Spotlight.
Rue Cooper
INTRODUCTION
Rue Cooper is a singer-songwriter from Nassau, Bahamas. Now based in Edinburgh, Rue’s love for music was apparent from age 2 when she frequently communicated with her parents through song. Fortified by childhood piano and saxophone lessons, Rue’s musicality led her to musical theatre and orchestra in grade school and to begin songwriting as a young teenager. Classic gospel chord influences are evident in Rue’s style as an emerging vocalist bringing a reimagined, modern take on Soul, Motown, & Disco to Edinburgh and beyond. Rue’s musical influences include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and Adele — to name a few — as she believes that singing’s true beauty lies in its ability to express intimate, authentic messages. Currently, Rue is the vocalist and songwriter for The World Before, an Edinburgh-based alternative soul band whose messaging is all about collective healing.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into your creative practice? What initially inspired you?
Songwriting has always been present in my life. I loved reading and writing as a child, and as I grew, that passion developed into experimenting with all different kinds of writing outputs (poetry, short stories, blog posts, etc). Desiring a new method of self-expression, I started songwriting when I was about 14. I regarded it as a private hobby, and although I kept songwriting throughout my teens and my university years, I never considered it a serious passion. In 2021, I came to Edinburgh to start my master's, and fate had it that this transition came just 3 weeks after a deeply painful, life-threatening experience. After reflection, I realized that I chose my original career path of diplomacy as a way to receive external validation, and I was tired of living for others. In that moment, I chose my personal freedom and returned to my suppressed dream of being a performer!
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?
I value authenticity! The most prominent themes in my songs reflect the topics that are most present in my personal life. For example, womanhood (and gender performance at large!) is a theme I return to often. Patriarchy dominated my life, and I'm curious to know who I am outside of the assigned confines I grew up under. I also gravitate towards romance, but specifically topics of intimacy and connection — the confusion and liberation that comes in navigating interpersonal relationships. A new theme that's coming up is intergenerational patterns and trauma. In my personal experience growing up in The Bahamas, there was always the tendency to keep things private and "in the family," — a mentality that isn't unique to the country, but nevertheless contributed to a culture where openness was frowned upon. When we lose our ability to be open, we lose the opportunity to be held accountable & grow, or find comfort and understanding in community. I view songwriting as my personal reckonings.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
It's so hard to pick! I'll go with "Be My Lover." It's the latest song put out by my band — The World Before —, and the recording process was completely independent. We recorded the drums in our studio, and put all other instrumentation together at home before sending it to a friend for mixing and mastering. It's a song that we're all proud of; its message of loving without posing is timely, and it was very rewarding to see ourselves grow as musicians and as a band throughout the process. It was also empowering to realize that we didn't need an extravagant recording process to have a result that we all love!
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?
Dream! Joy is revolution, and as creatives of colour, we owe it to ourselves to pursue lives beyond colonial, patriarchal (and even familial) limits. Who would you be outside the status quo of what's expected of you? Choosing your creativity doesn't have to mean uprooting your life, but it does start with taking the first step. If it's songwriting specifically that someone is looking to get into, I would also say to avoid self-censorship. Your creative practice should nurture yourself first and foremost, and it doesn't have to be for anyone else but you. As you begin, it's very important to protect yourself and your work. The safer you feel in your creations, the more empowered and daring you become!
What are you currently working on?
My debut EP! I'm taking February to go through the final song selection. I think it's a bit too soon to say when it'll be out, but there will be a single dropping sooner rather than later! All the themes I've addressed throughout this interview will be core parts of the EP, and I'm so excited for it to come into the world! It's taken a bit longer than originally expected to reach this point, but I'm grateful for the journey.
Photo Credit: @jack.v.photography