Track By Track: JP Cooper – ‘When The Darkness Comes’ EP

A swift guide...

Hailed by Zane Lowe as a tip for 2015, things seem to be falling into place for JP Cooper.

It’s the least the songwriter deserves. Spending years honing his technique, refining his approach, the Manchester artist matches a soulful delivery to writing which continually challenges.

New EP ‘When The Darkness Comes’ is a broad-ranging return. Essentially rooted in his acoustic guitar, the material nods towards folk, R&B and even hip hop, with JP Cooper gently re-defining his work on a step-by-step basis.

Out today via iTunes, it’s a fascinating return. JP Cooper has kindly penned a track-by-track guide to the EP, outlining his influences, inspirations and techniques. Stream the EP below then find the songwrtiter’s words after the jump.

'Closer'
So, 'Closer' is a song that I wrote during the summer of 2014. I'd spent a couple of weeks in the studio and was really missing my son. It's a difficult thing trying to get a balance between building a future and nurturing the present; but I'm getting better at it… and Closer is a reflection of my search for this balance.

'Satellite'
'Satellite' is a bit of a fictional story of lost love. It kinda speaks for itself. It just started with the word 'satellite' – I kept singing it, whilst humming along to the chords. Sometimes it just starts with one word, which is just asking for you to explore it further.

'When The Darkness Comes'
This one's a bit of a strange one really.. Again it's fictional; it's about a guy that is so hung up on somebody that he can't sleep. The only thing that can give him any peace at night is by running around the streets. He's a bit delirious because of the lack of sleep, and as a result, he builds a bit of a fantasy relationship in his head..

'We Were Raised Under Grey Skies'
This is a very autobiographical song that touches on my family and the roads that life has taken us down. It's mainly based on the relationship I have with my mother.

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'When The Darkness Comes' is out now.

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