The fresh new single from Charlie Cooper is a tasteful and bright soul-pop song with an endlessly energetic performance and just tons of passion.
"Playhouse" is packed to the brim with funk, heart, and vibrancy as the keys and guitars jam on, percussion is jazzy and smooth, and that bass drives.
Cooper's vocals are enticing, and alluring as she belts out with a beautiful set of pipes and a style that gives off a touch of Tina Turner among others.
You can't not get down with this groove. It's completely infectious and only gets more intense as it plays on and the band really flows.
"Playhouse" feels like a genuine classic and by the end you're singing along with the chorus and wishing you could play drums they way they sound on the track.
This single has a beautiful tonality to it and a sheen that sounds polished with heart through and through.
The video released with the song is outstanding and showcases the artists character and presence as an performer and as an artist.
With such a powerful release, we wanted to have a chat with Cooper to find out where this all came from.
RAG: Let's start with "Playhouse". This track has a ton of soul and funk undertone in its veins. Where did this track come from?
I wrote it on the piano. I remember just wanting to write something upbeat and peppy and this just came out! RAG: I'm hearing some incredible styles on this song. Who are some of your actual biggest musical influences?
I’ve always listened to a lot of powerful female vocalists. Aretha Franklin, Minnie Ripperton, Merry Clayton, Spanky Wilson, Dusty Springfield, which I guess have mainly influenced this track. But I love the work of all good songwriters. Anything by Burt Bacharach. Then bands like Supertramp, the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, the Carpenters. I love all sorts really but I am definitely drawn to older music. RAG: How did this all start for you?
I’ve always just loved singing. You couldn’t shut me up since the age of about 4. My Dad used to play piano and sing so there was always music in the house. I started piano and songwriting at a young age as well. I was massively influenced by this cartoon in the 80’s called Jem & The Holograms. I just wanted to be a rockstar like Jem! RAG: Do you guys rehearse together?
Will you be focusing on live performances anytime soon? We did a live stream last Saturday night from Matt and Phreds in Manchester. We do rehearse together. Oh dear, Does it sound like we don’t!? (Smiley face). You have to constantly rehearse and play together which we have done for the last 10 years. RAG: What's next for you as an artist?
Keep writing and creating and start gigging again when we can! RAG: The video for "Playhouse" was intense, colorful, and fun! Did it take long to shoot? Did it come out how you expected?
It was a totally last minute thing really. It was a job for a mobile phone company. They wanted to the band to play so they could demonstrate features of the new phone (like the camera and the audio). On the day of filming they decided to use one of my songs so I couldn’t help but try and get a full video of it seeing as we were there and the set was so cool. So I was very happy with it. RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
I love cooking and eating (lol). Also love to run and go on big walks. Any sport where I can aggressively swing a racket is fun. It’s nice to do things where you don’t think about music at all! especially as I teach part time as as well! RAG: Who are you listening to right now?
Dinah Washington RAG: What sort of things inspire you to write a song?
Life experiences, films, books, dreams, other people’s conversations ;). RAG: Can we expect more from you this year?
I hope so! RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Ooh. Erm, thanks! Excellent taste!!? ;)
Comments