Bassist and producer Carter Fox has been an active musician, songwriter, producer, and artist since he was 15, growing from playing in local bars and clubs around Philadelphia to sharing stages with Jeffrey Osborne, Patti LaBelle, and the Isley Brothers in theaters, arenas, and stadiums all over the world. He is a protege of world-renowned bassist Gerald Veasley and has worked with award-winning, legendary, and amazing artists and producers such as Freddie Jackson, Leon Huff (of Gamble & Huff), Pablo Batista, and David Ivory. In this new live studio rendition of his song ‘Spring Wind,’ Fox and collaborator Steve Honz bring his music inspired by outer space, video games, and being good to each other to life in an entertaining fashion.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Carter Fox, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Great to meet with and chat with you, too, Kamil! I’ve always been into music to be honest. I think it was because I was surrounded by it growing up. My immediate family weren’t big time musicians or anything (my mom used to play sax and my dad messed with piano), but they LOVE music. Car rides and evenings were filled with soundtracks of musicals, classical scores, jazz and smooth jazz greats, and as I got older, my own love of music in its variety of styles was supported by my friends and family. Well, maybe except my older brother whose bedroom was right above where I’d practice bass at random hours (he said he could feel it!).
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
My favorite part of being a musician is the energy you feel, collect, share while on stage with your fellow musicians and the music listeners in the audience. It’s truly electrifying and there is no greater feeling! The least favorite part… aside from the bouts of self-doubt lol… could be the time spent away from family and friends when the road and studio calls and you get busy doing the work we love to do! I have missed many life-events (weddings, birthdays, etc.) while on the road. But life is all about balance.
Your latest song is 'Spring Wind (Live at Everloft Studios)'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
This song, the original version was created when my collaborator Steve Honz and I were in my studio and just wanted to make a loop-based, sampled-based jam. We LOVE boombap, chillhop, beats-inspired instrumentals and just made it the goal of the sesh to make a groove in that realm. I basically pretended Steve was a sampler, he played 4 bars and I yell ‘STOP’ and move on to a brand new idea. Then we sat back, added a fun chopped vocal and voila! Spring Wind! Being such a fun and upbeat groove, and wanting to expand it a bit more than its original release on Astronomical, we recorded and released this fun new live version!
How do you differ from most other artists?
That’s a toughy, but I’d like to think it’s in my storytelling/philosophy that’s just ingrained into my music. Now, I don’t always throw out there the story of my works, but there is always something underlying, inspired by space, or video games, or positive experiences in life. And that story and my credo ‘travel soulfully,’ and that positive energy I hope people take away from my music, even if you’re in a down mood, I hope my music lifts you up. And if you’re feeling great, I hope my music inspires you to go even higher!
Where are you from and do you have a stable home or do you prefer travelling?
I’m from Philadelphia, PA, USA, lived here for the last 14 years since moving into the city for college. I grew up about 35 minutes outside the city. I also really enjoy my home with my studio, comfy bed, and cats! But I also really enjoy new places and getting to experience life a bit differently than usual. That’s a really big benefit of playing shows all around!
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I would describe it as a blending of many genres as to result in sounds that calm, motivate, and inspire. Another step in the evolution of jazz (though I’m sure some jazz folks would hate me to say that), blending electronic elements, rock elements, classical, world, and country influences that results in sometimes orchestral and thematic (see my song Accelerating Expansion from my album Epoch), sometimes very chillhop/triphop/boompop (like Spring Wind), sometimes straight rocking music (see my song Slump from my album Cartercraft)..
How do you nurture your own creativity?
Taking time to be with oneself, alone in nature, or in a new environment or city, can really inspire me to create. Allowing myself to observe life and reflect and feel, that allows me to re-energize my creative-self. I find when I’m overwhelmed and busy, even if it’s musically, I lose a little bit of that creative edge, so it’s important to take a moment and breathe in life and let it refuel you.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
I would LOVE to open a show for Stevie Wonder. One of my biggest musical influences of all time. And would be MORE THAN HONORED to get an invite to jam on Sir Duke or I Wish or Do I Do! But shoutout to Herbie Hancock, because this question was SUPER difficult to decide between those two legends.
Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?
Someone who is easy to talk with and chill with, just kinda freely grooves out to the vibe, and isn’t afraid to throw some ideas out there (and throw out some ideas), and that they listen. These are great traits for musicians and. Collaborators in general, just makes it nice to vibe with. Additionally, personally, I enjoy working with chordal players (pianists, guitarists) on lots of collaborations because it balances me out as a bassist and rhythm dude. Also love working with ‘leads’ like vocalists, sax players, etc. Of this, I definitely described the majority of people I actually do collab with, and especially my main man number one collaborator (and very good friend) Steve Honz!
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue releasing music and sharing my love of science, video games, and music with the world (and hopefully the universe)! I have a brand new EP coming out this summer, with the first single dropping in March! I’m also recording a cool Leesta Vall Direct-to-Vinyl session where fans can order a one of a kind 7” handpressed version of one of my songs! Check it out here: https://leestavall.com/products/carterfox
Other than that, I am working on more brand new music for myself and with many collaborators and plan on releasing more music, playing more shows, and traveling soulfully across the universe far into the future!