Every so often, an independent artist drops a project that feels less like a single or throwaway track, and more like a quiet, intimate conversation in a dimly-lit room. Hoopper’s debut album, ‘I Let You Hurt Me Soft’, is absolutely one of those rare moments.
A Brazilian-born artist, now making waves in Milan’s burgeoning dark RnB scene, Hoopper uses this collection of songs to take a deep breath and finally reveal what he’d been hiding. The result is an incredibly intimate album that doesn’t yell about its pain—it just lets it out slowly, with the kind of unflinching honesty that instantly resonates before you even figure out why.
At its core, this whole thing is a narrative about that strange, almost hypnotic pull of remaining in a relationship way past its sell-by date, purely because the intensity and familiarity outweigh the fact that it’s deeply unhealthy. Instead of leaning into classic breakup drama, Hoopper maps out the tiny, day-to-day habits and private thoughts that keep two people chained together when both know the ultimate ending. That’s where the record lands its hardest punches: in the raw, whispered admissions that most people wouldn’t even confess to their closest mates.
The undeniable standout, 'Her Show', perfectly sets this difficult tone. It's built on a minimal, super-atmospheric production that allows the emotional weight of the vocal to carry the load. The track walks us through the choreography of a toxic connection where one person is constantly performing and the other is watching, desperate to be the one chosen, yet never quite stepping into the spotlight. There’s a noticeable tension in Hoopper’s delivery, as if he’s recounting a moment he’s still not really free from. It’s a beautifully uncomfortable song about control disguised as love, admiration blended with self-erasure, and the way desire and dependence can become totally indistinguishable.
Another highlight, 'Maybe I Don’t Miss You', approaches the theme from a completely different angle. This one has the energy of someone trying desperately to convince themselves they’ve genuinely moved on, while their mind is betraying them with flashes of controlling memories. The writing here is subtle but piercing, full of the emotional shortcuts our brains employ for self-protection. There’s a section in the chorus where Hoopper’s voice is almost unnervingly calm, which paradoxically makes the fragility of the subject matter feel even more exposed.
Throughout the album, Hoopper shows an incredible sensitivity to the psychology of attachment. The production choices are a mirror for this inner, tumultuous landscape: dark synths, subtle moments of distortion, warm, expansive pads, and a vocal tone that feels close enough to touch. It’s intimate without ever becoming overwhelming, like you’ve accidentally stumbled into someone’s private moment and are hearing them think aloud.
This isn't just an album to casually listen to; it’s one you need to feel in those uncomfortable emotional places we usually try to ignore. It is the sound of an artist learning who he is again, quietly, in the devastating aftermath of a love that broke him slow.
Available now, ‘I Let You Hurt Me Soft’ is an album built to be felt, heard, and experienced, and that’s just what you need to do. You can stream it above, and for more, be sure to connect with Hoopper on Instagram and TikTok.
