Hailing from Hawaii (via LA), Mr. Carmack has seen two of his releases become No. 1 bestsellers on Bandcamp. We chat to the producer before he brings his unique blend of hip-hop and trap to Lantern on April 29 and Arkham on April 30.
Your initial success came through Bandcamp and Soundcloud. Do you ever stop and think about how quintessentially 21st century your career has been?
Yes! Without the Internet, I’d still be a farmer. My initial success was because I set up a Bandcamp and Soundcloud and directed people – friends and fans – there to listen. It is a proven, successful method to get music out. It’s still possible today, although people are more wary. They have better-tuned ears than a couple of years ago, due to the saturation and over-saturation of people utilizing these methods.
Why did you decide to put your entire discography up for free?
Because I wanted to. A lot of my ‘career’ is owed to gut feelings, or spontaneous ideas that came along. I’ve been more calculated and reserved lately, though. We'll see if it’s to my detriment or advantage.
Did you get any weird questions on your Reddit AMA?
I got a direct message asking me to come teach someone’s girlfriend how to make beats. I think they lived in the Midwest though, so too far away.
Have you been on your own Wikipedia page? It’s one of the longest ones we’ve ever seen. Pretty much every track you've worked on is listed in detail.
No, but that’s awesome!
Your motto is “make music like noone's listening.” But does that become increasingly difficult to live by as you realize how many more people are listening?
You know, this is my favorite interview ever. Great question. I do find it more difficult to live by, because the nature of shows and how different crowds react have 100 percent affected the way I make music. I used to just tune out and write, stuck in my own house or at the park, with no show or crazy tour schedule looming over my head! Now I am more attuned to what people like, what people dance to – or don’t dance to. But I still manage to keep myself happy, creating my own direction and ideas. I’ve found I'm way more productive when I'm working to realize my own vision, not someone else’s.
Beijing: Apr 29, 10pm-late, RMB1200 (RMB100 if you follow SHFT on WeChat username: oneloveshanghai). Lantern. (Support comes from Jarreau Vandal, Oshi, Shackup, Bloodzboi and Dokedo)
Shanghai: Apr 30, 10pm-late, RMB100-200. Arkham, see event listing.
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