Reader Spotlight: Kristoffer Carter

Meet Kristoffer Carter, a bassist from Akron, Ohio who regularly headlines solo bass looping shows around Ohio and Chicago. Kristoffer is our bassist in the spotlight for August 23, 2011.

Bio:

Kristoffer Carter came up through the Cleveland, OH music scene as the touring bassist for ska rockers The Twistoffs, then reinvented himself as a laser-focused pop songwriter. The result was the power-pop persona he called “The Kristoffer Carter Show”, a well-oiled mash-up of his singer/songwriter and world beat roots. Leading off with a firm command of his 6-string bass, Carter layers loops of beat-box, guitar, and cello to frame his songs live, in real time.

Buzz News Magazine (Chicago, IL) said, “Carter’s music is a blend of world beat, electric sounds, and power-pop prowess.”

The Akron Beacon Journal calls Carter said, “….a straight-ahead pop-rocker with a way with melody and serious songwriting chops. He’s also a pretty funny dude.”

Location:

Akron, OH

Day gig:

Regional Sales Director, Motivator at Centro. Digital/Online Media company.

NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) musical performer. One man looping show: “The Kristoffer Carter Show”

Years experience:

21 years

Bands & Gigs:

I regularly headline solo/looping shows in my hometown of Akron, OH and in Chicago. In terms of touring, a play a handful of college campuses across the country that my NACA agent books. I’m booked out of Redd Promo/Talent based in Cicago IL.

Gear:

• Yamaha TRB-6P Orange Fretted 6-string, neck through (1995)
• Yamaha TRB-6P Blue Fretless 6 string custom, neck-through (1992)
• SWR Mo’Bass head with analog effects (Original build)
• SWR Goliath III; 4×10″
• SWR Triad 1×15″, 1×10″
• Boss RC-50 Loopstation
• Fender Jaguar Bass – 4 string
• Line-6 DL4 Delay Modeler

Why I play the bass:

I was watching a Wang Chung video as a kid and I asked my brother why the singer’s guitar only had 4 strings. Within a year, I made my parents take me on a pilgrimage to The Bass Centre in Los Angeles. The cats I saw that day – guys walking in off the street and just RIPPING it – changed me forever. Some dude had a thumb the size of a bat. He just beat the crap out of this Modulus Graphite bass. That was it for me.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

Lately I’ve been reconnecting with the mystic inner “Groove” by writing and posting a new groove-a-day on YouTube and my website. I perform as a one-man looping show on college campuses across the country through my NACA agency, much of which has me singing while playing my 6-string bass.

My influences

• Flea
• Les Claypool
• Unknown clerk at The Bass Centre in L.A., 1990. Chris?
• Victor Wooten
• Geddy Lee
• Sting
• Larry Graham

More on the web:

• Official Site
• Bass Looping Video
• Bass/Singing Video
• EPK
• Twitter
• Facebook
• CDBaby
• STANKFuT: (bass, sax, drums trio)