Anyone who has experienced a performance by Drew Cooper knows the powerful sensation that music can evoke. His husky, soul-soaked baritone serves as the foundation of his sound, effortlessly blending the haunting stylings reminiscent of Teddy Pendergrass and classic Motown with the infectious energy of rock ‘n’ roll. Growing up in the Midwest, where classic rock dominated the airwaves, Cooper infuses his music with a hint of country and the gospel influences of his youth. “Americana is the easiest label,” he explains, “but it’s a blanket statement for those of us with our own sound. Am I rock? No. Am I country? No. I just sing and play it how I feel it.”

Cooper’s authentic, down-to-earth demeanor quickly made him a welcomed brother in the Texas Red Dirt music scene, where genuine songwriting is the ultimate currency. “Those Texas guys tell real stories,” he notes. “Mainstream music writes to the masses. They write their lives. It’s all about the song and camaraderie—a potluck mentality. It’s not what you take from the table; it’s what you bring.” With his own street cred in Arizona as a true songwriter, Cooper found a fast track into Texas, where he spends half his time living, writing, and performing among fellow storytellers.

His songs draw from a colorful life, reflecting experiences from becoming a father at 23 to navigating addiction, divorce, and new love. “My life has had its ups and downs, but I’m comfortable sharing it all,” he says. Cooper believes his music embodies positivity, as writing with 20/20 hindsight allows him to extract wisdom from pain. “You don’t have to be unhappy to write good music; you only have to be honest.”

With the release of his acclaimed 2018 album White Horse, Cooper elevated his songwriting to new heights, garnering attention within the artist community. One night, he met Amy Worthen, who had been attending his shows. Her husband, Bryan, is the front-of-house engineer for the Foo Fighters. After some conversation, Worthen invited Cooper to record at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, the Foo Fighters’ home studio. “I felt an urgent need not to suck,” he admits, nervous but excited. In the two years since his last release, he had accumulated a wealth of new material, leading to the recording of his  album This Life, which was released on April 8, 2022.

Cooper’s latest project, Sadder Songs Than You Had Hoped For, is inspired by his touring experiences over the past few years, merging all his influences to create a sound that is uniquely him. Recorded at the renowned Yellow Dog Studios in San Marcos, Texas, and produced by Grammy Award-winner Adam Odor, this album marks a significant step in Cooper’s musical evolution. Songs like “Coming Down The Mountain” showcase the album's musicality, delivering upbeat melodies paired with poignant lyrics that resonate deeply.