Gawain Erland Cooper

Gawain Erland Cooper
Background information
Birth name Gawain Erland Cooper
Also known as Erland Cooper
Origin Orkney, Scotland[1]
Genres Alternative rock, folk, folk rock, shoegazing, psychedelic rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, artist, composer, producer
Instruments Guitar, vocals, piano, producer
Years active 2009–present
Labels Full Time Hobby
Associated acts Erland & the Carnival, The Magnetic North
Website ErlandandtheCarnival.com

Gawain Erland Cooper is an Orcadian Scottish artist, composer and producer. He is the frontman of British bands Erland and the Carnival and The Magnetic North, with whom he has released five critically acclaimed albums. The Erland and the Carnival album Nightingale charted at No. 11 on the UK Indie Chart. His latest Erland and the Carnival album Closing Time featured collaborations with Paul Weller and Tim Bran and was recorded at Damon Albarn's studio 13. His latest The Magnetic North album has received critical acclaim in France, Germany and the UK.

Cooper is well known for his contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs, resulting in a "wild pastiche of digital trickery and oral tradition that channels the spirit of '70s progressive rock while staying true to pop-song brevity".[2]

Early life

Cooper was born and raised on the Scottish island Orkney.[1] He was raised with six siblings on the small islands by his parents, describing it as a remote yet creative place to grow up. He left at age 18 to travel, seeing locations like London, New York and Edinburgh.[1] Cooper spent years studying Bert Jansch and Davey Graham, sourcing old British songs from the Vaughan Williams Museum near where he resided, and developing his writing skills.[1]

Music career

Erland and the Carnival

In 2008 he co-founded the band Erland and the Carnival in London with multi-instrumentalist Simon Tong (formerly of The Verve, Blur and The Good, the Bad & the Queen) and drummer/engineer David Nock (The Orb, The Cult, The Fireman, David Gilmour, Paul McCartney).[1]

In 2010 they released their critically acclaimed eponymous debut album, and a year later released Nightingale, which earned 4/5 stars from Allmusic. Nightingale charted at No. 21 on the UK Indie Chart.

The Magnetic North

In 2011 Cooper joined long-term collaborator Simon Tong in forming a band with Hannah Peel

Main article: The Magnetic North

In 2011 he co-founded the British shoegaze band The Magnetic North with Simon Tong and singer, composer and orchestral arranger Hannah Peel.[3] Formed in London, they released their debut album, Orkney: Symphony of the Magnetic North on 6 May 2012.[3][4]

Writing credits

Cooper is best known for his contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs, including most notably "Love Is a Killing Thing", "East and West" and "The Derby Ram" collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Discography

With Erland & the Carnival

Studio albums

With Magnetic North

Studio albums

Other recordings

Further reading

Interviews

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Valish, Frank (21 February 2011). "Erland & The Carnival – Psychedelic Folk Dreams". Under the Radar. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Nightingale – Erland & the Carnival". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 Tyler, Kieron (6 March 2012). "Interview & Video Exclusive: The Magnetic North". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Malone, Ailbhe (5 April 2012). "Indie bands get into the island life". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
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