NIN, TOOL, THE DOORS, PINK FLOYD, FSOL, BLACK SABBATH, DANGER MOUSE, TEAM SLEEP, AIR, LEFTFIELD, PUSH BUTTON OBJECTS, TANGERINE DREAM, MASSIVE ATTACK, FLYING LOTUS, GG ALLIN, classic rock, modern electro, movie soundtracks, life experiences, sonic experimentation, tv shows, albums with more than nine tracks
from i, absentee website:
21 Jumpsuit is the musical explorations of Carl States - a post-rock / electronic fusion into very unique and original results. Carl States is a multi-instumentalist from Canton, Ohio; a guitarrist, live drummer, accomplished DJ, programmer, etc. One of the original signings with I, Absentee, he represents some of the most stunning sounds to come forth from the label. 21 Jumpsuit debuted on our Birth Certificate compilation, with much praise for his excellent track 'Who Lives Next Door'. His full length 'I Heard You Were Away' is out now
I started playing guitar around 1994 when I inherited a 1940's jazzbox style guitar from my grandfather. After a few years of guitar playing I began jamming at friend's house because he played drums. He would let me mess around on his kit... I loved it so much I decided I needed a drum kit too! I was taking guitar lessons and drum lessons at the time, and was eager to start recording my own music. I started from scratch with my guitar and drums, recording onto a Fostex 4 track with two Sure SM-57s. I also found that a rotary fan could be used to record as well. I placed a fan between my guitar amp and microphone to add effect. I thought, "if talking into a fan can make your voice sound like Darth Vader, then I wonder how it would make my guitar sound" I was inspired by The Doors "Strange Days" album when I came up with the idea. It will forever be known as "The Fan Song" by me and my friends. It was the first time I had equipment to record and I was off and running!
Around the same time I started recording, I also became interested in electronic music. My friend Warren (aka. Dorosoto aka. Forrest) got me into listening to things like Nightmares on Wax, Autechre, Future Sound of London, Plastikman, and Meat Beat Manifesto just to name a few. We also began making music together at my house with the very minimal equipment and expertise that we both had. Over the years I bought a Boss SP-202 sampler, a korg electribe, and eventually a Roland JX-305(perhaps one the most under-rated pieces of equip. ever!) We changed names a couple time, changed styles a couple times, but we made some awesome music that still appeals to bedroom producers like us.
While attending Kent State University from 2000 to 2002 I became interested in learning how to DJ. I was always into it, but had no one to teach me the ropes. Lucky for me my roommate was a good DJ and was a very good teacher. I learned the basics of scratching and mixing. I was always borrowing someone's Technics 1200's until I could save enough to get my own. I learned to mix and beat juggle, I entered a few MC battles and a DJ battle and kept practicing on my 1200's. I got back into taking drum lessons for a while, but wasn't recording much of my own stuff.
In Aug. 2005 I added a computer to my arsenal. It was my first laptop, a white ibookG4. The white plastic was so friggin ugly, that I took it apart and painted it a very offensive dark brown and made an old skool rainbow apple logo for the front. The computer was very intimidating at first for producing. I had to learn how to harness the potential inside of my mac to take my music to the next level. I started using GarageBand and eventually graduated to Ableton Live 5, then to Live 6. Later that same year I met some friends in Pittsburgh to see a performance by Black Moth Super Rainbow, after the show Power Pill Fist played a set of awesome tunes on an old atari. I was stunned by his performance and decided to add something similar to my arsenal. I ended up buying Nanoloop for my Gameboy original that I had since 4th grade.
I recorded most of my 21jumpsuit album while living in Grove City, PA. It features a little bit of everything I have learned to do since I began recording onto that Fostex 4 track back in 1997. Its also the first time I was able to mix analog and digital together, and be happy with the end results! There is much more to the story of how my music has evolved, but I have wasted enough of your time already. Happy Listening! -Carl States
Thanks for bringing Tribal Machine into your world 21j =) If you enjoy our industrial rock I invite you to subscribe to our blog to get a notice of new song postings and to keep in touch.
