Listening to “Passing Through,” the first single from James Van Cooper’s debut album Coming Home, you’d probably imagine this guy spent his formative years listening to Ryan Adams and Damian Rice. However, this Sydney-born muso actually spent his teen years playing metal and worshipping the likes of LA Guns and Motley Crue. There’s not a hint of those hairbands in the music he’s creating now though!
James recorded “Passing Through” and other tracks from Coming Home in the United States with acclaimed producer Scott Campbell (Alanis Morissette, Katy Perry). It’s got a great authentic, raw sound which really excites me.
“This record is fuelled by a need to break free of certain constraints and confines, whether they be imagined or real. I had to play with a fresh deck, so to speak, hence the American studio sessions,” James explained. “Being an Australian and packing up to head to Hollywood to record, while exciting was still an unknown. What fears I did have were totally unwarranted as I was introduced to a wonderful producer in Scott Campbell who understood and encouraged what I envisaged in the creative process. Scott and I collaborated with a band that got on with making a genuine country rock record, an album that stands up for the new ways while respecting and acknowledging the vintage sound of country music. I wanted to make a record with a music narrative that pulled the listener along and I think I’ve done that on Coming Home.”
Coming Home drops on August 3. If the single is any indication, you should listen out for this one.