Copeland and Horne find musical passion in Mopeland

ALBANY — When Mopeland’s Matt Copeland and Kristen Horne found out they had both been chosen as local musical favorites in The Albany Herald’s recent Friday Jam music polls, they say they were not only ecstatic but equally surprised and humbled.

“I thought it was cool to be thought of, and I’d say I was pretty excited and humbled because there were all these awesome musicians in this one poll and my name was on there,” said Horne, who handles a large share of the band’s vocal duties in addition to serving as keyboardist. “That was really cool.”

Despite her shock at even being nominated, Horne managed to run away with the keyboardist poll, garnering nearly 75 percent of the total votes in that category, sending the message that what she and her bandmates are doing is resonating with area music fans.

Although he didn’t have quite the landslide victory that Horne enjoyed, Copeland still managed to take the top spot in the multi-instrumentalist poll, showing that music lovers around town are equally impressed with his many talents.

“I just woke up one morning and saw something on Facebook that my name was on there and that was a surprise because I didn’t nominate myself for anything,” Copeland said. “I was really humbled. Tons of musicians play multiple instruments, so it was weird that I was even thought of. But it was cool.”

While both take pride in the fact they were recognized individually for something they do purely for the passion of it, Copeland and Horne are equally proud of how their wins impact the perception of their band, which has been growing a reputation as one of Albany’s most popular rock bands.

Copeland said he thinks the reason for the excitement surrounding the band is being propelled by some recent spurts of creativity, which has helped the band craft a batch of original songs since writing material has become Mopeland’s primary focus.

That focus on writing, Copeland said, has not only strengthened the band’s chops as songwriters and performers, but also helped to bring the members together as a whole.

“We actually have like 14 originals, but it’s kind of been a little bit of a downfall for us lately trying to get out and about because we’d rather write,” Copeland explained. “We used to have a bad habit, especially me. I’d have a guitar part written, and I’d want Ross (Smith, who shares vocal duties with Copeland and Horne and guitar playing with Copeland) to play it and that was a problem.

“Someone comes in with a song now, it’s everyone play what you want and it comes out awesome. It’s a good place we’re at right now as a band. I have full faith. I never have to think of what I want the bass line to be because whatever Jake (Hamby) does will be better. And I don’t tell Ross what to do. That’s probably the most fun that’s been happening. We used to bicker sometimes, but I don’t think we really do anymore.”

Even though the band is in a good place, despite having been together as a full unit for roughly a year and a half, it took some time to get there.

As Copeland puts it, he first fell in love with music as a young person when he realized the power of song, something that has stayed with him.

“I was always drawn to music as a small kid because of how it could make you feel,” said Copeland. “I love how there’s still CDs from middle school that emotionally I can still listen to. I love that. It’s awesome.”

Copeland parlayed that love of music into trying to make music of his own, learning to play the guitar when he was about 7 and then learning how to play the drums around age 17.

He also developed a love for singing while in high school, which has helped him take on different roles not only in past bands but in Mopeland.

“If I was locked in a room, guitar would probably be the last one I’d pick up, but I love it,” said Copeland. “In the band I love it, it’s fun.”

That love of playing in Mopeland actually started a few years ago when Copeland, who was born and raised in the Albany area, and Smith, who is from Atlanta, bonded over their similar taste in music. The two talked about getting together musically for some time and finally did about a year after meeting.

After a period of shifting around to different instruments and jamming with different people, the current lineup of the band finally came together with the final addition of Horne as keyboardist and vocalist.

Horne, who also grew up in Albany and is part of a musical family, has been an avid music fan for most of her life, learning to play piano at the age of 5. Her father, Darrell Valentine, was once a member of Albany’s Cut N Run and a long-time fixture on the local music scene.

Once Horne joined the Mopeland fold, she too seemed to find her place musically, although not without some initial trepidation.

“I had never really given any thought to being a keyboardist in a band,” Horne said. “I had sung in a band and been the lead singer in a praise band, but I had never played the keyboard in a band. I told them going in I would give it a try and if they didn’t want me to let me know. Apparently it’s a good fit.”

Despite that good fit, Horne said she’s still adjusting to being asked to play and sing at the same time, something she had not done before Mopeland.

“It’s was very difficult for me to sing and play keyboard,” she said. “I still have to concentrate really hard on doing both at the same time. But I’m getting better.”

Not only is Horne getting more comfortable playing and singing at the same time, she’s also, like the rest of the band, enjoying the process of writing new music.

“I still write a lot of lyrics, but not necessarily for me to sing,” Horne said. “We try to switch it up. Ross gave me a song of his to sing, and I wrote this new song and told him to sing it.”

In fact the multiple vocal approach of the band is something both Horne and Copeland are extremely proud of, saying that it harkens to one of their shared musical influences.

“If you ask me, I’d say we’re bringing a Fleetwood Mac-y type feel back with three singers and three-part harmonies,” said Copeland. “It’s hard for me to say, but I honestly think we’re one of the most creative bands around Albany.”

That intense creativity is also serving to fuel the band’s immediate future, which includes recording. The band recently finished recording three tracks at Mayfield Studios, with plans to record more music during the next several months.

“We did three first at Mayfield and then plan to do the next three soon and make an EP out of it,” said Copeland. “We just picked the first three, and then had a meeting about the next three and just went and knocked them out. It was actually a long process, probably 6-7 months, because we recorded individually.”

In addition to the planned recording, the band is also working to book more gigs.

“We’re playing Warrior Fest at Mellow Mushroom soon, but our actual goal is to get out of town,” said Copeland. “We knew that was our focus even when it was just me and Ross in the band. We want to continue to grow, and we knew we’re going to have to play more out of town.”

For her part, Horne is excited about the Mopeland gigs, but she’s also excited about starting to play some shows with Smith as a duo. The pair has already worked up a set that includes a variety of different types of music, including some Mopeland tunes cast in a different light.

“We do some covers,” said Horne. “We’re doing a Jewel cover, a Paramore cover, a Fleetwood Mac cover, just a variety of stuff. We’re also going to try to do some of our originals. I have three that I’ve got, and Ross has a bunch of originals so we’re trying to incorporate those, too.”

Both Horne and Copeland agree that playing in Mopeland is a labor of love and something they are totally committed to doing for a long time. Copeland makes no bones about the fact that he’s pleased with the band and feels they have the potential to do something special.

“I feel really lucky,” he said. “This is the first band I’ve been in that I think definitely has potential. When I sit back and listen to us, I’m like, ‘Crap we’re good!’ I can’t say that about every band I’ve been in. If I wasn’t in Mopeland, I’d want to be in it, that’s for sure.”

To learn more about Copeland, Horne and the rest of Mopeland, check out the band’s Facebook page or the group’s reverb nation page at www.reverbnation.com/mopeland.