Ten minute tea with Afternoon Tea. Spend ten minutes with Afternoon Tea. In the time it takes to boil one kettle, and let one cup of tea steep, we will have your daily art + music fix covered. Take your afternoon tea break with our Afternoon Tea curators.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals are curated by Cooper Bloom. Cooper Bloom is a singer-songwriter and performer from just outside Toronto, Ontario, who proudly identifies as part of the LGTBQ community. His goal is to create a community through his music where people are inspired to be true to themselves and follow their dreams.
The inspiration behind his positive new song, “Be Alright,” came from a moment when Cooper and his boyfriend were holding hands in public, and were met with hateful homophobic slurs from strangers passing by. Instead of feeling defeated, it only made him more determined to celebrate their love and to show that they won’t be silenced or ashamed.
Stream + share “Be Alright” now:
Hey there, Afternoon Tea readers! I’m truly excited to join you for this Ten Minute Tea series, blending my passion for music, visuals, and tea into one comforting post. So, let’s grab a cup of tea and dive into the art we’ll be enjoying together during this break.
For our tea break, I’ve chosen “Jolene” by the iconic Dolly Parton, a classic and emotionally charged tune that showcases her powerful storytelling. This timeless tune recently took me down a rabbit hole of her music and led me to the beautiful revelation that Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” was originally written and performed by Dolly herself. As I explored Dolly’s extensive discography, I was inspired by her versatility and talent as a songwriter and performer, which motivated me to reconnect with my roots in country music.
I started my songwriting journey with country music but held back from releasing any, fearing it wouldn’t connect with listeners. After three years of experimenting with various styles and genres, I released “Drinkin’ Alone,” thinking it represented me. However, I soon realized that my true passion lay in country music all along. As the saying goes, “you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” I’m embracing my roots and looking forward to the future.
Now, I’m immersing myself in classic country, drawing inspiration from the brilliant songwriting of that era. My music currently leans towards Pop-Western/Pop-Country, but you can definitely expect to hear some country hits coming your way soon.
The visual I’ve selected is a photo I captured of my hometown city, looking across the lake at the warm downtown lights. Although my hometown sometimes faces criticism, it’s the setting for many of my best memories. Over time, I discovered beauty in the unexpected and learned to appreciate my hometown’s unique charm.
Let’s move on to the tea! My absolute favorite is Peppermint. Add a splash of lemon and a drizzle of honey, and you have a cup of pure bliss. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already. It’s soothing, refreshing, and the perfect companion to our Ten Minute Tea journey.
A huge thank you to Afternoon Tea for inviting me to be part of this lovely series. I hope you enjoyed our Ten Minute Tea break together, and that it provided inspiration or simply a moment of relaxation. Remember to always trust your heart and stay true to your roots. Cheers! Oh, and while you’re here, please check out my new song “Be Alright” – it’s a song inspired by personal experiences and focuses on overcoming hate with love and the power of two versus one. I hope it becomes a source of strength and inspiration whenever you need it.
Tea + Me 