Carnival Youth im Interview über ihr Comeback

Carnival Youth im Interview über ihr Comeback

Wir haben die Comeback-Single „Empire of Temptations“ bereits auf dem Blog vorgestellt. Und wie angekündigt haben wir den Jungs auch noch einige Fragen zu ihrem bisherigen Werdegang, dem Comeback und dem was jetzt von ihnen noch kommt befragt. Es auch um COVID und darüber, was sie als Band gemeinsam beschlossen haben. In den nächsten 5-6 Fragen erfährst du in einem Rundumschlag so einiges über die vier guten Freunde.

“Empire of Temptations“ marks your return after a period of reflection and growth. How does this single reflect where Carnival Youth is now, both musically and personally?

Carnival Youth (Edgars Kaupers): „The single marks a new period in our careers – that is true. When COVID hit, international touring was put on pause, so three of us took the opportunity to study for Bachelor’s degrees. It was an amazing experience and totally worth it. Now, after four years of studying and touring every corner of Latvia, we’re working on a new international album. We’ve grown, and so has our taste in music, and hopefully, the songs will reflect that. Generally speaking, we’re moving away from rock and becoming more interested in good vibes and a groovy feel, but it’s all still cooked in a wok pan with spices of Carnival Youth.“

You’ve described the new single as a significant milestone in your career. Can you elaborate on what makes this release particularly meaningful to you?

Carnival Youth (Edgars Kaupers): „The significance comes from the fact that we’ve been working in the Latvian market for a couple of years, and this song is a milestone that shifts our focus back to Europe and the rest of the world.“

We’ve experienced quite a lot in the past 4 years as a band and as individuals. All the experiences have made us realise that we should focus on making music that we ourselves like and that our friends would enjoy.

The music video for „Empire of Temptations“ is visually dynamic, featuring elements like running and pole vaulting. How did you come up with the concept, and what message are you hoping to convey through these visuals?

Carnival Youth (Edgars Kaupers): „The moving picture has always attracted us, and sometimes restrictions or rules can help shape and convey the main feeling and idea of the video. We set out two rules for this video: every shot had to involve movement, whether it was the camera or an object. For this, the main setting—running—was very convenient. The other rule was that the idea had to be simple, allowing it to be more open to interpretation. Running and jumping, searching for the right moment to take off, always being ready, and so on, carry a lot of philosophical concepts in themselves. It was three fun days of shooting around Latvia, and Emils had to run a lot more than we had prepared for.“

Your music has always blended energetic melodies with dreamy sounds. How did you approach the production of “Empire of Temptations” to maintain this balance while exploring new creative directions?

Carnival Youth (Roberts Vanags): „The song evolved from the synth riff that playfully interacted with the bass. There it already had an energetic base. The groove formed when it was combined with the beat and guitar that gave it a bit of psychedelic dreaminess and kind of lightness. Vocal melodies always come last and lead the song
to a certain direction. This time we really didn’t want to take away the dreamy and groovy vibe, we didn’t push any of the elements too much to keep the balance, as you said.“

Reflecting on your journey since your debut album „No Clouds Allowed,“ how has your perspective on music and your approach to creating songs evolved over the years?

Carnival Youth (Roberts Vanags): „It sure has. We started writing songs in 10th grade, next year we’ll be 30. So we have gained some experience and our taste in music has evolved over the years. Our approach has not really
changed, we still try to make the most of our music together, and that’s where the magic happens. But what has changed is the flow and the taste of the overall mix. We’re not rushing the ideas to the finish line as quickly as we did before and the lyrics take all the time in the world, as we’re trying to write them to the best of our ability.“

You mentioned that you’ve all recently graduated and are approaching a new decade in your lives. How have these life changes influenced the themes and sound of your upcoming music?

Carnival Youth (Roberts Vanags): „We’ve experienced quite a lot in the past 4 years as a band and as individuals. All the experiences have made us realise that we should focus on making music that we ourselves like and that our friends would enjoy. But still, the biggest challenge is to crystallise the sound and the vibe we want to play, as there are endless options. Now we’re leaning towards a more groovy type of music that would work as a good background for your morning coffee and also make you move your feet on our live show. We
enjoy music that brings more light within but still has some depth. Music that lets you enjoy moments
on this planet, despite all the challenges and struggles we face in our lives. But still, creative freedom
is essential to us, anything can happen.“

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