It all started back in 2000 when 12-year-old Ollie Cooper, who had already been writing and performing songs for a number of years, decided to do something productive with his latest song ideas. His brother and future drummer. Stuart Cooper, suggested that Ollie should present his ideas to Stu's friend (and fellow band-mate), songwriter and producer Joe Murphy. Joe at the time had his own recording studio that he used in-between touring the UK as singer and guitarist in his band, along with Stu.
Initially, using Ollie's ideas, the pair recorded five or six songs, with Ollie performing the guitar, singing and playing the live drums and Joe also singing and playing guitar and programming the 'fake' drums. Between them they recorded the bass parts.
After hearing the results, they realised they could be on to something and decided to form a band. They asked Stu to play drums and called in a friend of Joe's to play bass. And so Koopa was formed.
Originally called 'Elastic Flange' the boys went back to the studio for a few months to record some new songs and start rehearsing. A further four tracks were produced, two of which stuck out from the rest: 'Friday' and 'Parents Vs Kids.' Ollie managed to play the tracks to some representatives of record and management companies whilst attending a 'Rock-School' in Brighton in September 2002. They all seemed suitably impressed and took copies of the tracks home with them.
The next twelve months were very busy for the boys outside of the band and they only had time to play two gigs, one of which was a band competition, which they won! In August 2003, out of the blue they received a phone call from one of the companies who had taken the CD 12 months previous, who revealed that they had been listening to the songs for a while. They said that they were initially impressed by what they heard and the more they listened to the CD, the more they liked it.
Various meetings with producers, publishers and record labels started and it was at this point the band changed their name to Koopa. The band recorded a few tracks at a studio in Brighton for 'B-Unique' Records and a few in London for 'EMI Records.' The companies seemed pleased with the results and offered some more recording time. The band declined the offer and decided to go back to their original formula for the new demos and record them themselves. The companies agreed.
The rest is, and will be, history!