FEATURE: Spotlight: Carrie Baxter — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Carrie Baxter

__________

DETERMINED to feature…

as many great rising artists in this feature as I can before the end of the year, I think that Carrie Baxter is someone who should be known and heard by more people. An amazing artist with such an incredible voice, I am going to come to an interview from this year. Before coming to an interview from last year, here is a feature from Tileyard. Baxter talks about her background, in addition to how important the Tileyard Education experience was for her:

“Tell us about your background, your upbringing, and your introduction into the world of music.

I’m from Waterford City in Southern Ireland. My hometown is very special to me despite me not being based there anymore. I think firstly it’s impossible to be from Ireland and not inherently pick up some form of love for music. The country is very rhythmical and built on storytelling which is why I love writing lyrics so much. My family were and still are very musical. A lot of my family either play or sing and I have to say they have great taste in music. You will rarely be in my house without some form of music on.

How did you get into music production, songwriting, and performance?

I’ve been writing lyrics / poems for as long as I can remember. They only turned into songs when someone bought me a guitar for Christmas one year and I sort of taught myself some chords and started piecing structures together. That lasted a few years, then I found electronic music and started top-lining over various beats – that’s when I really found my flow. Performance came from my childhood; I trained in acting and musical theatre so I’ve been on stage for a long time.

What were some of the barriers you experienced, or still do experience, as a ‘female producer/performer’?

I think I’ve entered the industry at a really exciting and supportive time for women as there is a lot of brilliant people doing fantastic things to push the needle forward and shine light where there previously was none. I can only comment on myself as a writer in the room and as an artist showing up in a male dominant workplace and say that it’s very important to be able to stand your ground and say what you think. Having confidence in your own ideas and abilities is imperative.

How was your experience of Tileyard Education, and how did this teach you the knowledge and life skills needed to be in the industry?

It’s not an understatement when I say studying at Tileyard Education changed my life. When I started at Tileyard my songwriting and understanding of the craft really went up a level. Having people around all the time that I could ask for advice or guidance was invaluable and getting constant feedback from my peers was priceless.

What can we look forward to hearing from you in the next few months / year from your creativity?

I’m not even sure what to expect from my creativity next. I’m hoping to continue working on the multiple different projects that I’ve got going on. Dance music, R&B, Bassline etc. I’m thankfully playing a lot of live shows and just figuring out what I want to do next!”.

PHOTO CREDIT: Meara Kallista Morse

Carrie Baxter has released a series of wonderful singles this year. Last year, the incredible mixtape/long E.P., What Now. Differing from her previous E.P., Placebo, it was a step up from the Waterford artist. I am looking forward to next year to see if there is an album or another E.P. coming. WONDERLAND. chatted with Baxter about What Now. Residing in London, it is clear that the city has had an impact on her sound, production and direction:

“With everything that happened last year, how was your creativity affected?

My creativity had its ups and downs like everyone I guess. One day I would write loads and the next I was freaking out that I had lost my “spark” lol I did feel a bit nuts in lockdown.

How did you first get into music, what sparked the interest?

Well I guess firstly there is no denying the presence and history of music, storytelling & rhythm in Ireland, it feels natural to love music, almost an inherited love for it. I grew up in a very musical family, there was always decent music on in my house growing up and a lot of my family were/ are musicians and I was encouraged to play from a young age. I don’t think I realised how much I loved music until I hit my teenage years when I found Hip-Hop.

And you’re from Ireland but moved to London, do you think this change impacted your sound in anyway?

Yeah 100%. I’ve lived in London for around 12 years now so the city is part of me as much as my home is. I didn’t start writing music until I came to London and so I would say my taste in sounds has been completely shaped here in comparison to perhaps the narratives I reflect on which is across the board from growing up in Ireland to living in the fast lane in London.

You’ve just dropped your EP “What Now”, talk us through your mindset approaching the project?

I co-wrote this whole project with my friend GRAMM. It’s been so close to us for so many years I guess I have to jog my memory back to when we started it a couple of years ago because finishing it was an almighty stress in the middle of another lockdown and him not being in the same country as me. We just wanted it to be a total amalgamation of how we hear music together.

Who would you say inspires you?

Lots of people in different ways. Some inspire me to keep swimming, some inspire me to write music. I guess the most obvious answer is people who are already achieving what I want but more so everyone in my inner circle. They all share similar qualities that I like to keep around me.

What are you most excited for? What’s next for you?

Most of the work I have put out over the last 2 years has been written about the past or were made in the past and released quite a bit later on. I feel like I’m starting with a blank canvas in 2022 – like damn, I have to get to know myself again, what sounds do I like now, what do I have to say now, do I want to work with more people, less people – who knows- all of these questions – it feels daunting and exciting all at the same time. Hopefully some more live opportunities too – that would be nice – I miss singing live”.

I will wrap things up with an interview from this year. ReVamp spoke with Baxter about a successful year. Since her debut single arrived in October 2019, she has built her fanbase and established herself as an incredible artist with a big future. She is someone that people need to be aware of:

“Thanks for talking to ReVamp Carrie, when you were growing up, who are you inspired by in the music world?

A lot of different people really. Like most young girls at that time I was in love with the Spice girls, then as I hit teenage hood I really went heavy into hip hop & R&B. My house was a hub of music really, my family were the ones who gave me Norah Jones, Fleetwood Mac, Anita Baker & Van Morrison.

You are a fan favourite thanks to your ‘Honesty' and the ‘Straightforwardness’.. was this always something you wanted to achieve when creating your songs?

I didn't really set out to achieve anything, its just how I am as a person so I guess it translates quiet naturally into my writing. I enjoy writing made up stories too but writing is healing for me so I don't have an option not to be.

You have a live version of your single ‘You’, what made you decide to perform this single completely unfiltered?

It's just something I've always wanted to do. Me and a piano, one take, simple and classic. I had to write a song that I felt warranted this treatment haha and I love the lyrics on You so it was an easy choice to finally do it with this track. I'm a huge fan of space in music so I enjoyed being able to sing it with no distractions.

What is the song about and when people listen to it, what do you want them to feel?

The song was written for my friends wife actually, he wrote the chord progression and brought it to me asking me to write a song for her - from his perspective (he's not a singer lol ) and this came out. Unconditional love, soul mates. I'd like to think people feel peace for 3 mins.

On the day of writing and recording, can you talk me through the process?

We pretty much wrote that song is 1 go. We went back and forth on the chorus melody for MONTHS ! I'm not one to change my mind on my first idea a lot of the time so we eventually landed back on the original. We got Alex Tierney on board to add BVS to the hook and he subsequently ended up writing the final outro/bridge section. Recording is a pretty similar process for me - I don't usually do many takes - I didn't on the original and also the live version was pretty much the same. Nathan - my friend who plays the keys in the video literally turned up a few hours before we sang through it and then hit record.

What is next for you?

A very busy 6 months ahead, lots of festivals, an irish tour, a london show anddd perhaps a surprise release (or 2)”.

I know Carrie Baxter is going to have a fantastic 2023. Recent singles like Selfish are among the best of this year. Having said how she’d like people to get a sense of her personality when they play the music, I think that does come through. You get so many different emotions and shades. Growing bigger and more assured with everything she releases, Carrie Baxter is an artist who will be reaching a huge audience…