After jetting off to the United States to create and record new music, Australian alt. country artist James Van Cooper returns with his ten-track debut album 'Coming Home'.
“I went to write this album a few different times,” James explains.
“I had a few different batches of songs and different ideas of how I wanted it to sound. "My team came to me and suggested a trip to the US to get away from the standard ideas of what I'd be doing here. It made sense. I liked the idea of doing something really different rather than just the standard thing.
“[My manager] thought [producer] Scott Campbell would be a really good fit to take it away from standard country songs. So we thought I'd go over there, turn off my phone for a few weeks and make the record.”
'Coming Home' has been a year and a half in the making, and by working closely with Scott, this batch of songs have developed into the exact sound James originally envisioned.
“I think this is the first time that I knew exactly what I wanted it to sound like. I spent so much time writing the songs. I'd describe it as country music through loud amps.
“[The sound] definitely came in the moment. I hadn't met any of the players that we ended up using and they've definitely brought in a big part of what this record sounds like. If I had used a different band, it'd be a whole different album.
"They weren't standard country musicians, so that was a really awesome thing to have; a different view on making this kind of sound.
“It sounds exactly how I wanted it to. It sounds better than I knew it could. It's the first time I've left recording an album and felt there's not a thing I would have rather done. I did everything that I wanted to. I made the album that I wanted to hear."
With the release of 'Coming Home' in early September, James explains fans are going to gain a true insight into his musical identity as an artist. And with shows lined up in Melbourne and his home town Sydney, James is excited to perform his new material live. “I feel as though it's a live album.
“The songs are going to be really fun to play live. It's going to be my first tour in four years with a band. I've been touring solo for the past few years.
“This is a really good snapshot of who I am as an artist and songwriter. Lyrically, this is where I've wanted to be for a long time.”
James Van Cooper's debut album, 'Coming Home', is released 7 September.
James Van Cooper Tour Dates
Fri 14 Sep - SLYFOX (Sydney)Sat 15 Sep - Heritage Hotel (Wollongong)
Sat 22 Sep – Tamworth Hotel
Thu 4 Oct - The Fyrefly (Melbourne)
Fri 5 Oct - Spotted Mallard (Melbourne)
Fri 19 Oct - The Brass Monkey (Sydney)
Sat 20 Oct - The Royal Hotel (Queanbeyan)
Sat 27 Oct – The Stag & Hunter (Newcastle)
