Interview: CARRTOONS on New Album Space Cadet, Collaboration, and Finding Joy Beyond Social Media

A few days ago we woke up to the release of CARRTOONS' long-awaited studio album Space Cadet. A multifaceted mix of beautifully weaved genres and emotions, anchored by Ben's ability to control the uncontrollable (groove). The record is bringing together a brilliant constellation of artists with their own experiences, skills and charisma, ready to create some of the most vaporous tunes out there.

One of the things I love most about what we do is shining a light on producers and instrumentalists just as much as the voices in the spotlight. And if there’s anyone who deserves that kind of love and recognition, it’s without a doubt CARRTOONS.

I had the pleasure to chat CARRTOONS him in those early days of album's release and get a glimpse into the world of Space Cadet. Hope you enjoy our conversation.

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Space Cadet has just arrived and I couldn't be happier. What inspired the record in the first place?

The album was originally inspired by my tendency to drift off and be a bit of a space cadet. From there, it expanded into themes of love and jealousy. Once those concepts clicked, the ideas started pouring out.

If you could build the perfect scenario/location/setup for fans to experience the album for the first time, where/what would that be?

We’re doing a three-night residency in Brooklyn for this release, and honestly, that’s the dream for me.

Homegrown was one of the first records that really drew me into your music, and our whole team had Saturday Night in our top 100 albums of 2023. What should we expect from Space Cadet?

I really appreciate the support! You can definitely expect my most thoughtful album yet. I put a lot of time into it, with a painful amount of rewriting and mix edits, just to make sure the feelings came across the way I wanted.

You’ve said this album is about going back to what matters most to you, and letting go of other people’s feedback. How did that change the way you approached making it?

I was getting overwhelmed with all the feedback on social media, so I decided to step away from making beat videos for a while. That gave me space to be more patient and intentional with this album. It also let me reflect on this chapter of my life and pour all of that into the music.

The new album features a mix of familiar names you’ve worked with before and some brand-new collaborators. What goes into your process when deciding who to bring into your own projects?

I usually start by making a list of people I’d love to work with. As demos come together, I reach out to them. With this album, I actually reached out to a lot of dream collaborators who ended up saying no. Looking back, I’m glad it worked out that way—it pushed me to pass the ball to younger artists and to people I already had great chemistry with.

Since the list of collaborators is quite long, what's your recording process like?

I prefer to collaborate in person, but a good amount of features on this record happened remotely. During COVID, I developed the skill (and the patience) to make a record that way. It takes a lot of back and forth, and sometimes months to get a track done.

The album will be available on vinyl - are you a collector yourself and/or do you see this as an alternative to the (rather distracting nowadays) process of streaming?

I love collecting vinyl, though my collection isn't anything wild. These days, I mostly listen to music on streaming, but I still love digging into my dad's old vinyl collection that I keep at my apartment. Lots of great dollar-bin finds from the '70s in there.

Our first CARRTOONS feature dates back to 2020. What's the most significant change about you since then?

The project has become a lot more collaborative since then. Back in 2020, I pushed myself to play every instrument on every recording. Now I just want to do whatever’s best for the song - best idea wins.

What would you advise any musician starting out in today's landscape? What should they focus on the most, in your opinion?

I’d say focus on learning the music you love most and find your own voice through that. Whatever inspires you, dive into it, and seek out like-minded people to build with.

What's the most challenging aspect of the music industry right now?

Social media, for sure. The focus on making “viral” content can be pretty discouraging. It feels like we’re at the end of an era where independent artists could break through without major backing.

In a recent interview, you mentioned Alan Hampton encouraged you to return to making music and helped you rediscover the joy in the process - something many artists struggle with today. How do you stay challenged and make sure creating music stays fun?

That’s a great question. Honestly, it’s still a challenge for me to keep that spark and playfulness alive. I have a bad habit of being too serious in sessions. Some days are better than others!

For producers, I think it’s important to stay social and avoid being too introverted. Remember it’s a contribution to something bigger, and don’t take it all so seriously. Most importantly—enjoy the process, not just focused on the results.

What's on your playlist right now, and who are we all sleeping on?

I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz and yacht rock lately. A track called “Get Used To It” by Roger Voudouris comes to mind - really inspiring songwriting and production.

You have worked with so many talented people, but who is one that always gets away?

Right now, I’d still love to make a track with Anderson .Paak. I think we could create something really special together.

How important are the caps lock on CARRTOONS, and why?

Pretty important! Two reasons: first, I just like how it looks. Second, it’s a little tribute to one of my all-time favorites, MF DOOM.

What's next for CARRTOONS?

I’ve got a few more collaborative projects already in the works. I’m also going back to my jazz roots a bit, but in a fun way. Excited to share more about that soon!