At just 14 years old, Iris Copperman writes songs with all the emotional depth and stunning clarity of a much more seasoned artist. On her new EP Middle School Dropout, the Nashville-based singer/ songwriter/multi-instrumentalist documents a particularly turbulent chapter in her coming-of-age journey, including dealing with the careless cruelty of her classmates and eventually transitioning to homeschooling. Rooted in her lived-in storytelling and gorgeously crafted sound, the result is a powerful introduction to a captivating new voice in the world of introspective pop.

Her debut project for Interscope Records, Middle School Dropout centers on Copperman’s unguarded exploration of her internal world and the endless complexities of human nature. “When I was in middle school, kids weren’t very kind to me—I remember coming home crying every day and telling my mom I didn’t want to go back,” she says. “The whole experience taught me so much about myself, and it also made me want to understand what would lead people to act that way.” Rendered with equal parts quiet strength and soulful sensitivity, Middle School Dropout finds Copperman meeting pain with curiosity and compassion—ultimately guiding listeners toward a more open-hearted way of navigating the world.

Even as its songs channel a tender melancholy, Middle School Dropout radiates an irresistibly bright spirit born from the joy Copperman has always found in making music. As the daughter of Grammy-nominated producer Ross Copperman, the Nashville native grew up fascinated by the pure magic of bringing songs to life. “When I was a little girl my dad’s studio was right underneath my bedroom, and every night I’d sneak out to the top of the stairs and peek through the railings to watch him work,” she recalls. By the time she was five, Copperman had begun composing songs of her own and soon learned to play piano and guitar. Over the years, her innate love for music took on a greater intensity as songwriting became a crucial outlet for her rich inner life and limitless creative energy. In early 2024, as she geared up for the release of her self-titled debut EP, Copperman experienced a life-changing moment while performing an original song during a benefit show at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium. “I was nervous before I walked out onstage, but as soon as I touched the mic all my fears went away,” she says. “I remember finishing my song and thinking, ‘What just happened, and how can I do it again?’ I knew right then that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” 

Another turning point for Copperman, the writing of Middle School Dropout’s lead single “Struggle Bus” helped to unlock the delicate balance of poetic specificity and unfiltered honesty at the heart of her music. With its undercurrent of radical self-acceptance, the moody but exhilarating track also reveals her willingness to linger in the shadowy, unresolved spaces that pop songs tend to avoid. “I feel like I found my voice through ‘Struggle Bus,’ and from that point on everything’s felt authentic to me in a much deeper way,” she notes. Co-written with Shane McAnally (a four-time Grammy winner who’s worked with Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson, and more), follow-up single “Bully” brings explosive gang vocals and cinematic strings to Copperman’s reflection on repeating cycles of harm (from the chorus: “Hurt people hurt people, so who hurt you?”). “There’s two sides to that song: one where I’m talking to the kids being bullied, and another where I’m speaking to the bullies themselves and saying, ‘I see you and I’m so sorry,’” Copperman explains. “You never know what someone else is going through, and even though it’s hard I think it’s so important to try to find empathy for each other.”

From the self-aware humor of songs like “Awkward” to the confessional catharsis of its epic title track, Middle School Dropout spotlights Copperman’s exquisite gift for transforming pain into beauty. Now at work on her debut album, she’s recently tapped into her immense creativity by playing a hands-on role in the making of her music videos and the development of her immersive live show. And as her music evolves, Copperman remains intent on fearlessly sharing her truth. “I made a pact with myself that I’ll only write what I’ve personally experienced, so at this point that means diving into the self instead of writing about things like love or the loss of love,” she says. “With these new songs, I hope that people feel inspired to be kinder, to give themselves some grace and give grace to others too. Above anything else, kindness is the message I want to keep driving forward.”