure that I associate with nature and its beauty”
All My Desires
“All the things I don’t have that I want. It’s never ending for all of us and it can so easily take over our minds and send us into perpetual bitterness. The name of this song says it all.”
Polar Bears
“My brother inspired this song. He is very inspirational to me because he has a deep value for the earth. This song comes out in a similar vein to Dopamine. It is a celebration to having depth in our values to appreciate the things that matter and reject the things that don’t.”
The Real
“Inspired by The Matrix (one of my favourite movies). It’s a mantra to fighting brain-washing to see things the way they actually are. I love the way that this film portrays the idea that all humans are being projected a reality by A.I. to distract them from the fact that they are being used under slavery. I feel like advertising and TV often do the same thing to give underlying motives.”
Water
“Another song about the same girl I was seeing while I wrote ‘Curse My Life’. It comes with a similar message. I can be self absorbed at times which has its positives and negatives. This song is a cry out for help. I was looking for someone to pull me out of my world and into theirs. To force me to be generous and selfless.”
Luna Sky
“This was one written about a Chilean guy I was living with in Bondi. He was always feeling sorry for himself. But he was the nicest guy. And a true romantic. So this is a mantra to him. I hope he finds what he’s looking for. And sometimes when I can’t see it happening in reality I’ll write a song about it to relieve myself.”
Upcoming Show Dates
March 4 – The Basement, Sydney NSW
March 5 – Transit Bar, Canberra ACT
March 6/7 – Nannup Festival, Nannup WA
March 12 – Lizottes, Newcastle NSW
March 18 – Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide SA
March 19 – Jimmy’s Den, Perth WA
Album Launch Shows
March 23 – Milton Theatre, Milton (Hometown Launch)
March 24 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
March 25 – Shebeen, Melbourne
Tickets and info at www.heincooper.com.
