How Community Refines Craft: A Chat with CARRTOONS

We had our very own John McNeill from Soul Surplussit down with CARRTOONS to chat about his new sample pack, and the role of community in his artistic process.

John: Over the last few years, your sound has become instantly recognizable—that balance of warmth, groove, and musicality. When you listen back to your earlier work compared to where you are now, what do you think has evolved the most in you as both a musician and producer?

CARRTOONS: I’ve tried to really hone in on the types of sounds and tones that remind me of growing up, and the things that get me the most excited about music. I think the many hours I put into producing and writing earlier in my life allowed me to cut the fat and really get to the heart of the sound I’m trying to present now.

John: You’ve built a career where you can shift between being the lead artist, a collaborator, a sideman, and even a musical director depending on the situation. Mentally and creatively, how different are those roles for you?

CARRTOONS: The roles are definitely different, but over time they’ve all become more connected to me. The main ingredient for me when I’m at my best is taking my ego out of the situation, no matter what role I’m playing, and just trying to serve the music the best that I can. I've always loved being a role player in a band, though, and that’s why bass was always so appealing to me. But at the same time, I’m a natural-born leader, and at certain moments it’s clear that I need to step up to the plate.

John: When you’re leading your own projects–whether it’s in the studio or live on stage–what do you feel people are hearing that is uniquely “CARRTOONS”?

CARRTOONS: I like to think what’s set me apart has always centered around the bass. Because I've been playing since I was super young, it’s always been my tool for bringing the music to the next level.

Recently, though, I’ve been working really hard to define my sound on guitar and keyboard. My facility on those instruments isn’t nearly as strong as it is on bass, but I love sound designing and being “my own band.” When I force myself to play instruments I’m less comfortable with and allow some mistakes to happen, that’s where the real magic is for me as a solo artist.

John: This new pack feels like a continuation of your world sonically, but also a progression. What did you want to approach differently with Vol. 2 compared to the first pack?

CARRTOONS: I wanted to do bigger and better drums on this one first and foremost. But also, like a lot of sample makers, I feel like people sometimes sleep on the melodic examples I make, so I wanted to make sure these were undeniable. I’m really looking forward to hearing these on some records.

John: A lot of producers can make loops, but your music tends to feel lived-in and human. When you were building these sounds, what details were you paying attention to most?

CARRTOONS: Starting with live bass and guitar often helps me get into a real human space and keeps me in check with any MIDI instruments that I’m adding. It’s definitely been very important for me to learn how to finesse those kinds of MIDI sounds — with tools like RC-20, SketchCassette, etc. — to make them shine and feel lived-in like the rest of the track.

John: Your collaborations always feel intentional and relationship-driven rather than transactional. Looking back, what are some collaborations that genuinely changed you creatively or personally?

CARRTOONS: The first one that comes to mind is my recent collaborations with Hailé Supreme. Like most great friendships, we met through a mutual friend and got along right off the bat. It instantly felt clear that we needed to make more music together outside of that first collaboration.

Hailé is such a polite and generous friend that we became close really quickly, and we’ve been working on a lot of music recently. We’ve both legitimately become closer with family through some of the music we’ve made. The kind of bond we’ve been building is something you can’t really teach, and it’s the kind of thing that ends up making really special albums, in my opinion.

John: You’ve worked across so many different musical spaces–soul, hip-hop, jazz, funk, alternative. Are there any artists or records lately that have been pushing your ears in new directions, or evergreen records you always come back to?

CARRTOONS: Absolutely. All of the recent collaborations that the Alchemist has been doing have really inspired me to find my own voice in the New York hip-hop scene that means so much to me. I feel like the world still hasn’t really heard my take on that type of sound and what I have to offer within that genre. I really love the new record with Larry June and Curren$y — that’s definitely been pushing me to pursue some new sounds.

John: Balancing touring, rehearsals, arranging, and studio production can pull artists in a lot of directions creatively. How have you learned to protect your creativity while staying active on the road?

CARTOONS: It’s hard not to be affected by what’s going on around you musically when you’re on tour. Inevitably, we’re all going to soak up our surroundings and pick up some of the things we’re hearing, whether we like it or not. That being said, I’ve learned how to find space for myself and do my own thing enough so that I’m not projecting my own ego into the situation too much.

John: Your NPR Tiny Desk performance felt like a real milestone moment–not just technically, but emotionally too. Did that experience change the way you think about your music or where your career could go?

CARRTOONS: Yeah, there’s no doubt that opportunity changed everything for me. As soon as that happened, I was legitimized to the world in a way that nothing else really could’ve done. And as somebody who had been coined an “Internet Producer,” I think it gave me an opportunity to show the world that I’m more than that.

John: There’s a real sense of community in your work–the musicians you bring together, the energy of the performances, even the way your records feel collaborative. What have you learned about building creative chemistry with people over time?

CARRTOONS: Community building in music is something that has always come naturally to me. Music was always the avenue through which I naturally met new friends and introduced people to each other. It’s one of the few places in life where I can speak confidently.

I’ve learned that you can’t have chemistry with every artist, and that can be really frustrating when you genuinely love that artist’s work. There’s an ebb and flow that needs to happen in the production process with the artist. It’s magical, and it can’t be forced.

John: For producers and artists trying to evolve creatively, especially in an era where trends move fast and algorithms reward repetition, how do you avoid becoming stagnant?

CARRTOONS: It’s very important to make sure that you’re sharing your music and your gift with other people. Even more importantly, listening to your peers and studying what they’re doing. For me, my friends are my best teachers, and I’ve gained so much courage in finding my own sound through watching them. Surrounding yourself with people who don’t chase trends is a good way to avoid getting caught up in that stuff.

John: What are you most excited about right now–whether that’s touring, collaborations, solo music, or anything else people should be paying attention to next?

CARRTOONS: Right now I’m most excited about three different collaborative albums that I’m working on with upcoming rappers Lord Sko and LifeofThom, as well as soul singer Hailé Supreme. Over the last six months, I feel like I’ve really found my sound as a producer. I’m very excited to share what I’ve been working on.