Ben Carr, better known as CARRTOONS, is an artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from New York who brings the electric bass to the forefront.
His unique basslines and timeless sound have led to four NPR Tiny Desk appearances, commercial placements with the likes of Nike, PlayStation, and Hulu, and collaborations with pivotal artists across genres including Usher, Freddie Gibbs, George Clinton, and countless others.
In celebration of the release of his new sample pack on Splice Sounds, we had the opportunity to sit down with CARRTOONS to discuss three key insights he’s garnered over the span of his career—read on for highlights.
1. Find your own sound
A key ingredient to CARRTOONS’ success is his immediately recognizable sound. While it’s important to find your own sonic identity as an artist, it’s not something that has to be set in stone or completely unrecognizable from everything that’s come before you—rather, CARRTOONS encourages creators to consider their roots and the sources of inspiration that they naturally gravitate towards.
“Like anyone else, my sound is ever-changing,” he tells us. “For the last few years, I’ve used the term ‘Modern Motown’ a lot when trying to describe the sound I’ve been developing. I’m not sure if that’s truly accurate, to be honest, but I like to use it as an example because it gives you an idea of where I’m coming from.”
The current iteration of CARRTOONS’ sound is a combination of both composition and sound design. “I love my Tascam Porta Two right now for dialing in vintage cassette sounds,” he says. “I also used a lot of TAL-U-NO, Addictive Keys, and RC-20 on this particular sample pack.”
2. Cherish your collaborators
In an age that encourages creators to constantly be “on the grind,” collaborations can sometimes morph into something that feels impersonal and even transactional. However, when speaking with CARRTOONS, it becomes clear that the collaborations that have been the most fulfilling for him are those where authentic relationships shine through and nurture an environment for creativity to flourish.
“The collaborations that mean the most to me are those with friends I’ve developed great relationships with over the years,” he reflects. “The folks who have featured on my albums, such as Rae Khalil, Topaz Jones, Joanna Teters, Julia Zivic, Haile Supreme, and others have really helped my solo albums shine, and I’m incredibly grateful for their contributions.”
“One recent song that comes to mind that I’m particularly proud of is ‘Spaceships,’ from my latest album Saturday Night. My friend Haile Supreme really nailed the vocals on that track, and I feel like it’s some of my most sincere work to date.”
These sorts of relationships are also at the center of CARRTOONS’ accomplishments on NPR Tiny Desk. “I have to shout out NPR producer Bobby Carter for reaching out and giving me incredible opportunities on several occasions,” he tells us. “He originally contacted me during the pandemic to say he was a fan via Twitter. When NPR was looking to put together a Tiny Desk for their 50th anniversary, Bobby reached out again about recreating some NPR themes with modern producers.”
“This is how I initially connected with Kiefer, who has since become a close friend and collaborator. Since then, Bobby has asked me to help put together two other shows: my own Tiny Desk and The LOX’s Tiny Desk. Both experiences are ones I’ll never forget, and have opened doors in my career that I never thought would be possible.”
3. Stay consistent
Last but not least, CARRTOONS encourages up-and-coming creators to stay consistent with honing their craft. “Consistency is key,” he says. “And don’t forget how to enjoy the process. Also, when you’re making music on a computer, don’t let the computer play you!”
If consistency is something that you struggle with, check out our guide below for ideas for how you can strategically set and achieve your creative goals:
Incorporate CARRTOONS’ sounds into your own productions
With his new sample pack, you can now incorporate CARRTOONS’ signature basslines, hazy guitar chords, synth textures, and more as ingredients in your own productions.
“I often create tracks by combining two separate elements, so the process of making this pack was similar to my usual workflow,” he shares. “I love making samples and usually do it just for fun and to build my own library, so this felt like a great excuse to finally share them properly.”
If you don’t know where to start, CARRTOONS recommends this arpeggio sample as one of his personal favorites. “I love the way it came out,” he says. “I made it by running a Stylophone through an Ibanez AD9 delay pedal on the first day I owned either of those pieces of gear.”
And there you have it! What was your favorite insight from CARRTOONS? Who would you like to see us feature next? Start a conversation with us and an ever-growing community of other music creators via the Splice Discord.
Spark the inspiration for your next track with CARRTOONS’ hand-crafted sounds:
January 21, 2025
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