Platinum-selling singer-songwriter JP Cooper has chosen independence after leaving Island Records, beginning a new chapter in his career after building a catalogue that has amassed more than six billion global streams.

The singer-songwriter behind Perfect Strangers, September Song and Passport Home has stepped away from the major label system after three studio albums with Island, opting to take greater control over both the music he makes and the creative vision surrounding it.

The first move in that new chapter is the appointment of acclaimed creative director Kyle Wilkinson and his immersive art studio, Haus of Thrills (HOT), to oversee the visual identity of Cooper's future releases. The partnership will span music videos, album artwork and the wider creative world around his forthcoming music.

The announcement comes as Cooper embraces a more independent approach to his career after releasing three studio albums with Island Records, giving him the freedom to shape not only the music he creates but also how it is presented to audiences.

"Music has always been about telling honest stories, and I wanted the visuals in this next phase to feel like a natural extension of that" Cooper said.

Working with Kyle has given me the freedom to go back to the basics of why I first started making music, creating something from a place of joy.

"It's been incredibly refreshing to collaborate with someone who brings such a unique perspective and genuine excitement to every idea. Rather than asking, 'Why would we do that?', every conversation starts with, 'How can we make that happen?' That mindset has brought a real sense of possibility to this project."

Wilkinson founded Haus of Thrills in 2024, developing a creative practice spanning art, culture and immersive experiences. The collaboration with Cooper marks the studio's first major move into music, applying its approach to building an artist's visual identity across multiple formats.

"Music and art have always shared a natural connection, and this partnership explores the parallels between the visual and audio worlds," Wilkinson said.

"It's been an incredible opportunity to bring the Haus of Thrills approach into music and consider how design can add another dimension to what people hear.

"The aim isn't to reinvent who JP is, but to build on what already makes him unique and make sure everything surrounding the music feels true to where he is now."

Cooper and Wilkinson are continuing to develop further projects together, with more announcements expected in the coming months as the singer-songwriter prepares to unveil the first releases from his independent era.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.