After releasing his critically acclaimed debut EP, City Lights back in September, the Swiss-born, producer, Sebastian Carter, who now lives in Brighton has built a large fanbase and curated playlists for Apple Music. City Lights is a brief glimpse into the world of Carter’s – a world of spontaneity and optimism that manifests throughout his music. With a determined outlook, he looks to break yet more waves in Brighton and beyond. I caught up with Carter and discussed Switzerland, the UK and his introduction to the electronic music scene.

Originally from Switzerland before moving to Brighton, how do you find both cultures have influenced your music?
Moving to the UK has definitely influenced my music as I was experiencing a culture completely different to the one I grew up in. I got exposed to the UK club culture and the indie music scene in Brighton, two big influences that I had not experienced in Switzerland. However, Switzerland has always been a safe place, where I could experiment on different musical ideas.

Do you still see Switzerland as home for your music or do you see it as something rooted in Brighton now?
I feel comfortable writing and living in both places. In the first year or two I definitely called Switzerland my home and often found myself looking forward to going back. Now I could easily live in Brighton, I wouldn't deny living in Switzerland though.

Your recent EP, City Lights certainly seems to have rocketed you to some success in the electronic scene, how did the EP come about?
I did a bunch of remixes and free downloadable tracks on Soundcloud and decided I wanted to release a proper official EP on other platforms as well. The remixing business has become quite tricky, especially since copyright infringement on Soundcloud has become a lot tighter since 2012. However the main reason was that I wanted to express myself creatively and musically with a collection of songs that were completely original.

You collaborate with a few musicians on the EP, can you explain what made you go with these particular artists?
The song ‘Rose Garden’ with Tosca Singer was actually a remix of a very old original of mine I wrote about three years ago. She's an old friend from back home. Also, Atonal is a good friend of mine, from Brighton though. Julia Church is the only vocalist on the EP I haven't met in real life yet. I was made aware of her on Soundcloud and we exchanged some ideas via the internet, ending up with the lead single for the EP.

How do you transpose your recorded EP into a live show?
At the moment the live show consists of myself and a variety of MIDI controllers and drum pads hooked up to my computer. Eventually I'd love to perform the music with a band, but for now it's just me.

Your music carries a real optimism in it, can you explain if there’s any underlying ideologies in your music?
I wouldn't necessarily say ideologies since I don't actively think about making my music, it just happens. It is possible that optimism is something I carry inside of me and it shows itself in my music.

You recently curated a playlist for Apple Music, can you tell us about this playlist and what made you choose those songs?
The playlist is a mix of songs that directly inspired and influenced the music on the City Lights EP and recent releases that I enjoy and that musically fit with my EP. It should showcase the music I listen to and also represent an extension of the EP so to speak.

What particular music is inspiring you these days?
I draw inspiration from a vast variety of artists and genres. Whether that is old school house/techno, hip-hop or even pop. For me the genre is secondary. The most important aspect of music is that it makes me feel a certain way. Whether that is joy, sadness or anything really, it just has to connect with me on an emotional level.

How would you describe your approach to creating music and what technology do you use?
Very spontaneous I'd say. I don't have a specific technique, it all happens in the moment. Sometimes I'll start with a beat, sometimes a melody, sometimes a chord progression. Composition and production go hand-in-hand, as I write and produce everything on my laptop, mostly using software instruments and samples.

What is planned for the future in your music?
Working on more music and playing shows. I find producing, composing, performing and just being able to create music and share it with people really fulfilling. I don't think I will stop anytime soon.

Facebook: facebook.com/SebastianCarterMusic