'You have to make music for morons to be successful'
The video – a low-budget but hugely entertaining humorous, yet moving, accompaniment to the catchy shanty/style pop single of the same name, due out on Monday – has been lauded by all and sundry, having been first picked up and tweeted by Steven Fry who stated:
"I'd love it even if it weren't about pirates."
Graham Norton is a fan, so too is Brian Eno, who hails Cosmo "A one in a million artist", while Paul Gambaccini commented: "The theme is inspirational, if I still had a Radio 1 Record of the Week, this would be it!"
The theme is indeed different to say the least but, as usual, Cosmo's idea and lyrics pack a powerful punch. It's the story of a doomed love affair between two pirates who end up walking the plank rather then denying their feelings.
"I wanted to do something that gives the subject of homosexuality grounding in history," explains Cosmo. "I chose pirates because you think of them as being totally macho and resilient, capable of survival against the odds.
"But, of course, in those days gay love wouldn't stand a chance.
"It's also to do with the fact that people of my social bracket don't consider the 'love' element being the same as in a heterosexual relationship – the fact is that these guys are genuinely in love and they realise that death is the only way they can be together.
"However, it's written as a folky up-tempo pop song with a 'yo ho' chorus that people will find fun and catchy even if they don't listen to the lyrics."
The single has been play-listed on BBC6 Music, XFM, Q Radio, NME TV to name but a few, but despite all the positive feedback, it seems this probably won't be the single which breaks Cosmo through to Radio One listeners:
"I was hoping this would be the one that gets on board," says Cosmo, "but I've been told now that this has been good for whetting appetites, but it will be one of the next two singles that will do it. So I'm now busting a gut making videos to go with them.
"The trouble is they are so very different from Gay Pirates that people won't associate them with me: they're more rocky, less story and more commentary based.
"Jesus is about how people can sort you out better than if you rely on a religious figure, and My Day is me, aged 89 looking back at life 'in my day'. It's about every aspect of now, asking what's wrong with this generation where no one is prepared to take the initiative."
Cosmo accepts that it's partly his unwillingness to stick to one style of writing that makes him difficult to market.
"You have to make music for morons if you wanna be successful," he says.
His previous album, the brilliant Humasyouhitch Sonofabitch was a collection of 22 songs gathered on two discs, one relatively poppy and carefree, and the other incredibly heavy and dark, reflecting two very different sides to Cosmo's complex character.
"I wanted this next album to be 22 tracks as well, but I've been told I can only have 11. I've got it down to about 14 and we're bickering over which to leave out the running order.
"Apart from that, the cover artwork is done and it's all ready to go."
The album is as much a DIY production as the last, although Cosmo says this one is better produced.
"It's my album so I want it to be all my work. We did record some live drums at PMC, but apart from that it's all written, recorded, mixed and produced by me.
"So often it's the producer who seems to do most of the work."
Cosmo has left the label he was with previously.
"They did nothing to promote the last album, so what was the point? I'm back with 25th Frame, my manager's label that I started with."
Cosmo will be returning to Europe next month with shows in Germany and Holland where is has built up quite a sizeable following, though he's not quite so sure about a return trip to SXSW, the annual industry showcase that takes place in Texas, after last year.
"It's an awesome festival, but it was a complete waste of time for me. It was great to be there, but it cost thousands to get me and my band out there. For a start we rented gear and the amps blew up and then there were about two people in the audience. Not sure whether I'm doing it again this year but if I do I think it will just be me and my guitar."
Meanwhile, as well as promoting the singles he's hard at work on his first full length feature film, The Naughty Room.
"No it's not a porn film," he says, "That's the first question everyone asks! It's about the responsibility of parents. I'm just at the point of arranging a car crash that is a very important element of the film.
"I have a film promoter who is keen to get on board to get it to various film festivals, though I'm not sure it's going to be ready in time."
You can check out Cosmo's films at www.youtube.com/cosmojarvis and his music atwww.myspace.com/cosmojarvis
thisisplymouth.co.uk
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