Cooper is a self-made, self-taught musician who manages to exist effortlessly within two scenes generally considered to be at varying ends of the sonic spectrum. Learning his craft on the Indie Rock scene, but later connecting with the Sing Out Gospel Gospel Choir, Cooper’s exquisite vocal and adroitly played guitar seamlessly encompasses the best of both worlds. It’s Indie with soul, soul with heart. This is meaningful music from the mind of a man who’s lived life, loss and longing. He defines the idea of what it is to be a truly singular artist who both defies convention and resists comparison. “I don’t want to be seen as a singer/ songwriter because people lump you into that sulky troubadour box,” points out JP with a quick laugh. “I want to be a bit more than that. I want to make great music and grow. I’ve always loved and admired artists that evolve; people like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Björk. Hopefully I can be an artist who will explore and transform in a similar way.”
Though it might seem like music is in his DNA, JP wasn’t bought up in a particularly musical household. However, his Granddad, a commercial artist and dad, also an artist, taught him something that would prove invaluable to his own artistic endeavors in years to come. “My dad went to study at art school and my Granddad told him, ‘Never get a job in art ‘cause it’ll be something that you don’t love anymore. It’ll be a job not a hobby’. That really stuck with me years later when I began to teach myself guitar. You need to know your a,b,c’s, but the main thing is to have fun with it, to play with it like a child would, ignore the rules. The fact I’m completely clueless about what chords I’m playing works in my favour. I’m a complete blagger! But that’s really nice I think; I can stay wide-eyed about it.”
Bought up during the guitar-laden years of Britpop, like many young Manchester teens, JP played in various bands throughout school. Broadening his musical tastes beyond Oasis by regularly visiting eponymous record store, the Vinyl Exchange, it was there the young music enthusiast discovered everything from Björk to Aphex Twin, Donny Hathaway and Rufus Wainwright. Deciding to go solo while at college, JP was finally able to fully draw on his various influences and begin to experiment with the sort of artist he wanted to be. “I realised that I didn’t want to have to rely on anybody – as long as I could play and I could write then I’d be pretty self-sufficient. And I could make the music I wanted to make without having to compromise.” Teaching himself guitar, JP began testing his sound out at Open Mic nights and quickly started getting booked to play all over Manchester. Within a year he rose to selling out 250 capacity venue, the Deaf Institute. However, because he was a white guy with a guitar, he found himself increasingly booked at folk / indie / band nights. Ill at ease in a scene into which he was thrust, slowly his audience began to diversify as the subtleties in his music began to emerge. He joined Manchester’s Sing Out Gospel Choir and released a series of three mixtapes, noticing a growing fanbase within the urban world. Soon he was not only selling out venues like the Gorilla in Manchester, but he was hitting capacity at shows in London too. “As soon I found an outlet into the soul and urban world, everything changed overnight. Since then it’s grown and grown and I’ve found my audience. It’s really nice to be embraced by that world.”
Three years ago, he became a dad for the first time and a year later faced a difficult decision. Supporting himself by working in a bar so he could be with his son every morning and night, when Island Records offered him a development deal, he knew it would mean a lot of travel to London. “I didn’t want to miss any of my son growing up, but I also had to build a future for us both. It got to the point where I’d had this massive dream of doing music and all this amazing stuff was happening, but at the same time I was away from all of the things that are home to me.”
It’s a subject he covers on Closer, found on his 2015 EP, When The Darkness Comes. After signing to Island Records 18 months ago, JP released two EP’s, which combined have had over 5 million plays. The first, Keep The Quiet Out, was produced by the Confectionary [Bonkaz, Jacob Banks]. The most recent (When The Darkness Comes), produced by the duo One-Bit, features six perfectly executed vignettes. The EP is deeply personable yet utterly relatable. “It’s about relationships, people’s struggles, family and the human mind, the weirdness of it, the complexities of it,” explains JP.
He not only has a large online following, but he has a large and loyal live fanbase too. Last year, he sold out four headline shows in London, including the The Scala the Village Underground and Koko. The EP’s, along with his engaging live performances, have won JP a legion of fans as disparate as his sounds; the likes of Boy George, The Cast Of EastEnders, Maverick Sabre, Sean Mendez and Stormzy have all sung his praises, while recent collaborations with the likes of George the Poet have seen Cooper diversify a little into the spoken world arena. “It’s not my world at all but it’s taught me loads,” he muses. “The whole imagination behind it all inspires me to want to be better.”
Next up is JP’s debut album proper which promises to be bigger and bolder affair, while retaining a sense of simplicity and honesty. Featuring elements of Hip Hop, stand-up soul and Country-inflected guitar, there will also be some unexpected twists and turns. JP isn’t an artist that deals in the formulaic, the predictable or the conventional. “It’s going to be bold,” he decides. “I’ve enjoyed some spot plays on Radio and I know I’m lucky to have those because what I do really doesn’t sound like anything else on there. I’d like to carry on down that route. I don’t want my music to sound like everything else that’s being put out at the minute.”
JP Cooper isn’t the sort of artist to list his ambitions as being awards and accolades. That’s not why he makes music. He’s isn’t here to make cookie-cutter sounds that cynically appeal to a mass market. Rather he wants to challenge the idea’s of what music people should – and shouldn’t – be making. “There’s no façade. I’m just somebody who lives life and writes about it. It’s a human experience. I’m not untouchable,” he points out. “I think people trust what I do because of the way that I am; there’s no front. I think that makes people want to find out more. Hopefully when they do find out more, they’ll like what they hear. I know nothing’s promised, and I know I’ve been doing this for a few years now, but it feels just like the beginning. And that’s really exciting.”
However, he was hailed as ‘Future Sound of 2015’ by BBC Radio One’s Zane Lowe, supported soul singer Angie Stone, sold out a UK tour of his own, and had a coveted slot at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.
His EP 'When The Darkness Comes' was reviewed in 2015 as "combining folk, blues, soul and gospel, ... [showcasing] Cooper’s talent for both songwriting and lyricism which releases true emotion – not only for himself but also the listener."
Sources:
This info was taken from when he was featured in The Telegraph and listed for his gig at The Cluny in Newcastle upon Tyne.
In These Arms
JP Cooper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I can't believe my luck, hey
Sun setting through the curtains
And, darling, you look perfect tonight
I just want to hold you
Wish I could freeze-frame the moment, hey
Everything is golden
As the lights go down, it's only you
The very last scene, baby, just you and me
I'm asking softly
Is this love out?
In these arms, I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms, I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms
I watch you putting on your make-up
Ain't no childish love, this is for grown-ups, hey
Lately you don't really say much
You've got me thinking crazy, no, I'm cool, we're fine
We don't got not problems
Sweep them under the rug until the next time, hey
Everything is golden
And, darling, you look perfect tonight
I can never leave ya
Even when you're acting like a diva, I need ya
But I've been thinking lately is this love out?
In these arms, I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms, I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms
Got no freedom in these arms
Oh, this prison hasn't got no bars
But freedom never felt so far
I ain't never gonna save my heart
(I ain't never gonna save my heart) hey
No, this prison hasn't got no bars
But freedom never felt so far
I ain't ever gonna save my heart
I ain't ever gonna save my heart
In these arms, I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms, I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms
These arms
In these arms
In these arms
In these arms, hm
In these arms
The lyrics of JP Cooper's song 'In These Arms' give listeners a glimpse into his romantic relationship. The song starts off with the singer admiring his lover as she puts on her makeup. He feels blessed to be with her and wishes he could freeze the moment. The reference to the sun setting through the curtains and everything being golden indicates that the singer is enjoying a romantic moment with his lover. He compares their relationship to a movie, with them being the two protagonists in the last scene. He then wonders if what he feels for his lover is love or not.
The second part of the song picks up on a different chord. The singer realizes that he is in a relationship where he is not entirely free. He is stuck and unable to move on from the relationship, despite feeling like he is living in a prison. The lyrics 'In these arms, I can dance, but your heart beats a cold rhythm' further emphasize this point. He acknowledges the fact that the love he feels is a 'prison' because he cannot feel free while still in it. He then repeats that 'this prison hasn't got no bars,' implying that though he can leave anytime, his feelings are holding him back.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch you putting on your make up
I admire you getting ready and how lucky I am to have you
Sometimes I can't believe my luck, hey
I feel like the luckiest person to have you in my life
Sun setting through the curtains
The beautiful scenery and moment we share together
And, darling, you look perfect tonight
You look absolutely beautiful tonight
I just want to hold you
All I want is to be close to you and feel your love
Wish I could freeze-frame the moment, hey
I wish we could stay in this moment forever and never let go
Everything is golden
Everything is perfect and magical in this moment
As the lights go down, it's only you
Nothing else matters but you and the love we share
'Cause this is like a movie
Our love feels like a beautiful movie and this is the perfect ending
The very last scene, baby, just you and me
We are the only ones in this moment and it's just us
I'm asking softly
I want to ask if this is true love and if it will last forever
Is this love out?
Is our love real and here to stay?
In these arms, I can dance
I feel safe and comforted in your embrace
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
You seem distant and uninterested in the love we share
Unforgiven
I feel like I've done something wrong and can't be forgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
I feel trapped and bound in this relationship
In these arms, I feel love
Despite the difficulties, I still feel the love we share
I'm surviving, this ain't living
Even though I'm still here, I don't feel like I'm really living
It's a prison
Being in this relationship feels like being in a prison
Oh, this prison hasn't got no bars
I don't physically feel trapped, but emotionally I do
But freedom never felt so far
I feel completely trapped and unable to escape
I ain't never gonna save my heart
I'm giving my all to this relationship and not holding back
(I ain't never gonna save my heart) hey
I won't ever hold back my emotions because I love you too much
No, this prison hasn't got no bars
Again, I don't physically feel trapped, but emotionally I do
Got no freedom in these arms
I feel bound and trapped in our relationship
In these arms
Despite the difficulties, I still crave your love and affection
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel John D. Bryer, Jamie Scott, John Paul Cooper, Michael David Needle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessicaoshell5518
"In These Arms"
I watch you putting on your make up
Sometimes I can't believe my luck, hey
Sun setting through the curtains
And, darling, you look perfect tonight
I just want to hold you
Wish I could freeze-frame the moment, hey
Everything is golden
As the lights go down, it's only you
'Cause this is like a movie
The very last scene, baby, just you and me
I'm asking softly is this love out?
In these arms
I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms
I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms
I watch you putting on your make-up
Ain't no childish love, this is for grown-ups, hey
Lately you don't really say much
You've got me thinking crazy, no, I'm cool, we're fine
We don't got not problems
Sweep them under the rug until the next time, hey
Everything is golden
And, darling, you look perfect tonight
I can never leave ya
Even when you're acting like a diva, I need ya
But I've been thinking lately is this love out?
In these arms
I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms
I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms (Got no freedom)
In these arms
Oh this prison hasn't got no bars
But freedom never felt so far
I ain't never gonna save my heart, hey
No, this prison hasn't got no bars
But freedom never felt so far
I ain't ever gonna save my heart
I ain't ever gonna save my heart
In these arms
I can dance
But your heart beats a cold rhythm
Unforgiven
Got no freedom in these arms
In these arms
I feel love
I'm surviving, this ain't living
It's a prison
Got no freedom in these arms (These arms)
In these arms (In these arms)
In these arms
In these arms
@tuhafeninghipumbwa3655
This man is really blessed with a great voice.
@MatenguCee828
Oushishi🔥
@crystalatkinson6331
Tuhafeni Nghipumbwa this man is blessed with a broken life/heart to make some of the best lyrics I’ve heard in a long time!!!!!!
@paps216
Really true
@ligalapina6738
Un kā tos ar viņu pašu var
@wimarndinheaven9567
His voice is like a cotton candy... it's soft and it melts
@tiberiusbulichi556
J
@sinenhlanhlamhlongo9868
That is so true
@prathik6048
Sometimes I wonder why he's so underrated and I comfort myself by saying he has got less but loyal fans
@roxanejaoul5826
Test your understanding ot this song on lyricstraining.com ;) Don't forget to be a zero hunger hero during your free time on freerice.com and on goodeed.com