As fun as the yearly “summer jams” can be, all too often their elated optimism can come off as more posture than positive. Is Pharrell really that happy? And, really, just how lucky did we all get during summer 2013?
Cooper, the debut full-length LP by Brisbane, Australia-born Kate Cooper, has an upbeat pace and mood to it that, on the surface, makes it seem like an ideal bedfellow for the “Get Luckys” and “Happys” on summer playlists. And, indeed, much of Cooper does fit that bill. What separates Cooper from the rest of that ilk, however, is that the tunes on her record — full of hooks and layered vocals that beg to be sung along with — actually feel genuine, rather than being peppy for peppy’s sake. The ethos of Cooper can be summed up in the chorus lyric to lead single “This Year”: “This year has been the best and the worst year”. For songs that capture both the highs and the lows of summer, Cooper is a sure-fire bet.
Cooper says to PopMatters, “This is a record that I never thought I would make and then I made it. This is a record that I didn’t think would get released and now it’s seeing the light of day. Whatever the case, I’m just glad people (apart from my Mum) can hear it.”
Cooper is out on 16 June via Mom + Pop.
Watch the lyric video to “This Year”: