Tag: James van Cooper

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James van Cooper Duets With Jaime Wyatt on “Come Home”

When Sydney singer-songwriter James van Cooper penned his latest single “Come Home,” he felt just one person could tell the “other side” of the story: US Americana artist Jaime Wyatt.

He heard she was playing a show with Shooter Jennings in Huntington Beach, California, so he took an hour and a half Uber ride from his Los Angeles base to convince her to lend her vocals to the track. Anyone else might have been intimidated asking someone they’d never met to sing a song they hadn’t heard, but James was a man on a mission. Thankfully “She said yes and made the song what it is today. She saved the song.”

While Jaime’s contribution is beautiful, I don’t think James gives himself enough credit. It’s the combination of these two strong alt-country voices that makes this beautiful ballad so special.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Coming Home” – James Van Cooper

Sydney seems an unlikely breeding ground for Australia’s next alt-country star. In fact, James Van Cooper spent his formative years obsessing over hard rocking hairbands like Motley Crue and LA Guns. However, once he discovered his country-rock leanings, there was no looking back. He made a pilgrimage to Tamworth, where he connected with Aussie country royalty Bill Chambers, before heading for Nashville. His debut album Coming Home shows he’s soaked up some valuable lessons about country and its associated genres while developing a sound all his own.

The single “Passing Through” is the perfect opener for this album, an upbeat slice of country-rock that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I’m a sucker for a country duet, and “Come Home” with Jaime Wyatt hits all the right notes for me. His roughened voice and her purer one contrast and complement one another so beautifully. The playful “Midnight Love” captures a moment in time so perfectly. “Goodbye My Friends” is rollicking good fun. “Lights Don’t Shine” has such a simple melody elevated by some of the album’s best lyrics. “Kew EQ” is probably the album’s simplest track. It’s very stripped back, with just an acoustic guitar accompanying James’ voice. But there’s something lovely about leaving us with that impression, of an artist simply standing on his own, letting his raw talent speak for itself.

Coming Home showcases the gifts of this talented young Aussie. James Van Cooper builds his tunes on a solid foundation of quality songwriting, real guitar prowess, and earthy vocals. He wears his influences on his sleeve, with tracks that play around with bluegrass, Americana, and traditional country. However, he’s bringing something fresh to the table. This album has the kind of crossover appeal you’ll find in works by Phillip Phillips, Jason Isbell, and Ryan Adams.

Coming Home drops today. James Van Cooper will celebrate its release with the following shows, supported by Axle Whitehead.

14 September 2018 – SLYFOX, Enmore (Album Launch)
15 September 2018 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
22 September 2018 – Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth
5 October 2018 – Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
19 October 2018 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
27 October 2018 – The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Van Cooper Gives Album Sneak Peek With “Passing Through”

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.