Twelve-year-old Carson Ferris has already had quite the music career, and he’s just getting started. Carson has been singing since before he can remember and started taking guitar lessons at the age of 6. He got his chops in music performance by playing guitar and singing in rock bands with other students at Dave Wilbur’s Rock Lab in Orem, and then with the acclaimed One Voice Children’s Choir. Drive Alone is a song about finding his own path and making the decisions that will get him where he wants to go.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hi Carson Ferris. Nice to be able to interview you. How is life in Provo for you? Would you recommend the city for people from outside United States?
Provo is really cool! It has an amazing downtown and multiple music venues, including my favorite venue to play at, the Velour. I would definitely recommend it.
Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?
I really like OneRepublic. Ryan Tedder's songwriting is fantastic! His melodies are so catchy, and the lyrics really make you feel the song. I would love to be able to write like that.
Your latest track is 'Drive Alone'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
The writing of Drive Alone started in the backseat of a car. We were headed somewhere we hadn't been before, so we had the GPS giving us directions. It said to take the next left, and I just sang that out loud. That later became the first line of the bridge.
How can you describe the music you make?
I would describe my music as a kind of singer-songwriter pop, with a little bit of rock mixed in. Artists that I think have similar styles are Alec Benjamin, Ed Sheeran, and Shawn Mendes.
Do you have common hobbies beyond music?
Other hobbies besides music I have are reading, playing video games, and spending time with my family. Sometimes I’m reading multiple books at a time!
What got you started in the music industry?
I've always been inspired by musicians, but in 2018 I saw a video of a children's choir singing. I thought it was really cool and I wanted to be a part of something like that. I joined a choir, and that later led to me meeting people that helped me start my career.
What is the biggest decision you’ve had to make?
One of the biggest decisions I’ve had to make was whether or not to keep doing online school after schools opened up again. I ultimately decided to keep doing it because it meant I had more time for my music, even though it meant saying goodbye to a lot of people. I later wrote a song, “Goodbye”, about this.
What are your achievements to the moment?
I have performed for a crowd of over 2000 people and am in Donny Osmond's las vegas show. I also was the youngest person to ever perform at Fork Fest, a local music festival in American Fork.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I think the internet has made making music easier than ever! More people can hear your music, and you no longer have to be signed to a label. I really like being able to be an independent artist because I have more freedom with my music.
What are your plans for the future?
I have spent lots of time in the studio and recorded lots of songs that I am hoping to consistently release and build up momentum. Eventually, I am hoping to make this my job that I can support myself with.