Biography
Early exposure to the Stone Roses during the first half of the 1990s prompted guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Jack Cooper to begin creating music, after which he broadened his listening by locating the recordings cited by the group in interviews. His initial notable group, the neo-psych outfit the Beep Seals, came together in 2006 alongside ex-members of Alfie; the band issued singles plus the LP Things That Roar prior to its 2009 dissolution and also functioned as Jim Noir’s backing ensemble. Cooper subsequently launched Mazes purely as a studio endeavor before recruiting bass and drums to enable live performances. The resulting trio, stabilized around Cooper, drummer Neil Robinson, and bassist Conan Roberts, joined FatCat Records and delivered numerous singles together with three well-regarded albums that wove multiple strands of indie rock through Cooper’s expressive guitar lines and forthright vocals.
Beyond the group, Cooper pursued singular endeavors. Under the 2011 banner Art Is Cheap he offered his songwriting services at £10 each, ultimately completing 35 pieces and placing selected highlights online. In November 2012 he composed and tracked an entire album within a single 24-hour window; the resulting Cape Clear appeared the following day. While Mazes supported Veronica Falls in 2013, Cooper formed a musical rapport with that band’s guitarist James Hoare. The pair later overcame early logistical hurdles to establish Ultimate Painting, whose self-titled debut surfaced in October 2014 via U.S. indie label Trouble in Mind. The project occupied Cooper as his primary focus for several years, encompassing consistent touring and three albums across a three-year stretch.
Following that intense period, he shifted toward a more introspective approach for his first proper solo outing. Captured solely on an old four-track without additional assistance, Sandgrown presents Cooper in close-up fashion contemplating his upbringing and formative years in the seaside town of Blackpool; Trouble in Mind issued the album in August 2017.
Beyond the group, Cooper pursued singular endeavors. Under the 2011 banner Art Is Cheap he offered his songwriting services at £10 each, ultimately completing 35 pieces and placing selected highlights online. In November 2012 he composed and tracked an entire album within a single 24-hour window; the resulting Cape Clear appeared the following day. While Mazes supported Veronica Falls in 2013, Cooper formed a musical rapport with that band’s guitarist James Hoare. The pair later overcame early logistical hurdles to establish Ultimate Painting, whose self-titled debut surfaced in October 2014 via U.S. indie label Trouble in Mind. The project occupied Cooper as his primary focus for several years, encompassing consistent touring and three albums across a three-year stretch.
Following that intense period, he shifted toward a more introspective approach for his first proper solo outing. Captured solely on an old four-track without additional assistance, Sandgrown presents Cooper in close-up fashion contemplating his upbringing and formative years in the seaside town of Blackpool; Trouble in Mind issued the album in August 2017.
Albums
Singles
