With the release of his debut EP just around the corner, we got the chance to catch up with Jack Cooper - a singer-songwriter who combines everything from The Beach Boys, Donovan, Big Star, Elliott Smith and Serge Gainsbourg. So far, Jack's only recorded ouput has been a track for Twisted Nerve's Jukebox Series and along with frequent touring, his 'Hope I Don't Cry' track quickly saw Jack become one of the hottest tipped artists of 2004. His debut EP proper, 'Turn The Light Off', is released next week on July 19th through My Dad Recordings.

To coincide with the EP, a launch party takes place on July 18th at Matt & Phreds in Manchester. Support comes from Sam & Me and Nathan Burton, as well as a Badly Drawn Boy DJ set and compere for the evening is Phoenix Nights star, Justin Moorhouse.

For more information, check out the Jack Cooper website.
For more info on his Jukebox single appearance, check out the - Twisted Nerve label.

Hi Jack, how are things?

Not so bad. It's raining and I just got drenched, so that was a bad start. But other than that things are pretty fine.

The launch party for your debut EP takes place this Sunday, are you looking forward to it and do you think it will be a good night? Do you feel there's any pressure as the spotlight is entirely on you?

I've got a couple of gigs before then so I'm worried about them at the moment, but I imagine I'll be superpumped come Sunday morning...I hadn't felt any pressure until I read this question and now I do, so thanks.

Besides your slot, you also have Badly Drawn Boy DJ'ing and Justin Moorhouse from Phoenix Nights as compere...that's a bit bizarre, how did all that come about? Any other surprises we can expect?

There's going to be loads of surprises, competitions and free stuff. I don't think we're expecting any more local legends except Damon and Justin Moorhouse, but we shall see. Justin Moorhouse is coming to do the tombola, cos he loves them supposedly.

Was it fun making the video for the single? Did it make you feel like a big-time pop star?

Kind of...It was bizarre that something was being made on such a big scale, for a song that I'd written whilst walking to the shops or something. The lads who made it, are friends of ours from Liverpool and came up with the idea based on the 'stay at home' line in the song. I've no idea where the puppet idea came from and I think they regretted it by about the second day because the puppet was a little bastard to control.

How is the recording of the album going and when can we expect it to be released?

We're going to start recording the album in the next few weeks. I've assembled a crack team of Manchester's finest musicians, who just happen to be mates who live near me, to record the album. The next EP will be out in winter and the album should follow in the spring to brighten it up a bit

If the debut EP contains 4 tracks, roughly how many songs have you written altogether? Was it easy to choose the album tracks?

Well, they're not chosen yet. I've got about 25 - 30 in total so I think we'll record about twenty and whittle it down to about 12 for the album. I like albums that you can listen to in one sitting, ones that you can listen to in their entirity before you go to work or while your eating your tea, so that's the aim. My favourite albums are all like that...The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, The Stone Roses, Big Star's #1 Record.

Does it bother you that people seem to think you're just another Badly Drawn Boy or Aidan Smith, seeing as your music is blatantly nothing like either?

I don't think we sound alike but I do think we have things in common, and I can see me appealing to fans of their's, but that's about it really. Badly Drawn Boy was and is quite a big influence, his attitude as much as his music. He's someone who has done what he wants to do, all along, without really considering what the NME or whatever thinks. And I think that's something to admire nowadays. I think Aidan's great aswell, there's a song on his album, which I think is called 'Every Time I Lean I Fall Asleep' and it's brilliant.

So if you don't sound like them, who are your influences?

Lots of things, I'm influenced by pretty much every single bit of music I've ever heard, even if it's in a 'what not to do' way. I'd say my main influences, stuff I come back to time and time again would be Big Star, Todd Rundgren, The Beatles and Beach Boys obviously, The Band, Harry Nilsson, David Crosby, Serge Gainsbourg & Jane B...loads of stuff.

Are you really the tallest man in the world?

Probably... I should put it to better use shouldn't I, like being a basketball player, fireman or circus freak.

All of your songs are dead catchy, was this your intention? Your tunes are bad as the Sugababes for sticking in your head for days...

I like to live with songs for a while before I record or demo them. So they have to be catchy for me to remember them. It's an accident I suppose or a product of the way I write, but it's something I'm dead glad about. Maybe I could write songs for the Sugababes though, saying that, I don't think I'm sassy enough.

You've been getting a lot of attention lately, has it all gone to your head yet?

I'm not the person to ask

Cheers for your time and good luck with the EP release and launch party, we'll see you there!

Thanks Jon & Juliet...bye!