We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Cooper recently and have shared our conversation below.
Matthew, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose through prayer, asking God to reveal it to me. I had to go through many trials in life before realizing that I’ve always been someone who loves seeing people genuinely happy. Being part of the reason someone smiles has always warmed my heart.
I didn’t fully recognize this until I started making music. Throughout the years, I faced many challenges, but no matter how I felt, I kept creating songs because I loved music that much. Back in high school, around 2017–2018, I started taking it more seriously. Even then, I didn’t realize my purpose. I just knew my music spoke to me when I needed it. I’d stop listening to my songs for a while, but when I needed comfort and peace, I always found myself going back to them.
Fast-forward to 2023—that entire year was an emotional rollercoaster. I went through a breakup, struggled to figure out life after college, battled self-doubt, and felt uncertain about the future. That year alone, I made 30 songs. But at first, I only had seven. That seventh song? I wrote it during a panic attack, and it carried me for months. I shared it with so many people, and to my surprise, they cried and found clarity in their own lives through that one song. That’s when I first began to understand my purpose.
Fast-forward to 2024, when I dropped my second song, “Nameand.” Seeing the power and influence that song has had on people was eye-opening. Whether I’m performing, hanging out with friends, or just having a regular conversation, someone is always repeating the first line back to me—“Personally!” That’s when I knew: my purpose is to change the world through my music, to give people hope, happiness, and joy so they can navigate life a little easier.
From what I’ve seen, it’s been working. But I know there’s so much more to give, and I pray that God continues to reveal more of my purpose—not just to me, but to everyone who listens.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is KOOPAH, and I am an R&B artist, musician, and lover of music. Music has been a huge part of my life since I was three years old. My mom bought me a drum kit, and I would play it all day in our house because every time I went to church, I was drawn to the drums. I was fascinated by them—until I discovered I could sing. From that moment on, everything changed.
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I was surrounded by art, influence, and inspiration—things we often don’t realize shape us every day. Especially growing up in a Jamaican House Hold. For me, my biggest influences were growing up in church and being around my family. Because of them, I always felt like I had a purpose, but at such a young age, my mind wasn’t open enough to truly see it. Still, I knew I wanted to be great.
For a while, up until my sophomore or junior year of high school, I struggled with insecurities. I didn’t like my voice—I thought my rasp wasn’t good. When my voice changed during puberty and started cracking, I thought I’d never sound like an amazing singer. But I never stopped loving music. I grew up playing drums, piano, and singing, so it was impossible for music to ever leave my life.
Once I found my sound again and took a chance on myself, my self-esteem grew. I told myself: I want to make music that feeds the soul, that transports people to a different dimension—a place where they can just exist. I wanted my music to be meaningful not just for myself, but for those who need an escape from everyday life.
Now, I know my music is special because it’s real. There are times when I catch myself doing two things:
1. Praying—for clarity, guidance, and assurance.
2. Re-listening to my own songs—because in moments when I need a shoulder to lean on, my music reminds me of who I am and whose I am.
Moving forward, I want to continue bringing joy, warmth, and life to music. I want to bring back genuine smiles, fun times, and a sense of community—those nostalgic feelings I had growing up. If I can capture that in my music, then I know I’m doing something right.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are community, confidence, and prayer.
Community—because I had to constantly remind myself that you can never do anything alone. Back in high school, I ran track, and I was always told that track is an individual sport—until it’s time to run a relay. That’s when everything changes. I learned to develop the mindset of an individual winner while also understanding the importance of collective success. However, life sometimes tries to convince you that you’re not good enough and that you have to figure everything out on your own—but that’s not true at all. Find your circle. Find your community—the people who believe in you without wavering, through every win and every failure—and hold them tight. Those same people make the journey so much more worthwhile.
Confidence—because it looks different depending on how it’s presented. When you’re good at something, imposter syndrome can creep in, making you doubt yourself. You become your own worst enemy. But people around you won’t always see that, because the confidence you exude comes from the way you enjoy your craft. If you don’t truly enjoy what you do, how can you expect others to love it as much as you do? That’s why building self-esteem—not just for your skills, but for your love of your craft—is so important. Once you find validation from within, you can never lose. Ever.
Prayer—because it has carried me through everything. I grew up in church my entire life and have had countless encounters with God, shaping my personal relationship with Him. I don’t want to push my beliefs on anyone, but I can’t deny that prayer has been the foundation of my strength. Asking for guidance, wisdom, and resilience has helped me overcome things that were meant to break me. There were so many moments when I could have given up, but God kept me through it all. He showed me that if I kept pressing forward, I would see the fruits of my labor in ways I couldn’t imagine. Because I remained faithful and kept going, God has blessed me many times over.
So whatever your dream is, whatever your ambition is—keep the faith. Believe harder than anyone else ever has. Then put in the work to back up that belief, because no one will believe in you until you believe in yourself first. Facts!
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
There have been so many people over the years who have helped me grow and develop into the artist I am today. If I had to name one person, Mr. Saunders is one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with music again.
There was a time when I wanted to sing—not because I was told to or forced to, but because I genuinely wanted to sing from my heart and soul. Meeting Mr. Saunders in high school was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Funny enough, he started off as my economics teacher, and from the start, he always pushed me to be greater than I was. Even though I was on the track team and determined, when it came to schoolwork, I was lazy—and he called me out on it. But instead of discouraging me, his tough love motivated me to work harder and succeed.
Fast-forward, and he became someone I could confide in. When I found out he could sing, I was amazed and wanted to understand more about music. Then, in 2018, the Singing & Songwriting Club was created during my junior year of high school. From that moment on, I constantly came to him for advice—whether it was about how a song sounded, learning about different artists, finding my own sound, or learning to love my voice. He never turned me away. He always poured life into me, reminding me that I could do anything as long as I put in the work and believed in myself and the voice that God gave me.
He believed in me so much that he even took me to my first showcase, where I got to watch his friend Tiffany perform at Sugar Bar in the city. That experience was unforgettable.
Fast-forward to today, and he still pushes me, motivates me, and continues to teach me about the legends in music—about what it truly takes to be an artist. He has taught me how to carry myself and grow in my artistry, and for that, I am forever grateful.
I hope that when he sees this and reads it, he feels just how special he has been in my journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/koopahofficial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luvkoopah
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/AnT3ZvmdVyauBTwA/?mibextid=hu50Ix
- Twitter: https://x.com/officialkoopah
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@OfficialKoopah
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/jsU1EVAMnguaog2YA
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialkoopah
Image Credits
@jesusviewz @fotoshish @thelowkeylens @legacy_v2
