Earlier this month, breakout country-rocker Devin Cooper kicked off 2023 with a bang, landing an incredible seven nominations for the 2023 Country Music Alberta Awards. Continuing the momentum, today Cooper is sharing his first new music of the year with the release of “The Other Guy.” Giving fans another sneak peek of what’s to come from his sophomore album, the new single showcases the evolution of Cooper’s sound and the depth of his lyrical storytelling as he takes the listener out for a potentially regrettable night on the town.
Is the new track based on a true story? Well, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell, but with today’s release, it’s easy to see why Cooper’s decade of songwriting experience is turning heads. “There is a thrill in doing the opposite of what you’re supposed to do and that is what I wanted to capture with this new track,” said Cooper. “Musically it’s bolder than anything we’ve ever done and lyrically as well. It’s about being careless and doing things on your own terms; letting your rebellious side come out without worrying what the repercussions might be, even if only for one night.”
Written by Cooper and Aaron Pollock, the new track was one he always knew he’d record. “I started playing it live as soon as we wrote it, and there were actually a few times that it got requested again before the night was over,” says Cooper. “I knew that both the song and myself had to grow and evolve before I could release it and with this next musical chapter it finally felt like the timing was right.”
Also premiering today is the official music video for “The Other Guy” with X. Featuring Calgary as a main character, the video pays homage to old Hollywood and is fuelled by reckless abandon with every minute of the cinematic showpiece, following two people chasing a spark and running wild with it. Viewers will be drawn into the story of the duo doing the unexpectedly wrong thing at seemingly the right time, begging the question what would someone do if they knew they would never be caught.
Not one to slow down, tomorrow (Feb. 25) Cooper will host his 4th “Ride To Remember“ charity event in Calgary at Webber Academy. Cooper launched the Ride To Remember initiative in 2019, which consists of a motorcycle ride and concert in support of the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, after watching a close family member struggle with the disease. The inaugural event took place at Ill-Fated Kustoms Motorcycle Shop and raised over $1,500 to help those who are dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Since then, Cooper has continued the event and raised over $12k for the cause. The 4th annual Ride to Remember will include performances by Cooper and other artists, which will be recorded for a future Stampede City Sessions. The goal this year is to raise an impressive $15k.
Humbled by the response surrounding the release of his debut album Good Things last year, Cooper spent 2022 bringing his music across the country to fans, including a performance at the Calgary Stampede. Being honoured for the success of that debut album, Cooper landed a monumental seven nominations for the upcoming Country Music Alberta Awards, making him the most nominated solo artist for 2023. The nominations for this year included Male Artist of The Year, Album of The Year, Music Video of The Year, Community Spirit Award, Interactive Artist of The Year, Fans’ Choice and Visual Creative of The Year. With a start to the year like this, it’s hard to imagine that Cooper is just getting started on what is sure to be an unmatched 2023.
To stay up to date on shows and new music fans are encouraged to check out Cooper at https://www.devincoopermusic.com/.
