Meet Handsome Karnivore: Band

We had the good fortune of connecting with Handsome Karnivore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Handsome, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
We’ve never been afraid to take risks. That being said, risks should be calculated, so you don’t end up shooting yourself in the foot. Life is short and windows of opportunity come far and few in between, so you have to be willing to jump through the fire even though there may not be water on the other side. Probably the biggest risk we’ve taken was moving from New Jersey to California. Leaving everything and everyone we knew to come to California and make music was not easy, but we don’t regret it. We are grateful to still be on this journey and to have been able to play at some of the venues we used to dream about playing while still living back east. We look forward to what comes next.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
1. Please tell us about your art.

We still believe in the classic listen to a record in it’s entirety, in intended sequence.

2. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others.

We believe the truth lies within the song That song dictates what instruments get puts on it, how its arranged and what it has to say musically. With both of us writing equal amount of songs, you get a unique blend of various songs. Every album will give you a different experience. We’ve never believed in a song not being our style of play or genre.

What are you most proud or excited about?

Playing the Whisky A GoGo for our second album release party. We used to talk about playing the sunset strip and specifically the Whisky, while having a goozer at the Elizabeth seaport. It was a surreal moment seeing our name on the marquee. We’re excited to finish our upcoming record, “Entities From The Fog” and then go resurrect Jack Parsons so he could do a spoken word on our next record, which is already written and will have horns all over it!

how did you get where you are today?

Do what thou wilt. Believe in yourself. A man of will sees no boundaries. These are just some of the many things we believe in and remind of us of what we are capable of. Life is going to be filled with challenges but how we rise from our ashes is what shows the true testament of one’s character. Keeping a tight circle that provide a support system and keep you in check is important so you one does not confuse the serious from the delirious.

was it easy?

Definitely not. If it was easy everyone would do it. At the end of the day, even if nobody ever buys one record, we will still create because that’s what we were born to do. You just can’t shut that off. When you have that strong of a belief and connection with something, then it’s just a part of who you are. One should not get discouraged or allow outside influences to dictate your music or your creative direction. You have to stay true to your voice and vision as that is what makes us all unique.

How did you overcome the challenges?

There have been many challenges along the way. If you’re a musician trying to make it in the music business for money, then you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Monetarily, being a musician is a struggle. From “pay to play” shows to financing a record, rehearsal space, gear, etc. You have to do this because you love it. One example of that is being a musician during the current pandemic. The industry was shaken and changes are still happening. Not being able to play live shows, having limited contact with your bandmates, and dealing with life in general really puts things in perspective. It shows who really wants to do this and who is willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals.

What are the lessons learned along the way?

We’re still learning. Always copyright your music! Read anything and everything before you sign it. Not every gig is a good gig to take. If you mess up on stage, keep rolling. Nine out of ten times it’s only the band who notices the mistake. Rehearsal brings us closer to god. Don’t forget to invite click man to rehearsal. He’s always on time, is never late, and starts all the songs. He will make you better. Tell him we sent you.

What do you want the world to know about your brand and story?

We are in the process of finishing our upcoming record and can’t wait for everyone to hear what we put together! As always, you could expect the unexpected with this record. We also look forward to playing shows again as we have a new five piece live lineup with an even bigger sound. Stay tuned and stay safe!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The beautiful thing of living in Los Angeles is that you have a lot of options! Would definitely take our guest to the sunset strip at night to catch a show at any of the great venues there. Get pizza and a goozer at the Rainbow afterwards. Would take them down Venice and to the canals there, as well as the historic Doors spots. If into nature, could take the guest to the Hollywood sign hike or Devils Gate Dam in Pasadena. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
“Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality” – Edgar Allan Poe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsome_karnivore/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandsomeKarnivore/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsCjn2g5CdtRIbgrJ-LCVzg

Image Credits
Image 1 – Ben Steinberger Image 2 – Lori Hutchinson (ladyleaphotography) Image 3- Anabel DFlux Image 4 – Jack Parsons