Nashville based singer-songwriter, Carter Rubin, announces his second EP something i’ll never unsee is to be released October 9th just two weeks before his headline show at Cannery Hall in Nashville, TN.
He explains the thought process behind the EP as well as what to expect for those attending the headliner this fall.
You just announced your sophomore EP something i’ll never unsee, could you tell us about how it evolved into the project that it is today?
The EP is called Something Ill Never Unsee and thats a lyric in one of the songs, kind of the same way I Still Know Nothing came about. It is coming out October 9th. This was an EP that came to fruition very naturally, because I had these songs and I didn’t even realize I was telling a story with them until I had them all in my files app.
I worked with, legend, Todd Tran [and] he helped executive produce a lot of these songs and guided my vision along. I threw a lot at him at the beginning of the year where I was both sonically and emotionally, and I was giving him a lot of these sonic references like Lorde and The 1975 and even Ethel Cain. I also had this visual world in mind where there was this light shining through and you don’t know whether it’s good or if it’s something that’s kind of blinding and misleading. I wanted to relate that to my last year or two learning lessons that I’ll never unlearn.
It’s weirdly euphoric but also gut wrenching.
Who all helped you bring this EP to life?
I did four songs with Todd [Tran], one of them with Andrew Gomez, and one with Dan Swank. I have a lot of insane writers. All of these songs kind of came about in slightly different ways, not even in the same month or anything. These six songs were all born in a wide period of time. I like to think this project was close to two years in the making.
What was the inspiration or thought process behind this album?
I acted very much on creative impulse when making this EP. Its from a place of “I kind of know things now” unlike my first EP, I Still Know Nothing. You have experiences with girls and it’s hard, it’s going to be hard, and it’s going to teach you alot. And it;s like things you’ll never unsee, hence the name something i’ll never unsee.
What song off of your upcoming EP would you recommend to someone who isn’t familiar with your music?“I think it spans a little bit of a wider range this time because I have verbed out guitars and live drums on some of the songs, but then other songs are more synth focused. I think “Cost of Finding Out” is a good intro into my world, which is why I wanted that to be first.
If you want soul crushing you listen to “Killing Spree,” which is my favorite song I’ve ever written and I wrote it by myself. There’s a lot of magic that happens when a song just pours out of you, and that was one of those. Being ghosted and feeling discarded is hard. People make jokes to cope but it can really mess with you. So I would recommend that song, especially if anyone has gone through that.
What song are you most excited for off the upcoming EP?
I’m very excited for “Baby’s Breath!” I wrote that one with Jack (bassist). I think that one I’m very excited for live (I’m very excited for all of these live), but this one is going to be so good! I love all of these songs a lot!
You have a headline show coming up at Cannery Hall in Nashville on October 22nd, how are you and your band feeling/preparing for it?
We’ve got the same crew for this upcoming show (Dylan Joseph on guitar, Jack Maucere on bass, and Alex Manson on drums) and our first rehearsal is [soon]. We’ve never started this early and I’m gonna really crack down on these rehearsals. We haven’t played together since January and I want this to be as tight as possible. I think it will be because every time we go on a mini-hiatus and then get back together to play we fall right back into it.
Do you think that being best friends with your bandmates has an impact on y’all’s performance?
Oh yea those are my boys! I don’t think it would be the same if they weren’t my boys because that helps curate the vibe when we play together, for sure. I want people to be able to tell that we are friends outside of this.
Is there anything specific you’d like to share about your upcoming headline show?
Addison Inniss is the opener! I love living in Nashville because I’m genuinely a fan of all my friends. I think he’s so dope and he’s also such a chiller, theres really no one else I’d wanna be doing it with! He’s got like an In Color/The Band Camino vibe, I’m very excited for that.
As for the show I just want people to come through and be loud! I’m genuinely so excited, I always feel most at home when I’m playing live. Especially when i get to play at home in Nashville. I’ve loved this venue, ever since I played it with John Harvie. I think this show is really going to be a moment for me. We’re so back, so back. Thats how I feel!
Pre-save “killing spree” here before its official release next Friday, Aug. 28.
something i’ll never unsee, releases worldwide on Oct. 9.
Tickets to Carter’s headlining show this October in Nashville are on sale now.
