Artist Spotlight: SIXFOOT 5
In this one-on-one, SIXFOOT 5 talks legacy, love for the craft, and the lessons they’re still learning.
Can you tell us about your musical journey and how you got started in the industry?
SIXFOOT 5: Sure! It’s been a lot of movement in a very short amount of time since starting my career in the industry. I’ve only been producing under the name ‘SIXFOOT 5’ for about 4 years; but I’ve been working with music production software and writing since I was thirteen. Before I was producing for other artists, I was a recording artist myself who went by my first name ‘CARSON’; which was an ametuer mistake because there are hundreds of ‘CARSON’s on Spotify now, and they’re not all me.
Although I’ve been producing professionally for about 4 years, I’ve been working and producing music in Logic Pro since I was 13; all through High School and College as well. But I wasn’t really “in the industry” until I was 22 when I signed with a record label back in 2017. That’s when I feel like it went from a very passionate “hobby” to a business.
I was signed for two years, I released an EP and four singles from 2017 to 2019. There was no money, but I loved my manager, I loved the label, I loved producing, I loved writing and recording… but I didn’t love performing, and that’s a big deal. In the fall of 2019 I was unsigned, working at a restaurant to make ends meet, living in New York City and thinking ‘where do I go from here?’; and that’s a pretty trash feeling to get, because it’s like you’ve got it all figured out one minute and then back to square one the next.
One afternoon on Cinco De Mayo in 2020, I was having drinks with a friend when one of their friends –who’s a recording artist– stopped by for a quick hello. She mentioned she was looking for a producer and I immediately said I’d produce for her. We went on to release four records and an EP together in 2021, working on most of it during the spring and summer of 2020.
As the music we made got more attention online, I started to get more work with other artists. I was an In-House Producer for a music community founded by a pretty prestigious name (who will not be mentioned) for about 6 months until I left and started ‘SIXFOOT 5 Productions’ in September of 2021. By 2022 I had about 25 records under my belt as a producer with artists ranging from Broadway to RuPaul’s Drag Race, and two short films I’d done the music for. It was a party. I partied a little too hard though and ended up having to get sober in 2023 which put a slight pause on my work, even though records I’d produced were still being released while I was in rehab.
In 2023 I got asked to compose the music for a Feature length Documentary, which would be my first feature length film. I loved the film and what it was about and so I signed on immediately after watching the rough cut. This was really the first time I was given permission and the opportunity to flex my artistry as a composer and not an EDM/Pop Music Producer which I loved. The film premiered in London at The BFI Flare Festival in March of 2024. I spent the rest of that year working on two albums for clients, and a few other records as well. Interestingly enough, 2024 was the slowest year for work I’d ever experienced and I was hitting a massive creative block that would go on for about 5 months until the very end of the year.
In January of 2025 I remember praying to the universe that whatever comes my way this year, to swing hard; if it’s gonna be bad then be terrible, if it’s gonna be good then be great. Little did I know, that by the time mid June would come around, I’d have produced a song for Eurovision, my first EDM album ‘BODY EROTICA’ self released under SIXFOOT 5, a sold out album release party, being invited to perform at Paris PRIDE and a second follow up EP to the EDM album called ‘GOOD BOY’.
So now I’m here. I’ve just turned 30 and I’m really proud of what I’ve done, where I am and how I got here, and all of the memories made along the way.
SIXFOOT 5: Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your style?
Well I grew up literally studying Max Martin and Dr. Luke’s production. When I was a kid I’d get my hands on the ‘stems’ of their tracks and analyze how they did what they did and why they chose the sounds they chose and how the sounds worked to fill out the track. I really love what S.G. Lewis does, Cirkut, A.G. Cook, and an all-time favorite producer of mine is Emile Haynie. It’s a beautiful mixed bag of influences but all of them have an incredibly rich sound.
I love film score composers as well, Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer, Raffertie, James Newton Howard and James Horner.
SIXFOOT 5: How would you describe your unique sound or genre?
I’d describe my sound as ‘rich’. Maybe ‘over-the-top’. I always try to be innovative and forward thinking with my production. I like to keep the elements interesting and full, that’s for sure.
SIXFOOT 5: What is the creative process like for you when writing and producing music?
Honestly, I give myself a couple seconds to freak out, I eliminate any self doubt, I take a breath and then I become obsessed with playing. With discovering the pieces of the instrumental, the sounds, the tones and textures and piecing it all together.
SIXFOOT 5: Can you share the story or inspiration behind your latest album "BODY EROTICA"?
Yeah! There were a couple of factors that lead up to the emergence of ‘BODY EROTICA’. The first was my consumption of Psychological-Thriller films I’d been watching and their music. Most notably, and at the time most recently, ‘The Substance’ which had come out in theaters a couple months prior. I loved it. I loved the sound design, the sex appeal, the idea of youth, addiction, beauty and graphic pain… I loved how bold it was. I remember going home after seeing the film and going down a rabbit hole of EDM music that mirrored Raffertie’s score for ‘The Substance’ and putting the songs I’d found on a playlist that I’d play every morning. ‘BODY EROTICA’ was created and finished in January 2025, and leading up to January I was in a bit of a dark hole with work being so slow. I’d just had two records I loved be shelved by an artist’s label, and couldn’t finish anything I had set out to create for myself which started an internal flame of creative rage inside of me.
I had one week with my New York City home studio in January before I would be going down to Northern Florida to house sit at a friend's place for the rest of the month. I had been working on an incidental album called ‘Amor Fati’ for about 5 months but couldn’t finish any of it; total producer’s block. So I left New York City on the 11th and flew down to Jacksonville, Florida with my laptop and a small 66 key MIDI keyboard, creatively frustrated, lost, and my artistic ego bruised.
It probably took about 2 days and then the thought settled in on me of: ‘what the hell was I thinking agreeing to do this? It’s the new year, and I’m in a house all alone in Northern Florida’. I finally accepted that it was what it was, and I could either feel stuck and alone or I could make the most of it. I spent a couple days answering some emails, watching Netflix, calling friends and going on a deep dive of ‘Behind The Scenes Of’ videos on YouTube. I came across a ‘Behind The Scenes; The Making of The Substance’ where Coralie talked about how she didn’t care what people thought while she was making it, that she had a vision and she made it happen exactly how she wanted to. And boom! I felt inspired.
The following morning I went to the keyboard and laptop, and started playing with some synthesizers and presets that sounded similar to Raffertie’s ‘The Substance’ and like a flood gate opening up, the first two tracks poured out of me. I realized while I was working, that I was creating something I’d been wanting to do for a while - which was to release a body of work under ‘SIXFOOT 5’ that was strictly EDM. Something so left-field of the symphonic incidental music under my catalog. These tracks that were pouring out of me were brutal, sexual, electronic, and to no surprise… cinematic. It was everything I had been wanting to do artistically and finally giving myself permission to do it. I posted snippets on social media to show what I was working on, and people went crazy over it.
Five days later I had a 7 track album done called ‘BODY EROTICA’ - A body of erotic electronica music, and what I call a ‘Thriller EDM’ album.
By the time I landed back in New York City on the 27th of January, I had all of the masters done and set to release.
SIXFOOT 5: How do you handle the pressures of fame and the demands of the music industry?
It’s exhausting. No, I’m joking! I don’t think I’m even close to ‘fame’. I’ve had people shout to me across the street that they love my music, I’ve heard my music played at Radio City Music Hall, I’ve seen my music on television and I’ve worked with people that have a very heavy fanbase but I don’t feel or really think I’m ‘famous’. I just go about my day honestly, and I try to conserve my energy where I can. I’ve learned how important that is: conserving your energy and protecting it.
I’m a big home/studio body. I’ve got a couple of extremely close friends and I’m very comfortable.
In terms of the demands of the music industry, I just show up. And I’m happy to be there when I can be.
SIXFOOT 5: What has been your most memorable performance or milestone so far?
Lord. My last show at The Bowery Electric, when I knew I didn’t want to perform with a band or do any of the crazy self promoting for my shows. That’s my most memorable performance.
As far as milestones go, I’d probably say my feature in PEOPLE Magazine. I had just gotten back to New York City from rehab and I had $23 to my name when that article was published. It was a pure honor to be in the publication. But it’s funny how that happens. Right there was a moment that should’ve made me feel like I was on top of the world, and for millions they probably thought that I was. But in reality, I was on the floor phoning my Mom asking her to spot me for money so I could buy groceries for the week. It made me realize that no amount of paper success or accolades will fix or complete any part of you if you don’t take care of your mental health first.
SIXFOOT 5: How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue making music?
Honestly, I observe what’s going on in the music scene and I take breaks. I conserve my energy and I find other outlets outside of music to be creative; I journal a lot and do graphics. You never ever want to be operating from a place of burnout - it is to be avoided at all costs.
SIXFOOT 5: What are your future plans or upcoming projects that fans can look forward to?
I’m currently working on a new album that will be released under my name and the artist’s name as well. It’s due to come out in the fall. I can’t say much just because of the contract, but it’s really really cool and not something I’ve done before. This whole year seems to be about branching out for me and taking leaps of faith and just seeing where I land.
Follow me on Instagram @sixfoot_5 for all of the updates.
SIXFOOT 5: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians trying to break into the industry?
Easy: If you’re not obsessed with it, if you’re in it for the money or the ‘fame’ or notoriety… do anything else that isn’t in the arts. And have a side plan. I didn’t have a backup plan or a side plan, but I strongly encourage anybody interested in producing or going into music to have a side plan; it would’ve saved me so much anxiety and early burn out.
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