Mo Troper

{{Short description|American musician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Mo Troper.jpg

| alt = see caption

| caption = Mo Troper performing at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in 2022

| origin = Portland, Oregon, United States

| genre = {{hlist|Power pop|orchestral pop|jangle pop|DIY}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass|keys|drums}}

| years_active = 2010s–present

| label = {{hlist|Good Cheer|Lame-O|Day to Day}}

| past_member_of = {{hlist|Your Rival|Sancho}}

}}

Mo Troper is an American power pop musician from Portland, Oregon.

Troper played in the bands Your Rival and Sancho in the early 2010s and released his debut album Beloved in 2016 through the record label Good Cheer.{{cite web |last1=Sodomsky |first1=Sam |title=Mo Troper: Beloved |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21905-beloved/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Pitchfork |publisher=}} In 2017, Troper followed up that release with his second full-length album titled Exposure & Response.{{cite web |last1=Henry |first1=Dusty |title=Local Artist Spotlight and Album Premiere: Mo Troper – Exposure & Response |url=https://www.kexp.org/read/2017/11/15/local-artist-spotlight-and-album-premiere-mo-troper-exposure-response/ |publisher=KEXP |access-date=31 August 2023}} The album was named "Album of the day" by Bandcamp upon release.{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |date=December 5, 2017 |title=Album of the Day: Mo Troper, "Exposure & Response" |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/mo-troper-exposure-response-review?all-nav |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Bandcamp |publisher=}} In February 2020, Troper released his third full-length album, Natural Beauty.{{cite web |last1=Salmon |first1=Ben |title=Mo Troper's Natural Beauty Is a Masterclass in Sweet 'n' Sour Power-Pop |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/mo-troper/mo-troper-natural-beauty-review |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Paste |publisher=}} Troper embarked on a tour in promotion of the album, but it was cancelled halfway through due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Kershner |first1=Lauren |date=July 8, 2020 |title=Mo Troper Is Kind of OK With the Fact That His Album Promotion Tour Was Canceled by COVID-19 |url=https://www.wweek.com/music/2020/07/08/mo-troper-is-kind-of-ok-with-the-fact-that-his-album-promotion-tour-was-canceled-by-covid-19/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Willamette Week |publisher=}} In 2021, Troper released an album where he covered the entire Beatles album Revolver.{{cite web |last1=DeVille |first1=Chris |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Album Of The Week: Mo Troper MTV |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2197200/mo-troper-mtv/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Stereogum |publisher=}} Troper's fourth full-length album, Dilettante, was released in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Alex |title=Mo Troper is a power pop genius on Dilettante |url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/10/13/mo-troper-dilettante-album-stream-premiere-power-pop-portland |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=The Fader |publisher=}} Troper's fifth full-length album, MTV, was released in 2022 on Lame-O Records.{{cite web |last1=Shosa |first1=Travis |title=Mo Troper: MTV |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mo-troper-mtv/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Pitchfork |publisher=}}{{cite web |last1=Pearis |first1=Bill |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Mo Troper releasing new LP 'MTV' this week, touring with Young Guv |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/mo-troper-releasing-new-lp-mtv-this-week-touring-with-young-guv/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=BrooklynVegan |publisher=}} In 2023, Troper released a cover album of unreleased Jon Brion songs, titled Troper Sings Brion.{{Cite web |last=Shoup |first=Brad |title=Mo Troper: Troper Sings Brion |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mo-troper-troper-sings-brion/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

In March 2024, Troper's ex-partner Maya Stoner publicly alleged that he had been physically and psychologically abusive.{{Cite news |last=Saslow |first=Rachel |date=2024-03-19 |title=Mo Troper Dropped by Record Label in Wake of Abuse Allegations |url=https://www.wweek.com/music/2024/03/19/mo-troper-dropped-by-record-label-in-wake-of-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |work=Willamette Week}}{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2024-03-18 |title=Mo Troper Dropped by Label, Manager, and Publicist Following Abuse Allegations |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/mo-troper-dropped-by-label-manager-and-publicist-following-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} Troper was subsequently dropped by his management and publicity team, and Lame-O announced that they would no longer be releasing his upcoming album Svengali.{{Cite web |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=2024-03-18 |title=Mo Troper Dropped By Label, Management, PR Following Abuse Allegations From Ex-Partner |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2256147/mo-troper-dropped-by-management-following-abuse-allegations-from-ex-partner/news/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} Troper denied the allegations, released the album on his own label Day to Day Records, and sued Stoner for defamation.{{Cite web |last=Chelosky |first=Danielle |date=2024-06-22 |title=Mo Troper Sues Maya Stoner (Floating Room) For Defamation Over Abuse Allegations |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2269144/mo-troper-sues-maya-stoner-floating-room-for-defamation-over-abuse-allegations/news/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=2024-10-02 |title=Mo Troper Settles Defamation Lawsuit Against Ex-Partner Who Accused Him of Abuse |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/mo-troper-settles-defamation-lawsuit-against-ex-partner-who-accused-him-of-abuse/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The lawsuit was settled in October of that year, with Stoner formally retracting the allegations via an affidavit and agreeing to a no-contact order.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Abby |date=2024-10-02 |title=Mo Troper Settles Defamation Lawsuit, Maya Stoner Issues Retraction |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2282724/mo-troper-settles-defamation-lawsuit-maya-stoner-issues-retraction/news/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} In June 2025, Spin magazine released an article titled "The Character Assassination of Mo Troper" detailing Stoner's "false and recanted" allegations, the reactions to them, and the toll taken on Troper's mental health.{{Cite web |last=McKenzie-Murray |first=Martin |last2=Thompson |first2=Matt |date=2025-06-18 |title=The Character Assassination of Mo Troper |url=https://www.spin.com/2025/06/the-character-assasination-of-mo-troper/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=SPIN (magazine){{!}}SPIN |language=en-US}}