ABOUT / SCOTT COOPER

"No, I won't be afraid of what I do not know."
- "Mud", from Echo Bay

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“Echo Bay” is the 5th release from Penetanguishene, ON singer-songwriter Scott Cooper. Echo Bay embraces the nostalgia of the songwriter’s simple bedroom pop roots while forging into new sonic territory at the same time. Five years have passed since his last LP (2012’s “Quiet Company”) and the songwriter is excited to be back in the saddle again.

"When it comes to a new album, I’ve been in a musical black hole for the past 5 years, let’s be honest.” says Cooper. “I felt uninspired and stuck…most music felt really lame and disposable for long enough that I figured I was pretty well done with it.   Then out of the blue, these songs and this idea came to me and everything just poured out really fast. I had somehow tapped into a new energy I hadn’t felt in a really long time." 

Lyrically, “Echo Bay” it’s about shouting ideas out into the void in the hopes of (them) connecting but secretly hoping no one answers. There are stories about messed-up relationships that are full of promise and beauty but aren’t working out because we’re so preoccupied with the idea of perfection.  Even though we all know we’re flawed and do stupid shit all the time. We have to learn to love that part of ourselves and each other, too.  We’re not going to get there with endless ‘beautified’ selfies and false modesty.   

The title also is a reference to reconnecting with my roots of making music all by myself. I spent the first few years of my musical life making songs and tapes all by myself in my bedroom. I had no idea what I was doing (musically or technically), but I was finding my voice.  It’s wonderful and exciting, but it’s also terrifying to share intimate thoughts and feelings when you have no idea how people will react to it. 

Over the years I’ve had the great fortune to work with and collaborate and record with some extremely brilliant musicians, producers, and I learned so much and had the best times ever. For some reason, this time out it felt absolutely vital that I did everything myself. In a way, I realize maybe these songs could be more than what they are had I done some outside collaboration, but I know in my heart this is what I need right now and everything else will be OK. 

When it really comes down to it, all I can do is try to do what makes me happy and feel good, then get it out into the world somehow. What happens next isn’t really up to me.

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