I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Cooper Ramsey, one of the youngest artists to ever play Summerfest. She’s starting her career off at the young age of sixteen and has already gained a following. I spoke with her directly after she played the US Cellular stage on June 22, and her performance was amazing. Her beautiful voice lifted over the crowd, and you could see people in the audience singing along. She’s going places, so be sure to check her out!

ME: Tell me about yourself – introduce yourself.

COOPER: Hi, my name is Cooper Ramsey. I’m a 16 year-old country singer-songwriter, and I’m living in Nashville, Tennessee. 

ME: What made you decide you wanted a career in music?

COOPER: I grew up in a musical house and I’ve always loved music. I was a kid with a lot of anxiety and OCD, and music was always my outlet for that. I’ve been a poet for a very long time, and played guitar since I was young as well. 

ME: Who inspires your music, artists you aspire to be like? 

COOPER: Oh, goodness. Mainly country, however, Kesha is a non-country inspirational mind. I just think she’s so cool and broke a lot of barriers. And then country — so older country, I’m gonna go, Tom Waits, George Strait and Kel- uh, sorry, that’s newer, and Dolly, of course. And then newer, Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler Childers, and Morgan Wallen.

ME: What does the creative process look like for you? 

COOPER: It’s different every time. I wish there was more of a strict formula, but for me, you know, it can start with a riff on the guitar. It can start with a line. It can start with a poem. I, I would say 90% of the time, probably a little less… I would say, 60% of the time, it starts from a poem for me. 

ME: Any specific poems, artists, writers? 

COOPER: Really, when I write poems, I write poems every night, and sometimes I’ll just have an idea that’ll really inspire me, and I’ll write it the next day or the next week.

ME: So, the poems you write, or?

COOPER: Poems I write, yes. 

ME: Where do you hope to be in five or ten years from now? 

COOPER: Oh my goodness. I hope to be playing across the country and having people in the crowd know the words to my songs. And sing them back – that, that’s the dream, because that will mean that I’ve impacted people with music the way music has impacted me. 

ME: What’s your favorite song you’ve released, and why is it so important to you? 

COOPER: Oh, my favorite song that I’ve released, I would have to say is “Bulletproof.” The first song I ever released, or “Kayleigh,” so those are my top two. I just think “Bulletproof” is such a jam, and you know, very special, being the first song, and “Kayleigh” is the first song I released that is fully, start to finish my own writing, my own music, no co-writers, just me. So, I’m incredibly proud of that. 

ME: What do you want your fans to take away from this interview, or do you have any advice for someone who wants to take the same career path as you?

COOPER: Honestly, just start it. You’re never gonna be where you want to be if you don’t start. I know, you know, it’s discouraging when you’re, like, oh well, they’re so much further along. For young artists, especially, like, just start, just pick up the guitar, pick up a piece of paper, try, whatever you want to do to get there, but you gotta start somewhere and remember that it’s okay to be new.

ME: What can we anticipate from you later this year? 

COOPER: I am hoping, you know, I’m thinking about my debut EP. So? We can see, hopefully that. And then, more shows, more performances, and really just getting my name out into the world.

ME: Any last notes? 

COOPER: Um, if you like country music, Cooper Ramsey is me on every streaming platform and Cooper Ramsey music is all my social media. So, if you want to follow me along my journey, I’d be incredibly grateful for all of that.

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