Q&A: Country rocker Devin Cooper on giving back, motorcycles, and playing bucket list gigs
Photo provided.
He may only be in his mid-20s, but Alberta's Devin Cooper has been cutting his teeth in the country music realm for years.
His first official single "No Chasing You" was released in 2017 and since then, the country rocker has steadily garnered a mix of award nominations and accolades including beingnamed as a semi-finalist in SiriusXM Top of the Country 2022. He has also shared the stage with acts like Jade Eagleson, Aaran Pritchett and more.
Starting 2023 with a bang, Devin Cooper is the most nominated male artist for the upcoming 2023 CMAB Awards, and he's set to release a new single, "The Other Guy" along with its official music video on February 23.
We had a chance to chat with the Calgary-based musician about his upcoming Ride To Remember fundraiser in support of Alzheimer Society of Calgary, his favourite gig in recent memory, overused phrases in country music and more.
You and Nice Horse lead the 2023 CMAB Awards nomination count with seven apiece. How does that feel?
It’s unreal, and incredibly humbling, to be acknowledged amongst so many amazing artists in Alberta. When we made my last record Good Things, we didn’t really follow any rules. We just made the record we wanted to make, regardless of what the outcome would be.
To be acknowledged and considered for Album Of The Year is pretty damn cool. It’s really cool to be recognized, and have my team acknowledged for all the hard work they’ve done, as well as fans, friends, and family that have helped get me to where I currently am.
How do you think provincial music award systems like the CMABs help to grow an independent artist’s career?
I think they’re instrumental in the development and growth of the music community. All ships rise with the tide, so when someone gets a win, it turns into a win for everyone. We write together, play shows together, and all want to see each other win.
You’re a busy guy and always on stage or in the studio. What was your favourite gig of the past year?
There were so many unreal gigs over the past year, but I would have to say that my Good Things album release show at Calgary’s King Eddy was probably one of the best.
It was a sold-out crowd, so the place was jam-packed, and we kicked off the night with an acoustic set for VIP guests. It was pretty rad to have people singing along to the songs that had literally just come out on the record.
Photo via Devin Cooper’s Facebook page.
Give us one bucket list music festival you'd love to play one day.
I won’t give you an exact festival, but I’ll give you a location. I would love to play at Red Rocks Amphitheatre one day. Whatever festival takes me there, I’m in!
What's the most overused statement or phrase in country music?
Wll, pretty much every single line in my song “Country Cliché” is an overused phrase or statement in country music. Ha, ha, ha!
When can we expect new music from you?
I am dropping a brand new single on Friday, February 24 called “The Other Guy”, along with a music video!
Click on single artwork to pre-save “The Other Guy”.
Your 4th annual Ride to Remember fundraiser is happening on February 25. How did it start and how has it grown?
I started as an official volunteer with Alberta Health Services when I was 7 years old. My mother is a registered nurse at the Olds Continuing Care and brought me to work with her on many occasions. As the years went on, I found that bringing my music to the residents was incredibly fulfilling.
For the past 10 years, I have been playing on a regular basis for the residents of the facility. I have also had personal experience with the struggle that this disease brings, with my great grandpa, great uncle, and friend's parents that have battled dementia.
It has always been my goal to provide both financial support and awareness through my annual Ride to Remember charity event. Over the past 3 years, we have raised over $12,000, and this year, we are hoping to raise $15,000!
Even if people can't attend the show, they can still donate to the cause online.
The fundraiser is also part of the Stampede City Sessions, a live-to-tape concert that will air on on PBS. Are you expecting anything to be different about performing in this format as opposed to being at a “regular” venue?
I think all of the cameras flying around will be the main difference!
It’s cool that we also get to have an in-person audience to share the evening’s live taping experience with, so we’re not just performing to cameras. It will really help set the energy of the night over the top.
You grew up around motorcycles. If your music was a motorcycle, which make and model would it be?
It would be a custom-built Harley Davidson chopper. A chopper is built from a bunch of pieces and parts from different motorcycles. You take those pieces and parts, modify them, and figure out how to make them work together to create a new custom motorcycle.
I feel like my music is a reflection of a ton of different musical styles of music that have inspired me over the years. We have taken pieces of those different musical genres and figured out how to bring them together to create my sound.
