Justin Cooper on SoundBetter

Do you want to go viral? Do you want your song to be stuck in the hearts and minds of millions of fans? Justin Cooper is your man! After crafting his skill for over 10 years as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, he has cracked the formula for delivering consistent hits. He will turn YOUR MUSIC into a SMASH.

Justin Cooper is a songwriter, producer/multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist based out of New York. He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Radio/Television/Film and is currently a gradate student at the Berklee College of Music. He specializes in crafting songs made to go viral on social media platforms such as TikTok, as well as music for TV/Film/Commercials. His work as an artist and the work he has collaborated on have garnered millions of streams on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Music.

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2 Reviews

Endorse Justin Cooper

by Megan Waxman
I loved working with Justin to produce one of my original songs. He had such a vast knowledge of music production and was really great to work with, especially since I had never recorded a song before. Justin quickly turned my acoustic song into a hit- his skills are truly so impressive! Anyone would be lucky to work with him.
by Zach Christiansen
Justin took a guy like me with no voice training and made me sound better than I ever could’ve imagined. He’s extremely knowledgeable about music production, and has an extensive taste that he sources as inspiration for his music. He also is very friendly and responsive, 10/10 would collaborate again.

Interview with Justin Cooper

Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Throw an EQ on the master buss and automate a narrow band sweep from the lowest frequency to the highest frequency over one measure. It'll add a really cool, robotic whooshing noise to the track without interfering with the melody!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I primarily work in commercial pop, however I have production experience in many genres, such as hip hop and EDM.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Writing fun, funny, and memorable lyrics! Often times, the difference between a deep cut and a hit is one or two awesome lines that people look forward to singing along with!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring both the experience of someone who's been writing songs all his life with the perspective of a younger, fresher audience. Many songwriters today are in a different generation than the audiences they're writing for, and as such, their messages sometimes feel forced or outdated. I understand that the music of the future needs certain ingredients to maximize resonance with younger audiences, such as how the song is perceived on social media. Viral songs today need to have new platforms like TikTok in mind, which fundamentally changes the structure and content of popular music. I have a deep understanding of what makes younger audiences tick, but at the same time I have ample experience to deliver consistently and efficiently.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Whether I'm writing a topline, producing a beat, or starting completely from scratch, I always first ask myself what the underlying emotions are behind the song and what the song's main point is. I break down every song like an essay, and I first try to figure out what the song's thesis statement is. From there, I find as many instruments, melodic hooks, and lyrical couplets that fit the song's emotional message. This is what I call a "Sound Dump," where I layer up as many different ideas into the song as I possibly can. Finally, I'll sculpt the song into its final product by moving, removing, and replacing different parts such that the energy flow of the song is not too little and not too much, but just right.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My setup changes every few months! As of right now, I have an iMac, a pair of Yamaha HS8's, a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, an Aston Origin mic, a Yamaha P-45 keyboard, an electronic drum kit, and wayyy too many guitars/ukuleles/violins!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Max Martin is my holy grail as a musician. When I was 10, I found out that my favorite artists did not write their own songs, and that there was an entire world of professional songwriters whose sole job was creating the masterpieces I'd grown to obsess over. I proclaimed in my 5th grade yearbook that I would grow up to be a professional songwriter. It wasn't until years later that I learned that pretty much every song I held as inspiration for my songwriter dream was written by Max Martin.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Toplining - You send me a killer track, I can guarantee a killer melody/lyric!