Cooper’s Run now a trio
There’s a new strum in Cooper’s Run after a third member has joined the original duo consisting of former Matamata man Michael Tipping and his wife Ashley Cooper.
Talented guitarist and vocalist Dan Cosgrove, who had previously played back-up guitar for the duo at various gigs, officially joined the country band last month, just in time for the upcoming release of their first album together.
Dan said he was stoked to be asked to join as this has opened up new opportunities for both himself and the band.
‘‘We want to start a bit more work in Australia and focus on getting into the music scene there. Already there are a lot of good duos there, so adding Dan to our band was about having a point of difference and being able to offer something else,’’ Ashley said.
Dan comes with outstanding credentials, having won a number of New Zealand’s country music awards including best instrumentalist at the internationally renowned NZ Gold Guitar Awards following his nomination for the Horizon Award ( Best New Talent) at the NZ Country Music Awards in 2010.
Ashley said he adds a new dynamic to Cooper’s Run with his heavier guitar tones and style, which gives the band a new and effective tone.
‘‘ I’m looking forward to working with these guys. I have known them as a duo and always seen so much potential in them,’’ Dan said.
Dan will now join them at every gig , with the next big thing being the promotion of their new album.
Their new album, Unfinished, set to be released at the beginning of February, has been in the works for a number of years and was recently recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
‘‘ We were able to choose songs from the catalogue at Orbison Publishing in Nashville and find what we like and what was suited to us, then we had the chance to record them,’’ Ashley said.
For their new album they have modernised their style a bit to become more ‘‘ pop country’’.
‘‘It’s quite Taylor Swift or Lady Antebellum – a bit more pop country,’’ Ashley said.
‘‘ After spending time in Nashville we have seen what country music has become, and although we love and cherish the traditional country music, for us to break into the US market or the Australian market we need to be sounding a certain way, while still maintaining our own style.’’
Last year the band’s original pair returned to New Zealand from a six-month stint performing on a Carnival Cruise Liner based in Florida and servicing the eastern and western Caribbean, Mexico and grand Bahamas. Ashley said this was a pivotal time for the duo, who launched Cooper’s Run there, as their style developed into what it is today.