Note: This interview was conducted prior to Carneyval’s set
As Day two of BUKU begins, artists are preparing for their sets later in the day. Among them is William Carney, under his pseudonym, Carneyval, who moved from his hometown of Virginia Beach to New Orleans to attend Tulane. The Daily Reveille sat down with him to discuss his style and upcoming set.
The Daily Reveille: You have your set this evening. How are you feeling?
William Carney: I’m excited for it. We just sound checked. It’s gonna be a good time, I’m really stoked.
TDR: Have you played other festivals before BUKU?
WC: Never. This is my first festival.
TDR: What are you looking forward to the most?
WC: My brother’s coming onstage to play with me for the last twenty-five minutes, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m excited for the whole set in general. I try to do live sets as much as possible with maybe like a brass section, guitarist and whatnot, but the stage is so small. They just booked me, and I asked if I could finagle getting my brother in there, and they were fine with that. He plays guitar and sings.
TDR: When did you decide to go into music?
WC: I’ve always really been listening to music, and I guess I saw my brother play guitar in the 6th grade, and I started playing drums and kept up with that. I started playing piano, and it was kind of the same time electronic music was getting big in the states. I started listening to that kind of music and just put two and two together.
TDR: How would you describe the type of music that you’re creating?
WC: It’s definitely electronic, but it’s kind of funky. A phrase that I use, I remember I had a friend text me and ask, “yo, I’m trying to convince one of my friends to come to your show. How would you describe your music?” I randomly threw out “funk, electronic groovin’ jams.” That kind of works. It’s all over the place, but I definitely think it has a unique sound.
TDR: Has living in New Orleans influenced your style at all?
WC: Yeah, definitely. Going out to shows and meeting people and seeing the jazz, funk down here definitely has had a little bit of influence. I go to Tulane and Loyola University is right next door, and they have a great music program. When I play with a saxophone player, it’s with one of my friends over at Loyola. So, New Orleans has definitely helped influence some sound.
TDR: Who do you consider to be some of your influences?
WC: The first person who got me into electronic music was Deadmau5. I started listening to him. Being from Virginia Beach, Pharrell Williams is from Virginia Beach, so I’m a fan of him. I used to listen to Coldplay and classic rock. I guess now I listen to more electronic stuff, but I get influences from other places.
TDR: What’s been the most challenging aspect of your career so far?
WC: Just keeping up with it and trying to progress and make the next thing bigger than the last. It still happens now, you feel stuck, but it’s good to keep up with it.
TDR: The most rewarding part?
WC: Honestly, the people. Meeting fans who are now friends and telling their friends. Kind of building a community of people, and shows are the best place to actually be able to connect.