San Diego Reader

Carl Durant: Bass guitar, Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals

Genre: Rock

Sound description: Vocal harmonies that musically and lyrically linger somewhere between Mraz and Coldplay, between REM and Muse. Although often starting from a base of acoustic guitar, this is not country or folk music.

RIYL: Michael Penn, R.E.M., Placebo, Thom Yorke, U2, Jason Mraz, Oasis, REM, Coldplay, Oasis, Radiohead, The Decemberists

Upcoming Local Shows

Song Downloads

• Appropriate

Discography

Related Links:

• http://www.carldurant.com/

• "Carl Durant Lied About the CDs" · Feb. 29, 2012

• "Carl Durant's Belgian Connection" · Feb. 22, 2012

• Reverb Nation page
• MySpace page

Video

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2007

Influences: Portishead, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Red Zebra, Sisters of Mercy, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, the Pixies, the Smiths, Slowdive, Moby, INXS, the Scene, U2, Bruce Cockburn, R.E.M., Portishead, Placebo, Oasis, Lush, Mark Lanegan, Filip Kowlier, Faithless, Everything but the Girl, Bush, Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr.

Background:

Originally from Belgium, Sorrento Valley–based singer/guitarist Carl Durant relocated to San Diego in 2002 to take a job with a newly founded electronics firm. “I published my PhD about integrated circuit design as a book in 2003. It made me a whopping $100 in royalties.”

Once he discovered the open-mic nights, “I started turning up more and more with my guitar. It became more of a focus, especially my songwriting, which Cathryn Beeks encouraged when I started writing songs for ‘The Game.’”

Held approximately monthly, the Game is a songwriter showcase where Beeks provides a song title and several locals write and perform an original tune based on that title. Originated by Jeff Berkley, Steve Poltz, and Gregory Page, other Game participants have included Josh Damigo, Astra Kelly, Berkley Hart, Ken Lehnig, and Christy Bruneau.

Durant is a seasoned songwriter with a keen ear for melody and arrangements bringing you an ear fondling mix of finger picked and strummed guitar songs. Solo or with his band, Durant mostly plays originals but adds in a few well selected covers here and there.

His songs feature vocal harmonies that musically and lyrically linger somewhere between Mraz and Coldplay, between REM and Muse. Although often starting from a base of acoustic guitar, this is not country or folk music. “I’ve been pitching my live band sound as Brian Molko of Placebo joins the Decemberists to play an electrified James Blunt cover, remixed by Moby.”

He debuted his new band in May 2009, later recording a five-song EP, Last Place, at his home studio. Mixed at ZenMastering, it was released in April 2011. “I used a mellow production, to make it sound like a movie score,” he says.

He began recording a new EP in late 2011, after playing his first out-of-state show in Tucson AZ at Sky Bar on November 10.

Durant performed at a February 9, 2012 pre-Grammy party at the Belgian consul’s residence in L.A., along with Belgian singer-songwriter Milow. “Before his set, my wife and I had a long conversation with Milow about living in San Diego. He was here as an exchange student in the Bishop’s School, about nine years ago. I promoted Lestat’s as much as possible with Milow’s manager.”

Milow is best known to U.S. audiences for his YouTube spoof of the 50 Cent/Justin Timberlake/Timbaland song “Ayo Technology,” which has earned over 45 million plays, though he’s a chart-topping artist in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden.

“During soundcheck, I jammed with Ted Perlman, who now wants to get me in his studio to record. He congratulated me on my song quality and sound of my voice. I had to Google him, but apparently he played with a lot of big names, Whitney Houston, for example.”