A rising force in the UK electronic scene, CARMICHAEL has always been a force for good. Flourishing on hazy, blissful and cinematic vibes, the talented DJ and producer constantly oscillates between leftfield and mainstream, eventually settling on a personal formula that’s hypnotic and cathartic. That’s what sets the project apart; CARMICHAEL doesn’t provide just beats, but also feels. And yes, we are aware that’s a cheesy description, but honestly? It perfectly works.
Not looking for viral fame or proven formulas, CARMICHAEL forges his own path, sparking a journey of authenticity and emotional reckoning that manages to find a special place in dancefloors and clubs worldwide. ‘Just Me’ is the perfect evidence of that; the latest effort by the British creative, the single sees him team up with French producer Piers, delivering an eclectic gem that jumps from introspective deep house to anthemic UK Garage with unmatched charisma and contemporary flair.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with CARMICHAEL to find out more about the record and his overall artistry… Interview below!
Hey CARMICHAEL, thanks for chatting with us! I love your hazy, dreamy take on club-oriented electronica. You describe it as ‘blissful’, an adjective that fits the bill perfectly. I am curious about the journey that took you there; what made you evade a more conventional DJ/producer career in EDM, in favour of becoming a nuanced, cathartic figure that explores slightly more leftfield territories? Are there any particular artists or records that inspired you along the way?
Hey, thanks a lot for the kind words! My musical journey has such a vast scope of inspiration – in my early years, I was definitely shaped by listening to the likes of Radiohead, Aphex Twin, Burial, etc, so I always connected with that darker, introspective sound. Creating music for me is a form of therapy and a way to express myself, my emotions and feelings better than I can with words. Because of this, my material turns out to be far too melancholic to go down the conventional EDM route!
Do you see yourself more as a performer and DJ, or as a producer? Perhaps the two things feed each other? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that!
That’s a good question – I began my music career as a performer (drums and percussion mainly), and to this day that is my main ‘job’, so I’ve always performed. I’ve written songs for a long time, but I only became a proper producer in the past 3 years or so. And when it comes to DJing, that is actually the skill I learned last as a way of being able to perform on the electronic circuit.
I’d definitely say it all goes hand in hand for me – performance for this project, however, is something I really want to elevate in the coming years. I need to perform my music live, but I just haven’t quite figured out how exactly I want to do it yet!
‘Just Me’ is your latest record, a collaboration with French producer Piers. It’s truly evocative and eclectic, a wholesome display of how UK garage can be pushed towards more meaningful territories. How did the collaboration come about? What was its starting point?
So I came across Piers’ music whilst digging for tracks for my radio shows, and became lowkey obsessed with his stuff. After spinning some of his records, I felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to see if he fancied linking up for a collab. I sent him over a bunch of WIPs I had been working on, and the initial keys part and vocal for ‘Just Me’ were some elements he particularly clicked with.
I sent him off the stems, and he came back with some incredible developments on the ideas, and it just snowballed from there really. We’ve also formed a lovely friendship off the back of it as well, which has been the cherry on top.
Widening the picture, I’d love to get a glimpse of your creative process. Are you the type that drafts sonic ideas every day and then selects the best ones, or do you approach every record with a pre-conceived idea of where you are going?
My process literally varies track to track. I do voice notes a lot in the middle of the night, when I’m half asleep and try to get down what I was almost dreaming of as soon as possible. A lot of the time, I’ll be like ‘aww, I need to start an idea that’s this style’ or with this kind of sound or drums. But sometimes I’ll literally just start a new project, mess around with synths or make a drum rack and go from scratch, build it from the ground up.
In general, do you feel more confident writing and producing music alone, or within a team?
I definitely used to be a lot more comfortable in my early stages of writing alone, as I felt there was no potential judgment; however, I’ve really enjoyed collaborative writing recently. I realised there’s such a positive community within the electronic world, and sometimes it’s incredible to get a different set of ears to bounce ideas off. I do have certain things I’m writing that are too personal for me to have other writers involved, so I definitely still keep a lot of drafts to myself.
You are the founder of The White Heather Club, an original mix series geared towards the most sensible, elegant side of electronica. What’s the plan for the project? Will you extend it to guest DJs?
Yeah, so this started as my monthly radio show, which then transformed into guest shows on multiple stations. I recently launched the video mix series on YouTube, and I’m definitely planning on bringing in some other artists I’ve been working with for some b2b sets – and then from there I want to gradually grow the brand into events and a label. Big dreams for this one for sure!
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
I think I’ve found it difficult to get as many shows as I would like. I’m definitely restricted because of my genre(s), however, I do sort of play more of the clubbier cuts to suit the event I’m booked on, but unfortunately, I do feel as an artist of my current size there isn’t as much opportunity; the grassroots levels are really overshadowed by the more mainstream scenes.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I’ve got so much on the horizon. I’m planning on getting a good few singles/EPs & collaborations out this year and the start of next – but I’m also working on my debut album, which is a big project. Still continuing my monthly radio show and doing plenty of guest spots all over, growing The White Heather Club and sorting out my live show… So yeah, a lot to do, so little time!
