Of the song, Cooper shares, “‘Hot Sass’ is a big fuck you to myself. It’s me looking within at the mess I’ve made and then picking up the pieces only to throw them all into my orange furry purse to savour for later. It’s my alter ego, the outcast and glue of the record. The sound of low lows and high highs and the stillness in between.”
The new album has been 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. Hot Sass 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 previously released tracks ‘Slice of Life’ and ‘Getting Closer’, Cooper comes into her
own—both musically and as a person—embracing a newfound sense of independence,
honesty, maturity and creativity.
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.”
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).
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. In support of Hot
Sass, Cooper will be completing an extensive 39-date tour of
the US full dates and tickets can be found here.
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