Q: “ANGER ISSUES” has such a nostalgic hard-rock feel to it that hasn’t been heard recently. Who are your biggest influences?
KARSON: Aside from Wu-Tang— Arctic Monkeys, Dayglow, I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, and My Chemical Romance
Q: I’m always interested in how the Covid-19 pandemic affected artists’ creativity; for some, the isolation stunted one’s drive to make music, while others were more inspired to create. How has the pandemic affected the way you make music?
KARSON: The pandemic gave me a chance to really devote my time into my craft. I already spend 70% of my time making music, but the pandemic gave me a chance to learn a lot and master what I do.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice about the music industry you’ve received?
KARSON: 9 times out of 10, higher ups in the industry are telling you what you want to hear, as a mechanism of enticement, so always stay grounded.
Q: The fact that you’re only 19 with such a distinct sound is remarkable. In your own words, how would you describe the kind of music you typically create?
KARSON: I take simple thoughts or emotions and create something around that; whatever it may be. I don’t put myself in a box, I just make what i’m feeling. Somedays I want to rap until my tongue falls off, and other days I want to scream and head bang. I don’t like sticking to the same thing, but I try to make the mod podge of songs I make as cohesive as possible.
Q: Can you tell me a little about the inspiration behind “ANGER ISSUES”?
KARSON: I was listening to a lot of Arctic Monkeys and I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME. Specifically Arctics, “Why’d You Only Call Me When Your High” and “Mx. Sinister” by IDK HOW. Those songs had just such a feel to them I wanted to capture in my own way. I was overthinking a lot of things I’ve done in the past that weren’t inherently bad but I still felt guilty over and wrote about that.
Q: What has been one of the highlights of your music career so far?
KARSON: the “TrapNation” youtube channel DM’d me on Instagram telling me they really liked my music and to keep it up sometime in 2021 and that co-sign meant so much. I got my first iPod in 2014 and I fell in love with EDM music because of TrapNation. TrapNation holds a very special place in my heart.
Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the works?
KARSON: I’m working on my debut album right now that I am code naming “TDA” that I am super excited about; its sounding unbelievably incredible. But for now, I have another song coming out in August called “Fish Tank” that I am really proud of and so gassed to put out, I got a lot off my chest on that joint. Cannot wait for people to hear it.
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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