INTERVIEW: Chill-Fi Artist Carter Fox Discusses “Cosmic Bird Lullaby”

In an enchanting fusion of jazzy melodies, chill lo-fi hip-hop rhythms, and the serene whispers of nature, renowned musician and industry savant Carter Fox recently released his latest single, “Cosmic Bird Lullaby.” This track is a highlight of the eagerly awaited Birds & “Cosmic Bird Lullaby” encapsulates Fox’s keen ability to blend familiar, nostalgic notes and tones with a comforting, soothing energy that is both refreshing and introspective. The single’s inclusion in Chillhop Guru’s Birds & Beats beat tape is a testament to Carter’s commitment to producing music that offers an escape into tranquillity.

Known as the “Soulful Traveling Spaceman Bassman,” Carter Fox has built an illustrious career that spans diverse roles as a musician, songwriter, producer, and artist. Since his debut at 15, Fox has made significant waves in the music industry. Not only has he toured and recorded with R&B icon Freddie Jackson since 2016, but he has also lent his talents to work with an impressive array of Grammy-winning and notable artists, including Pablo Batista, Leon Huff, David Ivory, Skrillex, Flux Pavilion, and Adventure Club.

Carter’s solo projects have received global recognition, achieving millions of streams and topping charts, notably with his track “Cosmic Sunset” reaching #1 on Apple Music’s Easy Listening Charts and “Eclipse” landing on multiple Spotify Editorial Playlists and racking up over 2 million streams.

XS Noize spoke with Carter Fox to discover how “Cosmic Bird Lullaby” came to be, what distinguishes his sound, and more about his new book, How to Effectively Release & Promote Your Music as an Independent Artist.

How would you describe your music?

I like to call my music ‘chill-fi,’ where I’m taking inspiration from many different genres from jazz to rock to country to electronic to traditional African and Eastern music and adding my own flavour of chilled-out synths, relaxed drums, and groovy bass (and sometimes going deeper into different genres), with a beat machine mentality to create my style of music. It’s inspired by space, video games, and the idea that we can be good to each other and create a fantastic world to live in.

I had been creating music like it for years, floating in the cinematic jazz instrumental universe, and felt like I was part of the Lo-Fi explosion during the pandemic time (which was when my music gained a ton of new fans all over the world, and my song ‘Eclipse’ started appearing on Spotify’s Chill Instrumental Beats and LoFi Chill and All-Nighter playlists).

I’m a bassist at heart, so most of my musical and production choices stem from the foundation of making it ‘groove’ in different forms, while allowing the song itself to say whatever it is it wants to say.

Tell us more about “Cosmic Bird Lullaby.” What was your experience of making it?

‘Cosmic Bird Lullaby’ really is a jazz song. I love it! I think all my music, or lots of it anyway, and lots of Lofi/chillhop music is jazz in nature. Jazz festivals should be booking the lofi community because that’s the next gen!

This song took me to my roots, where years ago I dreamed (and still do in a way) of being a contemporary jazz bass-playing superstar like my mentor and good friend Gerald Veasley. But, just like what happened with my early attempts at creating jazz, what came out is something a little groovier, a little chiller, a little more lofi, the sound of Carter Fox! The song started out just as a little loop idea and evolved thanks to collaboration. It’s just like a little trio set up in the middle of the woods on a nice spring day and created a groovy jam.

And it was really fun to do all the production from bird sampling to using my MPC to do the lofi drums and adding some walking bass to the solo section after Steve crushed the lead take. Life – the universe – has a funny way of working out like that.

Can you share the inspiration behind the track and the creative process involved in bringing it to life?

I am usually inspired by something that prompts me to create (and that something is typically astronomical or natural). This time, I was approached by the cool folks at Chill Hop Guru (the label supporting this release) to create a more relaxed song for their project ‘Birds & Beats,’ inspired by nature and birds. Each day I wake up and hear the birds chirping outside my window in Philadelphia and easily could sample them. Plus, I knew of a celestial object known as the Cosmic Bird (a collection of galaxies and gases forming a cross-like image that is playfully referred to as a bird. Yes, I did randomly know about it beforehand), so, of course, I was immediately inspired and excited to create a piece for this project.

I would listen to some producers like Mishegas, Yoste, and Beauvois, as well as Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, some Bill Evans, just things I was enjoying, play some ‘Minecraft for C418’s’ soundtrack because it’s AMAZING, and just let the music organically ‘flow’ and came together with the piano, the chill groove, simple bass. Then a touch of guitar before I was like…this needs a friend!

I brought in my longtime collaborator Steve Honz after creating a foundation for the song, and he laid down a beautiful piano melody and solo that brought the song to a new dimension. It was recorded at my home studio, where I’ve recorded most of my music. Mixed at my friend Mitch Beer’s studio Retro City Studios in Philly (amazing records coming out of there, too!).

With “Cosmic Bird Lullaby” what was your main focus? What did you really want to try and achieve with this track?

I wanted to give the listener the experience of being on a nature walk in the middle of the woods on a warm, sunny day. The birds and insects can be heard, sticks break and leaves crunch beneath your feet. A soft breeze blows and cools you down for a moment and all you feel is one with nature and the universe around you. That moment is the ‘Cosmic Bird Lullaby.’

What sets your sound apart from others in the lofi/chill jazz genre?

My sound comes from the stars! Or less poetically, my fusions of sounds inspired by a variety of genres including (but not limited to) jazz and artists and producers in those genres that culminate under this chill umbrella with my Carterman Swing groove. My music tells a story, and the genres evolve, but there’s definitely a common chill thread.

I also think I have a ‘Carterman Swing’ drum feel in most of my songs that stems from me being a bassist who loves to mess with drums (and the drum pads). Something a little groovy and a little swingy. The hi-hat has some delay, and the kicks may be super interesting in feel (such as to mimic a heartbeat, or a pulsar radiating in space). That allows me to kinda either sit in a pocket really well or go a little crazy. That combined with the genre-blending (from cinematic to jazz to rock to ambient) gives you ‘chill-fi!’

You recently released your eBook, How to Effectively Release & Promote Your Music as an Independent Artist. What prompted you to write on this topic?

My musical career has always been paralleled by my ‘marketing’ and music business-focused career. Out of necessity and curiosity, I took on roles as a manager and booking agent that evolved into label manager, music publisher, marketer, business development specialist, and entrepreneur, back when I was in high school. Some groups I managed went on to be signed to major labels and do amazing things! I felt like I would ‘test’ things on my own releases first – different marketing strategies, companies to work with, etc. – since I was also building momentum for myself and truly felt comfortable with the nuances of certain, more complicated parts of the industry (like PRO and copyright registrations) as well as the promotion side since I was able to build a following and generate millions of streams for my own music and work with others to build their presence, too.

It was while touring with R&B legend Freddie Jackson, working with Disc Makers as their Social Media Manager handling paid and organic social media responsibilities, and having a growing interest in my own music that led me to take on a consulting-type position, taking calls with artists and managers about their marketing strategies and business questions. I noticed a similarity amongst most of my calls where there was a knowledge gap of things, I felt were more known. So, I put together this book to help artists make sure they cover their bases (and collect the $ they’re owed) when they release new music and promote their music as effectively as possible.

I hope indie artists and managers check it out and find it helpful. It has actionable advice, and insights from my own experiences, and includes a Single Release Checklist and example marketing budget.

Now, I do want to ask as well, what’s been the highlight of your career so far? Maybe touring or who you’ve played with, something that’s stood out.

Oh goodness. I feel like I have so many wonderful moments and memories. Seeing flamingos in the Bahamas while on tour with Freddie Jackson, meeting Chris Tucker in Chicago while on tour, playing at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, getting my own music to have 1,000,000 streams, getting some music licensed to Netflix, hearing a record I mixed be played at Philly’s biggest venue by Adventure Club, watching Jeffrey Osborne and his band perform ‘Stay With Me Tonight’ live for the first time (we play a lot of shows with them, and that song is the song I learned slap bass to. It’s a super special song to me and seeing that… magic!), performing for former President Bill Clinton, meeting my friend and mentor Gerald Veasley, and working with him on so many different things.

Ok maybe cheated on the answer (lol). But what’s coming to mind is having bass legends Victor Wooten, Bhakiti Kumalo, and Gary Willis giving me props when I was a 13-year-old kid just barely in my pocket yet. All three are huge influences to me and I’ve been blessed to still see them a few times over the years!

Do you prefer the intimacy of a smaller venue or the spectacle of a larger venue? What’s your preference for that?

The larger venues are really, really fun to play! Being on the stage, having the ‘big sound’, and seeing a full room with music lovers is so electrifying! Being on stage regardless is the best feeling in the world, but those big venues are huge.

With that said, for my music, I almost prefer the intimacy of the smaller performance. I envision playing a ‘silent disco’-esque show at a library or having a cosmological show at a planetarium. Both could totally evolve into large-venue scenarios (imagine the Sphere in Las Vegas being a planetarium with chill jam music!) but seeing people so close enjoying themselves and having that connection makes me love intimate venues, too!

Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practising, or playing live?

I think playing live is what I enjoy the most. You are connecting with people, putting on the show, telling the story, and sharing with this community a special moment in space and time. It’s the fruit of your efforts of writing, recording, and practising!

I do love recording and writing though. In fact, my goal is to become like Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman, and Klaus Badelt and score films, shows, games…write the soundtrack to life! And practising is a needed thing that is also fun! But hey, gotta work hard to play hard!

Based on your own experiences and lessons learned, what guiding principles or words of wisdom would you share with aspiring artists looking to carve out their own path in music?

Honestly, this is my motto – Travel soulfully. ‘Soulful traveling’ and ‘travel soulfully’ are my personal philosophy and motto that means be true to yourself, be open to new experiences, be good to each other and the world, and be honest with your heart. It is a way to help me say ‘YES!’ to life and to live more mindfully and more fulfilled in this world. To travel soulfully is to embody this philosophy, and to experience life with openness and optimism as to welcome a bright future.

As musicians, it’s the same thing. Do what YOU want to do. Make the music you want to make. Be a good person. Be patient. Be open-minded. Work hard. Put on a great show! Work with those you want to work with. Work with your best friends to achieve your dreams! Never stop learning and always keep going!

What’s next for you?

Next up, I continue with my cosmic-inspired musical exploration with a single called ‘Sit Back and Lift Off’ coming out on April 26th. Released on London-based lofi label Millennium Jazz Music, this chill lofi song with hip-hop and jazz influences is inspired by the night before astronauts launch into space, dealing with the excitement, anxiety, calmness, and bravery that can come with facing the unknown.

After that, I have a brand-new album inspired by Michio Kaku’s book ‘Physics of the Impossible’ which I’ve been finishing up to release with the Swedish label Insert Tapes and will have more info on singles and release date coming soon. Have amazing guest musicians on this one and the music is truly groovy and out of this world! I can’t wait for everyone to hear this new music and be as inspired for the future as I am!

I’ll also be on tour with R&B Freddie Jackson as his bassist, which I’ve been for the past many years, performing with my band this summer at Moon Groove Music and Arts Fest in Lancaster, PA, and am working on booking more Carter Fox shows soon! Travel soulfully!

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