The Carps
Encyclopedia
The Carps are a Canadian rock music duo consisting of bassist Neil White and drummer Jahmal Tonge. They are signed to Toronto-based URBNET Records
.
In addition to touring Europe and North America, The Carps have played with The Cool Kids
, MIA
, Holy Fuck, The Hives
and Lupe Fiasco
.
Singer Jahmal Tonge is featured on the MSTRKRFT
album Fist Of God On both songs "Breakaway" and "So Deep".
The Carps will also be featured in the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto video game series. With two songs from the Waves & Shambles EP featured in the game.
The Carps have released two EPs to critical acclaim, and have been applauded for their ability to weave genres of all types into a seamless and cohesive sound.
In March 2007, The Young & Passionate Days of Carpedia vol 2.1 was released under URBNET Records.
This was followed by the release of Waves & Shambles in April 2008, containing the featured track “Veronica Belmont” which was named after a well-known San Francisco-based tech journalist. The album also included an appearance by The Cool Kids
on the “Heaven's Gates & Hell’s Flames” remix (produced by drummer Jahmal Tonge).
The Carps are currently working on their debut full-length album.
Rarely photographed without multi-colored leather hi tops, turquoise or pink T-shirts, and skinny jeans, the two members of the Carps wear their hipster cred on their sleeves while making a full and unique blend of R&B and stripped-down indie rock—as a two-piece, no less. Neil White became friends with Jahmal Tonge at church at a young age in Toronto, and the two started creating music as a free-spirited pastime to fill the hours between skateboarding and golfing of all things.
Melding influences from the opposite ends of the musical spectrum (Tonge grew up on Motown while White listened to psychedelic rock and punk), the duo started jamming and playing clubs around the city. With a soulful Terence Trent D'Arby-esque voice, Tonge took to the drum stool vocalizing about urban strife and the debauchery of hipsters, while White added to the meat of the sound with dirty, distorted bass tones.
After shows in the Toronto clubs resulted in unenthused audiences, the two decided to take it to the States and organized a small tour to Philadelphia and New York City. The shows in the U.S. were a different story, where the indie crowds eagerly welcomed them with open arms, and soon after, the two were invited to join the roster of Urbnet Records. In 2007, their anticipated EP, The Young and Passionate Days of Carpedia, was released. ~ Jason Lymangrover, All Music Guide
URBNET Records
URBNET Records is an independent record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. URBNET was formed by Darryl Rodway and Janusz Jarosinski in 1999 to provide distribution, marketing and promotional services to Hip Hop artists throughout Canada...
.
History
The band began its career in Scarborough, a borough of the city of Toronto, in 2005.In addition to touring Europe and North America, The Carps have played with The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids is an American hip hop group. Consisting of rappers Antoine "Sir Michael Rocks" Reed and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll , the group is based in Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan...
, MIA
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
, Holy Fuck, The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
and Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
.
Singer Jahmal Tonge is featured on the MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P formerly of the Mississauga, Ontario electropop group Girlsareshort...
album Fist Of God On both songs "Breakaway" and "So Deep".
The Carps will also be featured in the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto video game series. With two songs from the Waves & Shambles EP featured in the game.
The Carps have released two EPs to critical acclaim, and have been applauded for their ability to weave genres of all types into a seamless and cohesive sound.
In March 2007, The Young & Passionate Days of Carpedia vol 2.1 was released under URBNET Records.
This was followed by the release of Waves & Shambles in April 2008, containing the featured track “Veronica Belmont” which was named after a well-known San Francisco-based tech journalist. The album also included an appearance by The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids is an American hip hop group. Consisting of rappers Antoine "Sir Michael Rocks" Reed and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll , the group is based in Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan...
on the “Heaven's Gates & Hell’s Flames” remix (produced by drummer Jahmal Tonge).
The Carps are currently working on their debut full-length album.
Bio
(All Music Guide)Rarely photographed without multi-colored leather hi tops, turquoise or pink T-shirts, and skinny jeans, the two members of the Carps wear their hipster cred on their sleeves while making a full and unique blend of R&B and stripped-down indie rock—as a two-piece, no less. Neil White became friends with Jahmal Tonge at church at a young age in Toronto, and the two started creating music as a free-spirited pastime to fill the hours between skateboarding and golfing of all things.
Melding influences from the opposite ends of the musical spectrum (Tonge grew up on Motown while White listened to psychedelic rock and punk), the duo started jamming and playing clubs around the city. With a soulful Terence Trent D'Arby-esque voice, Tonge took to the drum stool vocalizing about urban strife and the debauchery of hipsters, while White added to the meat of the sound with dirty, distorted bass tones.
After shows in the Toronto clubs resulted in unenthused audiences, the two decided to take it to the States and organized a small tour to Philadelphia and New York City. The shows in the U.S. were a different story, where the indie crowds eagerly welcomed them with open arms, and soon after, the two were invited to join the roster of Urbnet Records. In 2007, their anticipated EP, The Young and Passionate Days of Carpedia, was released. ~ Jason Lymangrover, All Music Guide
EPs
- The Young & Passionate Days of Carpedia vol 2.1 (March 13, 2007)
- Waves & Shambles (April 8, 2008)
See also
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of bands from Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- :Category:Canadian musical groups