Of the track, Cooper shares, “‘Getting Closer’ is the first of a small batch of songs that I had the honor of writing with my friend Michael Nau. I met up with him under a picnic pavilion in the woods nestled away right off of the highway in Eastern Maryland. A really intense rainstorm passed through us all of a sudden, allowing simple yet complicated feelings to fall into words and into a song and memory that I love very much.”
‘Getting Closer’ is from Cooper’s anticipated new album, Hot Sass, which will be released September 3rd via Thirty Tigers (pre-order here). Produced by Benny Yurco (Michael Nau, Grace
Potter & the Nocturnals), mixed by Dan
Molad (Lucius, Emily King) and recorded live at Little Jamaica
Recordings in Burlington, Vermont, the new album marks multiple departures for
Cooper—from her nine-year home of Nashville, from her band addendum of the
Stampede, and from the genre-based expectations she’s accumulated throughout
her career.
With these twelve new songs, including lead single, ‘Slice of Life’,
Cooper comes into her own—both musically and as a person—embracing a newfound
sense of independence, honesty, maturity and creativity. In addition to Cooper
and Yurco, Hot Sass also
features Cooper’s long-time band mates and collaborators Joe Bisirri (bass),
Ryan Usher (drums, percussion) and Michael Libramento (guitar, synthesizer).
Reflecting on the album, Cooper shares, “It's
me learning about what kind of woman I am and it's not pretty all the time… I'm
still processing these songs. Still reflecting. And I think that's the
thing—Hot Sass is just a stamp in time of what was happening in my life. I just
want to continue making art that displays myself, the moments, and the people
around me.”
The new record follows Cooper’s 2018 full-length debut album, Window Flowers, which was released to
widespread critical acclaim. Of the album, NPR Music praised, “a gorgeously arranged and performed bouquet of
psychedelia-tinged folk-rock,” while Rolling
Stone hailed, “Cooper pushes her
strand of folk rock deep into psychedelic territory by merging her
idiosyncratic vocal style with swirling, droning guitar effects and lacerating
solos that feel dusted with otherworldly magic,” and Paste declared, “If we’re
lucky, we are going to hear a lot more artists in the future like Liz Cooper.”
Originally from Baltimore and now based in Brooklyn, Cooper has continued to
tour consistently since her debut, performing alongside artists such as Dr.
Dog, Shakey Graves, Bermuda Triangle, Lord Huron and Phosphorescent as well as
special festival performances at Austin City Limits, Newport Folk Festival,
BottleRock Music Festival, Lockn’ and more.
HOT SASS TRACK
LISTING
1. Slice of Life
2. Heart Shaped Candy
3. Motorcycle
4. Hot Sass
5. Feeling Good
6. Lucky Charm
7. Getting Closer
8. Shoot The Moon
9. Fragile Lips
10. Je T’aime
11. My Oh My
12. Smoke Break
