Rising Stars: Meet Cooper Nichols of Peoria

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cooper Nichols.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began drumming as a 12 year old after seeing Switchfoot and Colony House at the Van Buren. Seven years later, a band my sister Zoe used to sing in called Right Rosemary was performing with Millenial Summer. Kelvin reached out to me to join the band and the rest is history.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Playing the drums can be a lonely instrument. During the 2020 Quarantine, I would practice for five hours everyday when I was away from my friends and school. So much of what I’ve developed is by playing to my favorite albums and being creative as a kid. Guitarists can jam with each other but it’s hard for drummers to do the same.
Being educated with incredible teachers like Jon Wiest, Jonathan Withem, and Jameson Patz taught me a lot.
But most that we learn is by doing. Starting bands for them to go nowhere. Failing auditions. Messing up in front of an audience for the first time. I’m thankful that I put myself out there as a kid in order to adapt early on.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently a student at GCU studying music and studio work. My goal is to engineer, produce, and track for artists.
As a drummer, I like to think that I have a creative pattern that many lack. I love making parts that fit songs sonically and technically. Thinking like a producer before a drummer has changed my perspective on playing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Cooperplaydrums

Image Credits
@traderjosphoto