Local musician fulfills lifelong dream of releasing debut album “World in Vain”
Sophie Demers
Nick Cooper, an Aylmer Resident, originally from the Niagara area, has been slowly releasing his debut album, World in Vain, one song at a time. Cooper describes the album as “a sonic exploration of life's complexities.”
The final track of the album, “Without Love'' is set to be released on September 29th. The song explores Cooper's struggle to let go of faith and encapsulates his battle with hopelessness and existential questions.
“Each song on this record has a very different feel and sound. It’s eclectic, I like to keep the listener in a state of anticipation and surprise. For example, my French song “O Lea” is inspired by Jazz Manouche and is my only French song on the album,” said Cooper.
“Recording an album has been a lifelong dream of mine but it seemed to be elusive. For years I was too busy, I was gigging, or I didn’t have the money at the time. Something always got in the way,” Cooper continued. “Funny enough as we were exiting the pandemic that was when the opportunity presented itself.”
As the pandemic was slowly coming to an end, Cooper and his wife decided to move to Mexico to live with his in-laws and spend time with family. Cooper quit his job, and the family packed up their life and moved down south, where the musician started working on the music for the album.
After another producer fell through, Cooper called up his best friend, Fergus Gundy “Sound Chef”, who was eager to take over the role of producer. In the summer of 2022, Cooper and his wife and daughter came back to Canada to live with Gundy, play music gigs in the Niagara area, and record the album. “It was the most beautiful summer of my life, making this dream come true surrounded by loved ones. Most of the tracks were pieced together in the living room.”
They knew they would stay with Gundy for a few months in the Niagara region but there were little plans for what would happen afterwards. Cooper received an offer to play in an orchestra in Mexico, and there was the opportunity to teach music in Europe. “I believe fate intervened, which brought us here to Quebec, to Aylmer because I got a job teaching. This brought us the stability we needed.” It is here in Aylmer where the details and the final touches of the album were finalized.
The album is composed of 9 songs that the musician says reflect significant moments and epiphanies in his life. Cooper plays all the instruments including keys, bass, guitar, drums, and vocals on the album.
Cooper says music was always all around him as his parents were both musicians. “Music has always been a huge part of who I am as a person. When I was about four, I started playing the drums, which had been my main instrument for years. Then I heard the Beatles and picked up the guitar and started to write songs. I played the bass for a Jazz band in high school and studied the oboe in university.”
For more information on the album or to listen to “World in Vain” visit Nick Coopers website https://www.nickcoopersmusic.com/
Photo caption: Album cover for local musician, Nick Cooper’s debut album “World in Vain”
Photo credit: Courtesy of Nick Cooper Music
