Kid Carpet

As an artist who comes from Bristol, us lot in Newcastle haven’t been exposed very much to the toy-instrument playing, sleeve-tattoo wearing Ed Patrick, or as better known as disguised in his acronym, Kid Carpet. I caught up with him post-US Election day to talk Daniel Johnston, Dan le Sac and the Europeon Song Contest.

E: How would you describe your sound, in a sentence?
KC: Disco-punk-standup-fall down-music. Casino keyboards, small battery operated lightweight devices...


E: Wow, why did you get started with playing these instruments?
KC: Simple enough reason really; so I don’t get a bad back! I can walk to a show, and there is no need to hire a van.

E: What about the sound they produce?
KC: Yeah- they work well, because I’m no maestro guitar player so it made it easier for me.

E: So with this sort of unique sound and bizarre use of instruments, it surely would hard to pin-point what your influences are…
KC: Well, not wanting a job and not wanting to be on the dole.

E: What about music wise?
KC: Ah music- The Kinks, Daniel Johnston… [An inspiring solo artist from America who has severe mental health problems]… I like the solo organ and singing, but I’m obviously not a manic depressive

E: Ever seen the elusive player himself?
KC: Yeah I saw him in London once, it was amazing! Me and my friends kept shouting out for him to play “Speeding Motorcycle” and he ignored us for a while, then shouted back [at this point he re-enacts Daniel’s emotion-ridden voice] “I don’t play speeding motorcycle anymore!”

E: On another note, you recently toured with Dan le Sac, how was that?
KC: Amazing, they were lovely people to hang out with and had perfect audiences for my style of performance- primed for spoken word and for partying. I’m prone to telling stories and babbling between songs, and because they were used to the spoken style of Dan le Sac it didn’t faze them in the slightest.

E: Ok, back to the gadgets, how do they work in live performance?
KC: Well I’m sometimes prone to knock things over and batteries will fall out, but I’m not a technical wizard so I can’t sort it out!

E: I heard a rumour that you applied to the Eurovision song contest last year, is this correct?
KC: Well I had a song I thought would win so I applied to Slovenia, Andorra, a couple of other places- they didn’t go for it.

E: Aw shame, did they even get back to you?
KC: Er, no!

E: That’s unfortunate! Just one final question- I hope you are considering coming to Newcastle again soon?
KC: Yeah, I hope so too! I will be touring again in late February, March.

If Kid Carpet is anything as good as he sounds, his performances will be incredible; so don’t miss him next time around!

Eliza Lomas