Pied Piper Records Sign Koopa

Pied Piper Records sign Koopa for a four album deal and Confirm Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 signs on to produce album

Eva Oyon

Date published: 26th Mar 2008

Pied Piper Records, Nashville, USA have confirmed that Koopa will join forces with Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus to produce their debut album. The band recently joined the label’s roster, signing a four-album deal. Over the past year, Koopa has made music history by becoming the first ever unsigned band to make it into the UK Top 40. They have had three singles in 2007 chart in the UK top 40, most recently reaching number 16 with their latest release “The Crash” in November 2007.

With Blink 182 being a major influence on Koopa, the band are excited to have the opportunity to work with Mark Hoppus on the album. Mark is well known for producing Blink-182 and +44, but he has also produced albums for New Found Glory, Simple Plan and Motion City Soundtrack"They will cut the record at the Los Angeles studio owned by Hoppus and Travis Barker. Long-time Rick Rubin protégé Chris Holmes (Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Stadium Arcadium), will engineer the record.

The three-piece band combines the talent of brothers Ollie Cooper (guitar and vocals) and Stu Cooper (drums) along with Joe Murphy (bass and vocals). Koopa, who originally formed in 2002, has taken the UK by storm and created a buzz seldom seen by an unsigned band. Their eclectic mixture of punk, pop and rock has seen them develop into the most exciting act in the UK music scene today. Craig Cumming, President of Pied Piper Records, has anxiously awaited the addition of the group to the label.

“Koopa is one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. Their success so far as an independent, unsigned group is admirable. We are proud to be their label and look forward to bringing the world their music for years to come” said Cumming.

Koopa capped an amazing 2007 by winning 3 awards at The Glasswerk Music Award in London late last year and the band also recorded with the likes of Christian Wright, who has recently worked on projects with Kaiser Chiefs, Graham Coxon, Biffy Clyro and Hot Chip.

Work on their album is due to start in early April 2008. A tour of the USA will follow the album’s release including a performance at Wave on March 15^th 2008 as part of the infamous South By Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX. Shows in the UK and Australia will also follow.

See Koopa online at www.myspace.com/koopa