Photo Credit: Kevin Stevens
Simon Carter is a name that inspires people to join as many bands as you possibly can in a couple of years before narrowing your focus down to just a few instead of a thousand. Ever since his launch in the early 2010s with Studio-X Simon Carter has become infamous in the underground industrial and electronic scene for well-produced and dance friendly material. I would say that his most notable releases to date have been his collaborations with Fabsi (such as Double Trouble Toil and Struggle). That being said his solo output is phenomenal in its own right. He has a lot to say and we’re willing to listen. Or read, technically. Check out Simon Carter on this edition of INTRODUCING.
Give us a brief about your band. Who are you and what do you do?
My name’s Simon, and my addiction is music. I’m completely hooked on being busy in the studio, it’s where I feel most at home. While I still perform live from time to time, it’s the creative process in the studio where I’m truly at my happiest.
When did you first launch the project and how has it come along since?
I began releasing music with Studio-X around 2012. At the time, I was also involved in several other genre-spanning projects, but over the years, I’ve streamlined my focus down to three main acts: Simon Carter for Industrial, Techno and Futurepop, Narconic for Trance and Humans Can’t Reboot for Synthpop/Electropop.
What bands and artists influenced you the most and why?
Growing up, I was drawn to the harder edge of dance music, which was mostly driven by female vocals. Then I discovered Futurepop and it was a breath of fresh air to hear strong male vocals in a more dance-oriented context. My taste in music is incredibly eclectic. Honestly, I’m open to just about any genre and indeed any decade of music.
If you could pick a single song from your discography to explain your music, which song would you pick and why?
My answer to this question could easily change from day to day, but Let Music Live Forever is a great example of music without boundaries. It’s a high-energy Tech-Trance track featuring powerful Futurepop-style vocals from the fantastic Ruined Conflict.
What is your most recent release and what is it about?
‘Outliers’ is a mostly futuristic, sci-fi-inspired solo album that showcases the signature Simon Carter sound. It’s packed with dancefloor anthems, blending elements of techno, cyberpunk, and trance, all the styles fans have come to expect. Keep your eyes on my YouTube channel as I plan to upload a few of the tracks there before the official full album release.
Take us through your creative process. How do you compose a song from start to finish? Where do the ideas come from?
When I’m writing my own lyrics, I usually work in reverse, I start with the lyrics and build the music around them. When I collaborate with others who are writing their own lyrics, I focus on creating a catchy instrumental that leaves plenty of space for the vocals to shine.
What’s your current favorite song, band, or album within your scene? And vice versa, what do you enjoy the most that’s completely opposite of what you make?
I’ve got to give a shoutout to Massive Ego, since their comeback they’ve successfully reinvented both their image and sound, which is no small feat in a scene that can often be quite challenging and restrictive when it comes to change.
On the opposite end of the musical spectrum from what I create, I’ve recently been revisiting Therapy?’s Troublegum for its 30th anniversary. That album still packs a punch and nothing hits harder than Fyfe Ewing’s snare.
What is on the horizon for your project? Upcoming gigs, tours, merch, videos, etc. Name it, link it, show it off.
I’ve got a gig coming up on December 6th at the Facebar in Reading (UK), which is about as close to a “hometown” show as it gets for me with Reading being just one county over. I’m working on a collaborative EP with a fellow Brit and after that, it’s time to finish the follow-up to Start The Sequence, that’s the one I get asked for the most.
Website: https://simoncarter.info
Bandcamp: https://simon-carter.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Simon.Carter_Official
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LCEYmdpAIfHXqmHtdCVMX
