Published: May 2, 2009 9:47 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Cooperblack
Cooperblack Cooperblack's album cover for "My Art is Bleeding" "Mexican Wrestler" image by David Collins
We recently spoke to Jeremy Conlon of Cooperblack about the band and what has made them so successful for almost 20 years. The band was originally formed in the early 1990's, influenced mainly by art school sound projects. Jeremy is the main songwriter, voice, and producer behind Cooperblack and his degree in Composition has shaped the style and sound of Cooperblack. In this recent interview with Jeremy Conlon of Cooperblack, the multi-talented entertainer talks music with our Webzine.
Isaac: How do you sum up 2008 for Cooperblack?
Cooperblack: 2008 for Cooperblack saw another year of change and exciting times. We released "My Art Is Bleeding" in June and played a lot of shows to support it. I guess the most exciting part was putting that release together, and writing for it. We had a drummer change (always seem hard to hold), so that was fun incorporating the new style of a different drummer, things can sound so different! We had some good airplay on Australia's Triple J Radio network, which is always a bonus.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in Darwin Northern Territory, Australia.
Cooperblack: Darwin is a small place, with a population of around 130,000 at the peak of our dry season; It is in the tropical north of Australia, the most northern city in fact. We are closer to Asia than we are to Sydney or any other major city. Due to its size, the musicians here really support each other, with gigs, gear and performers. We only have a few venues here, so you end up playing a lot at the same places, but because it is a bit of a tourist spot, you also play to a lot of people from all over the world. No particular styles really, all over the shop actually, form Desert Surf music, Reggae Rock, Hip Hop, Metal, Japanese Pop Rock, Folk, ELECTRONIC, Emo...we have it all!!!
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Cooperblack: Biggest accomplishment would be getting good national airplay on community radio and national radio, playing the Darwin Festival and Music NT Showcase, getting in the top 100+1 on Adelaide's Three D Radio.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Cooperblack: I come from a rock pop background, but also have a degree in Music Composition (Classical), so my influence are all over the shop. I really like Bowie, the way he handles the industry, his music, his theatre and most of his films, and I really like old school free jazz, like Ornette Coleman, really free music. Modern classical composers like Cage, John Adams, Terry Riley, Brian Eno for his big mix and long term outlook of everything, I am so excited as am going to hear him talk in Sydney in June......inspirational!!!...lately as well music like Anti Pop Consortium, Deltron 3030, Beans, intelligent Hip Hop........that's the Sci- Fi geek in me.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Cooperblack: I feel I will bring the combines influence of everything I know, do, hear and see.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Cooperblack: Because I really like to produce music as well, it would be an equal producer, engineer and artists. Someone like Eno, I could get all arty and still feel good! Really, I enjoy working with many people, everyone has a unique thing about them… You just gotta find it if it's not immediately evident.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Cooperblack: Cooperblack is what it is at a given point in time, influenced by who is around and what we are all listening to. At the moment it is rock and pop, driving bass lines, synth hooks and wailing voice. If you like the Cure, Bowie, Talking Heads, Gang Of Four or Kraftwerk, you might like us.
Isaac: What is your definition for Rock Music?
Cooperblack: Rock I guess is guitars, bass, drums and voice, pounding out an instantly recognizable beat, usually 4 of them, but not always. Hard question...or maybe really simple.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from your previous releases?
Cooperblack: I have received some good feedback from older releases, strange feedback and not so positive feedback, one of my favourite being for a single release called Presbus..."Presbus at first sounds like a fascinating trip hop take on jazz, until it descends into hell, sounding not unlike a basket full of wailing, screaming, meowing cats." COOPERBLACK "PRESBUS" BEAT Magazine 16th Feb 2000.
Isaac: What can fans expect from Cooperblack in 2009?
Cooperblack: We have a new release in June call "24 HOUR ELECTRONIC", a digital only release, plus some film clips to accompany some of these songs, a live EP release, which will be a free download, recorded at the Darwin Entertainment Center. Some shows in Darwin, a gig at the Darwin Festival and hopefully in other parts of Australia.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans?
Cooperblack: Hello to the other Cooperblack bands out there, I belive there are 3, ;-), my band members and family, Wonwing, 2Cats 1Hat, all the Darwin Musicians, Happy Yess and YOU for reading this, come and see us if you get to Australia...the top end in the Northern Territory..Darwin!!
Isaac: Final words from Cooperblack…
Cooperblack: Let's start a conversation.......and keep it going.
