Rising Stars: Meet Tom Cooper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Cooper.

Hi Tom, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Music was always a fundamental aspect of my life. The sky was the limit when it came to the sheer number of different genres of music I was exposed to as a small child. From Simon & Garfunkel to LED Zeppelin, the spectrum was infinite and my taste and desire to experience more and more only grew from there. It wasn’t long before my fondness of the harder sounds of rock and metal lead me to discovering drum and bass and hardcore/happy hardcore. From there I began to uncover an entirely new realm of music I had otherwise no knowledge of. House, trap, dubstep, it was all brand new and I ate it all up. However, it wasn’t until arriving home shortly after EDC 2013 that I fully realized my passion and began djing and producing. Over the course of the next few years, it was an endless stream of YouTube tutorials on how to use FL Studio and slamming my face into my keyboard for hours only to come out the other end with nothing. I also slowly formed connections and built relationships with local collectives, venues and promoters in order to get bookings and to get my name out in front of a crowd. Eventually, I acquired enough equipment to be able to host my own events and to collaborate and host events in tandem with other promoters and venues.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s a well-known fact that the music business is one of the most brutally competitive industries on earth. I don’t even feel like I’m going out on a limb to say that every single artist who has made it into the Beatport top 10 this year has eaten more than their share of the industry sheet. I have for sure eaten plenty! From getting kicked off stage mid-set due to double bookings to greedy and money-hungry promoters, the entirety of the music scene is rampant with people who are only looking out for themselves. That’s the case for every industry. What they don’t want you to know is you can remedy that all ugliness by surrounding yourself with people who bring the love and the good vibes. DJ Susan and the absolute legends over at Hood Politics Records are the quintessential examples of the amount of positivity, love, and healing that music can bring to the world. Labels and collectives like theirs are also a massive sources of inspiration for myself, as well as aspiring DJs and producers all over the world.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I produce House, breaks, drum and bass, and trap. I get my inspiration from all over and from a multitude of different mediums. Other artists’ music, shorts and films, as well as pop culture all influence me in different and often unpredictable ways. I’ll hear a sound from a movie trailer or get a vibe from something I see walking my dog. I honestly enjoy not knowing where my next source of inspiration will come from. I believe that sort of spontaneity adds to my ability to have a fresh take on a new remix or to finish an old project that has been just sitting. Approaching each project a little differently each time in that way, I think allows me to produce and create in my own lane. I also recently started an event company called LittleSaturdayLA (@littlesaturdayla) which serves as the brand for my newly acquired weekly residency at the Overlook Bar & Kitchen in Silverlake. Looking to the already well established LA based event companies as inspiration, I’m working to build a community around the growing interest in all forms of electronic music. I envision LittleSaturdayLA becoming the social media corner stone for the community. A safe space where house heads, bass heads and all the other genre heads in between can come together and experience all the gems that the city of Los Angels has to offer. Come see what LittleSaturday has to offer you every Wednesday night at our home base, the Overlook Bar & Kitchen!

What makes you happy?
There is absolutely nothing like the feeling of being at the helm of a riled-up crowd that just came to let loose and party. Being in command of the energy and flow of the night through the music can legit make me feel like I’m flying. Sharing and showcasing new and previously unheard music to an energized and vivacious crowd is such a rush, I don’t know what could top it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom.rockamora/
• SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/tom-rockamora