COOPER SMITH & ALEX HOSKING TURN OVERTHINKING INTO DANCEFLOOR RELEASE “O.V.E.R.”
For Cooper Smith, inspiration came from an unexpected place: his own mind.
The Melbourne DJ and producer is quickly making his mark, and now he has teamed up with Australian singer-songwriter Alex Hosking for “O.V.E.R.”, an energetic new dance track inspired by something Cooper knows intimately: the habit of overthinking every detail.
The track began taking shape during a studio session with Cooper, Alex and Jess, Cooper’s support worker. As they spoke about Cooper’s tendency to constantly analyse moments, revisit conversations and question his decisions, an idea for the song naturally emerged.
Instead of searching for a concept beyond their own experiences, the trio turned Cooper’s inner dialogue into the creative heart of the record. That familiar cycle of analysing, replaying and second-guessing became the song’s central theme, eventually giving the track its name: “O.V.E.R.”
What started as a conversation about getting caught in your own thoughts has evolved into a pulsating dance record that transforms overthinking into something you can move to.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
1. “O.V.E.R.” started with something incredibly personal: your tendency to overthink, analyse and replay situations in your head. When did you realise that this was actually a song waiting to happen?
While Jess and I were driving in to meet Alex in the studio I was talking about how I overthink and we thought why not explore that as a song. As creatives we all tend to overthink and place big expectations on ourselves.
2. There’s something quite powerful about turning an internal struggle into a record designed to make people dance. Did making “O.V.E.R.” change the way you think about your own overthinking?
The track definitely turns overthinking into something fun! It also acknowledges our overthinking and makes us proud!
3. The track came together during a studio session with Alex Hosking and Jess, your support worker. What was that conversation like when the idea suddenly shifted from talking about overthinking to actually building a song around it?
We were discussing mental health as music artists and overthinking gigs and expectations. We all then created some lyrics. Then Alex sung the lyrics and off we went. The way we spelt out the word O.V.E.R. was that Jess had just listened to Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’ with the BANANAS chant, so we drew inspiration from that. Now the lyrics are playing over and over in all our heads at home! Cant stop singing !
4. Alex brings such a strong history in pop, house and electronic music, particularly through “Fake Friends.” What was it about Alex that made the collaboration work, and what did she bring to “O.V.E.R.” that you hadn’t originally imagined?
Meeting Alex in the studio for the first time we all just clicked. We were able to have some good laughs and lock in. I love that this track has more lyrics and this is the way forward for me and my music.
COOPER SMITH & ALEX HOSKING
5. You’ve taken “O.V.E.R.” out onto the Australian dancefloor before its official release. What has been the most memorable reaction you’ve had when you’ve dropped the unreleased ID and watched people respond without even knowing what the track is?
It is definitely a toss up between Perth and Sydney at the Vault and Chinese Laundry. It was amazing to see people actually mouthing the words even though they hadn’t really heard the track yet. It went off on tour and I loved seeing the reactions up close and people trying to get that ID.
6. Your journey has gone from teaching yourself to DJ as a teenager and playing lunchtime sets at school to Ultra Australia, the Australian Open and international stages. When you look at that journey, does it ever feel surreal, or are you already thinking about the next mountain?
It is definitely a bit of both of those things. Doesn’t feel real and basically just scaling those mountains without falling off!
7. You’ve never allowed cerebral palsy to dictate the limits of what you can do creatively. Has your experience of challenging other people’s expectations influenced the way you approach your career and your music?
From very early on in my career I have taken it very seriously as my job. I give it 100% at all times. When professionals said I wasn’t going to be able to walk I then proved them wrong. I am always pushing boundaries, representing and showing my audience that we can do things differently with probably even more passion and hard work.
8. You’ve already remixed James Hype and shared stages with artists like Meduza, Groove Armada and Rudimental. Is there a particular artist or producer you’d love to collaborate with next, and what kind of record would you want to make together?
I would love to do a techno track with Kettama with some rap lyrics and dirty synth lines.
9. The title “O.V.E.R.” can mean so many things depending on what someone is going through: a relationship, a conversation, a text, or simply being trapped in your own thoughts. What do you hope listeners take away from the song?
I hope that listeners don’t feel alone in their overthinking and that a night out dancing with friends is always a good idea!
10. If Cooper Smith from those early school gym DJ sets could hear “O.V.E.R.” being played to a packed dancefloor today, what do you think he’d say?
He would be really grateful for the team behind him and the people who are supporting him! He would also be really proud of his journey and the way his music has developed and that he is brave for experimenting with new sounds.
Ends………….
Before its release, however, “O.V.E.R.” has already been doing its most important testing ground: the dancefloor. Cooper has been dropping the unreleased ID throughout his current Australian tour, where it has quickly become one of the standout unreleased moments of his sets — building anticipation for a record that began as a very personal observation and has turned into something thousands of people can relate to. Because whether it’s a relationship, a text message, a conversation or the person you can’t get out of your head, sometimes you just need to stop thinking… Or at least try.
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Cooper Smith & Alex Hosking – “O.V.E.R.” is out now via Resound Records.
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