CARPARK RELEASE LONG-AWAITED EP BORN TO BE AVERAGE
OUT TODAY – LISTEN HERE
Credit: Nicholas O’Donnell
Alt-pop band Carpark today release their highly-anticipated EP, Born To Be Average. Spanning 5 tracks, the EP features latest single, the ethereal Happy On Mars, the fast-paced and energetic MIA which received its first radio spin over on Alyx Holcombe’s BBC Radio 1 show, Suburbs Of Hell, which has had several plays on Jack Saunders’ BBC Radio 1 show, plus the unheard title track and Blow Me Outta The Water. Listen to Born To Be Average here.
Speaking about the EP, the band add: “Born To Be Average introduces the new era of Carpark with heavy rock and even some dance elements, but we also have a ballad that pays homage to earlier Carpark, and a song that is so undeniably inspired by the pop/punk influences we grew up on. It’s been a really fun process and we can’t wait for everybody to hear it.”
Showing no signs of slowing down, Carpark supported indie/rock icons, The Libertines last month. They joined the band at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, and at The Drill in Lincoln. Carpark more recently supported Indoor Pets at a sold out show at The Grace, in London. They wrapped up last year headlining a packed-out, high-energy show at London’s Lower Third. Having only played their first live show as Carpark three years ago in a friend’s garage, Sophie, Hattie and Lauren have been cutting their teeth on the live scene, and are quickly becoming everyone’s new favourite band. They have supported the likes of Lauren Hibberd, Kelsy Karter and Beth McCarthy, plus have played festivals such as 2000 Trees and Barn On The Farm.
The band have recently signed with Saviour Music Group, an Essex-based artist-led indie collective, which will release their EP on DSPs and vinyl. Describing their working relationship, the three-piece add: “We loved making our EP Born To Be Average. This is the first time we’ve been able to sit down and write/record a whole EP at once. It took about a year to record our first EP The World Ended in 2012, as we used to record one song at a time and we would have big gaps in between songs while we saved up to record the next one. Signing to Saviour Music gave us the opportunity and resources to record five tracks over the summer. This meant that we could stay in the same headspace and have consistency throughout the EP.”
Carpark had quite the year last year which included their debut UK headline tour, playing venues in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol and London at the Seabright Arms. 2022 saw the trio release their debut EP, The World Ended In 2012 which has racked up 150k+ streams on Spotify alone. The 5-track body of work was met with solid support from the likes of Jack Saunders, who made them his coveted Next Wave Artist. Carpark followed this up with single, Not The Perfect Start, which BBC Radio 1’s Nels Hylton picked as his Future Alternative, and featured on Spotify’s prestigious New Music Friday UK playlist (845k+ likes). This was shortly followed by last single, Don’t Want You, which they released alongside the video. It sees the band perform and hang out in a bedroom drenched in 90’s nostalgia, perfectly encapsulating their style and love for the fashion and culture from this iconic decade.
Carpark are throwing out the rule book and re-writing the narrative of what a rock band ‘should be’. They are the fun, relatable and refreshing band with Irish roots that this generation needs. Weaving together nostalgia, power, and infectious melodies they create a sound that transports you straight into the heart of a captivating coming-of-age film soundtrack.
Carpark are: Sophie Scott, Hattie Upton-Dance and Lauren O’Donnell Anderson
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