The Colorado music sphere is much more than just obnoxiously repetitive “Ho Heys” and John Denver. While both have managed to help shift the spotlight onto the artist’s scene here, the similarities stop there. Our growing populace of a once single-cowed terrain has brought with it an engaging diversity. From indie sob-rock to punk, from electronic to experimental, all that and everything in between are important in growing the audible treats we call our own.
But not everything our state puts out is crème brulee and angel kisses. The notion of spending a night in a strange bar listening to a band nobody’s ever heard of is worrisome. For every one great band there’s fifty miserable ones, and with odds like that, we’re better off sitting at home with one in the chamber. That’s why we like to keep our finger on the pulse of the music life here in Colorado. This month, instead of featuring one great local band like we normally do, we’ve picked twelve of our favorites in a few of the genres our music industry has to offer.
Today we’re focusing on Denver’s CRL CRRLL. He’s a multi-faceted performer with plenty of tricks up his fashionable sleeves. Here’s an excerpt from our “Local Music Madness” feature that ran in this month’s issue and a collection of songs from the enigmatic man himself.
Carl Carrell isn’t so much hip hop as he is performance artist. His solo project, CRL CRRLL, embodies pieces from an array of genres including, but not at all limited to, neo-soul, hip hop, r&b, electronic and vocal harmony. The project is a step away from his back-end production work and is supplemental to his indie rock band The Ever. It allows him to be at the center of it all with genre descriptions irrelevant.
During his live show, Carrell stands behind a homemade projection screen triggering live visual effects while playing music and enacting vocals. This is a wild and unique undertaking for just one entertainer. While most DJs or other performers have very little to do with the live visual productions of their shows while on stage, Carrell does it seamlessly and generally on the fly.
His new single “2AM” was just recently released via his social media sites. Another titled “WGBA (We’re Gonna Be Alright)” will be on iTunes sometime this month. Carrell also has a show (at Moes BBQ in Englewood on October 30th).
*As always, The Rooster asks that you support the artists that you like, and don’t be an awful person by downloading illegally what you should pay for. Contrary to popular belief, musicians are people, and people need to eat and pay their rent – that’s probably too damn high anyways – just like us common folk. Artists work hard to make this world a little less boring, and should be compensated as such.
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