In this interview spotlight, I chat with Coppe Cantrell about the music, motivations, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?
I am from Pasadena/Altadena Ca, which we all call Dena. I grew up there, I went to John Muir High School in Pasadena. I’ve lived in Southern Ca, for most of my life. I would describe my style of music Non-Compromising Christian Contemporary Music. I have an edge to my music, though it is a mix of hip hop, pop, rock, as you can hear in the music track, I have an eclectic style. My vocal style is a pretty unique one, I don’t mock anyone, but I do have a raspy voice, that sounds like no other.
How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?
Wow, how I got here is an amazing story, and it’s not by chance that I was able to do what I am doing now, but the power of God almighty, is how I got here. I had been behind the scenes in the business, going to the studio with my husband Johnny “J”, who produced music for 2Pac, and an array of other artists. I went to the studio daily, and I was even able to lend my voice on some of those records, doing small speaking parts, or having my voice sampled as they did on the song “Hit Em Up”, because I was tone deaf.
It was after the passing of my husband in 2008, 6-months later a prophet prophesied that I would be singing, I laughed at him, and he laughed back, and said, “you’re gonna be a singer, and your name is gonna be COPPE”! I was more shocked that he knew my childhood name, because only my family and childhood friends knew that. Three months after that prophecy it came true, God woke me up out of a sound sleep, and gave me the gift of song, it was July 1, 2009, at 3am. Words upon words of praise were coming out of my mouth, I was singing and crying, singing and crying, in awe that I started singing, then I started writing songs, without lyrics. This was a miracle given to me by almighty God to sing to glorify him.
How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
This project is different in many ways, starting with my title The Breastplate of Righteousness, is powerful and impactful, and it has a song of the same name. Wherein my first two projects were titled COPPE CANTRELL (God’s Project) Book I, and Book II. My first project was me starting out after God had given me a voice to sing. I was happy and jealous to do this project, I was new to the gospel industry, and being a singer all together, I needed to learn my new found gift that God had blessed me with.
The second album God’s Project (Book II), my music, pretty much catered to Christian Hip Hop. My third album, I am all over the place with this album, I have a great mix of sounds I have a Pop Rock Song “Jesus Rocks”, which is the next single to be released, with a hip hop feel to it, I have a reggae, pop, rock, hip hop record “War Cry”, which is an impactful record about the things going on around us, and not too late to seek Jesus Christ, as we go through these trials. Although it is a themed album, there is meaning to it “The Breastplate of Righteousness”, the armor we must put on to endure the things of this world. This album is an eclectic mix of music that will impact the world.
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
Well the challenges that I faced during these unprecedented times were a bit difficult, being that you needed other people like an engineer to record your music. For the first two years, I did everything through the drive through, and had my food delivered. Since I work from home most days, this was not difficult, I have everything set up, but being afraid of the unknown, and catching it was another thing. so, I did not record any music, other than writing new songs and demoing them on Garageband. The fact that I moved out-of-state, made the challenge more difficult, because I didn’t know anyone who could engineer my project. Getting to know someone else, and the fear of the unknown, but since then I found the perfect engineer. I also had to upgrade all of my equipment, and I was finally able to get things back on track, to finish recording this album.
Creatively, I have kept some of the fires burning, but the many distractions in the world had halted it for a moment, but once I was able to get that fire back, through the anointing that God has allowed with our helper the Holy Spirit, I have been able to work through. There will always be challenges that arise, with the state of the world, and just life in itself.
What was the last song you listened to
The last song that I listened to, was my song “The Breastplate of Righteousness”, it’s the the title track to my album I’ve been working on that so you have to listen to it over and over again, to see what needs to change, add, delete, since I wrote it and co-produced it.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?
I prefer Cd’s since they are easy to just pop in anywhere, though MP3’s are convenient, and for the most part sound great, I think we lose a lil of the grittiness of the record. Funny, I have a lot of vinyl, and some old school tapes. The Vinyl is the best sound, you can really hear the bottom on the bass, and drums, but, to store all of the vinyl you have to have a warehouse. Tapes are cool, but take longer to get to the song that you’d like to hear, you can’t skip, ironically I do have a couple of tape decks, and even a professional one in the studio.
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?
The best place to contact me and to check out some of my music is to follow me on these sites, and or subscribe
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/COPPECANTRELL1
WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/COPPE_CANTRELL
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Thank you for this interview, I hope that your readers get a glimpse into who I am, and don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel, and subscribe. Put God first and all things will be added onto you!
