Joshua Carter is already a very recognizable face from Prince Edward Island’s music scene. He’s been a longstanding member of the award-winning bands Coyote and Calm Baretta, but the last year and a half has challenged him to move forward on his own terms—or, at least the terms required by isolation.
Carter has taken a solo approach to pen his latest release, “Under My Skin,” for a far more subdued track than we’re used to hearing from him. That being said, just because he’s dialed it back a bit doesn’t mean he’s stripped it down to a solo guitar; he’s brought a couple of his talented bandmates to fill out this release.
“I wanted to write something that felt as honest as I could deliver it without leaning into any other real outside influence leading up to the recording,” says Carter.
Taking two particularly hopeless weeks to write “Under My Skin” during a low point of last year, Carter wanted to create a song that would resonate with what people were experiencing, but still finish with a happy ending.
Right away, we’re launched into a happy reminiscence of Funeral-era Arcade Fire, strings and all, before shifting gears for Carter to come in with somber vocals and guitar, followed not far behind by Jeff Jones’ melancholic viola. There’s a very clear Elliott Smith-vibe to it, regardless of Carter’s hope for a happy ending.
“I think [the song] is about depression. Certainly the feelings of isolation,” says Carter. “In this case, literally. I think I felt so much for the people that were already dealing with mental health over the pandemic and I just wanted to somehow be there or tell them that it will get better.
“Everybody was almost forced to just live in their minds and face whatever they may be going through head-on. I just felt so bad for people in those situations: seniors, addicts, etc.
“The song does have a happy resolve. I think it does get there, but it is certainly very dark. ”
That “Under My Skin” reference can be interpreted almost literally; Carter is referring to what’s going on beneath the surface, or “the things that you don’t see or don’t understand.”
“I had always been interested in quieter music, and not only was I forced to, but it just felt right over those nine or so months to just write and play and really see what space some of my songs could live in without a group of people kind of affecting that process,” says Carter.
In his isolation, working independently, Carter says he took to writing, playing, and demoing music for “several hours almost every day for a few months,” often experimenting using just an iPhone but preparing himself for what he knew was going to be a much larger project.
“It just became a really addictive experience, and certainly helped me develop a solo persona, so to speak, and in turn, I was able to go into a professional studio with essentially fully formed ideas,” says Carter.
“I feel like over the past few years I’ve been more interested in recording music. I bought some equipment to properly demo at home and I just feel like I want to really get into my own head and explore some of my ideas without really too much outside influence.”
While the last year and a half has changed Carter’s perspective on creating music, and the place it occupies in his life in the long term, it has had an impact on how he wants to approach it in the future—especially when it comes to where he commits his energy. Instead, it seems like he’ll be focusing more on songwriting for the immediate future.
“The isolation over the pandemic definitely drove home that I will always do music in some capacity,” says Carter.
“I don’t think I would ever want to tour hard again. It always felt like a hit or miss, no matter how much money you threw at it. A promoter can do so much but you really have to have strong songs. Record good music that is true and that will happen on its own.
“Extensive traveling over the summer is hard. Fun, but grueling. With focusing on writing and recording I can just get up and have a coffee and shut myself in.”
The creative freedom of a solo career has been scratching a few itches for Carter that hadn’t already been scratched. That doesn’t mean he’s entirely finished with bands though.
“With Coyote, I like the idea of doing one or two big shows a year across the Maritimes or whatever. It’s hard to describe what it’s like playing in Coyote. It’s like, it just clicks. I’ve never felt so elated than when I’m in one of those musical moments with that and. The live shows are really exciting still. I think that’s what people resonate with the most.
“There will always be room for rock bands. Coyote will live on. I just think about that music so differently.”
Carter’s latest release has been a matter of dipping his toes in the water, in that regard. “Under My Skin” is just one song, but the months he has spent writing in isolation haven’t been fruitless. There’s very clearly an album shaping up.
“I’ve been really taking the time and care into these songs. It may not even be the same band of players next time. Trying to arrange the songs and serve them the best way possible,” says Carter.
“Demoing and really getting into arranging and writing on my own has been a huge development into kind of searching for/finding my own solo identity. I don’t want to release anything unless I’m entirely sure it’s the way it should be.”
While it seems possible an EP might materialize later in the year, in the meantime Coyote has two sold-out shows on July 15th and 16th at Trailside Music Hall.