Sheffield studio bags expansive creative brief as Spotify billionaire JP Cooper goes indie

Platinum-selling singer-songwriter JP Cooper has appointed Yorkshire-based creative director Kyle Wilkinson and his studio, Haus of Thrills (HOT), to lead the art direction for the next phase of his career as he steps out independently for the first time.

Following his departure from Island Records earlier this year, Cooper is now forging his own path as an independent artist. He has enlisted Wilkinson and Haus of Thrills to build the creative world around his next chapter, overseeing everything from music videos and album artwork to the wider visual narrative surrounding future releases.

Cooper is one of Britain’s most-streamed singer-songwriters, with more than six billion global streams. His catalogue includes Spotify Billions Club track Perfect Strangers with Jonas Blue, alongside hits September Song and Passport Home. After releasing three studio albums with Island Records, the move into independence gives him greater control over both the music he makes and how it is presented.

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Wilkinson founded Haus of Thrills in 2024, building a practice that brings together art, culture and immersive experiences. His appointment marks the studio’s move into music, applying an approach honed through exhibitions and experiential projects to the way an artist and their work are presented to audiences.

Cooper said: “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. 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.”

As creative director, Wilkinson will work across key elements of JP Cooper’s forthcoming releases, bringing consistency to everything from moving images to album artwork.

Wilkinson, added: “Music and art have always shared a natural connection, and this partnership explores the parallels between the visual and audio worlds. 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 to be announced in the coming months.

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