LOUIS VUITTON MEN’S jakcet, pants, and shirt, JACQUIE AICHE necklace, LARA HEEMS bracelet, and TUK shoes.
Carter Ace (real name Oneil Carter) is no longer preoccupied with overthinking his musical craft. His inclusion of varying genres like old school jams and G-funk into his inventive music combined with the therapeutic nature of his lyrics give listeners a personable feeling that leaves listeners craving more. Carter Ace’s distinct ability to channel emotional tumult and storytelling into his soundtracks evoke a unique reliability. Fresh off of his new single “Better,” Flaunt had the privilege of interviewing Carter Ace about his musical influences growing up, his surge of productivity in quarantine, and his aspirations for the future of his career.
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**When did you first know that music was what you wanted to pursue as a career?**
My parents were pretty creative people, especially when I was young. I would see my mom dancing for my father’s band all the time and I’d tag along so while they were doing that, I was writing books and trying to sell them to whoever I could. It wasn’t until the end of middle school that I started making beats for my cousins. Then we posted them on DSPs and started making little cash here and there through selling tickets for my concerts and homemade merch. That’s when I started realizing I could capitalize off of putting my stories in these beats I’m making.
**What/who are your biggest musical influences?**
I’ve been influenced by my Cameroonian parents’ music they made and listened to from Petit Pays to P Square. For the first quarter of my life that’s all I knew until I discovered Kanye and OutKast. They taught me more about the aesthetics outside of just the music.
BODE pullover and Shorts, NANUSHKA tank, JACQUIE AICHE necklace and ring, LARA HEEMS Bracelet, DALMATA pinky ring, and VANS shoes.
**How has quarantine helped/hindered your creative process?**
This quarantine made me realize how much product I could’ve been pumping out this entire time. It actually inspired me to limit myself with how much time I spend overthinking and making excuses. I had a hard time working with new people and I’d avoid working in person. Now I kinda had no choice so it forced me to be more open. In a few months, we’ll see if it paid off.
**With the release of so much new music recently, do you think music is playing a heavy role in therapeutically helping people get through quarantine? Do you think music is intersecting with our current reality?**
I know a lot of people who’ve been struggling with their own issues and having music there as a crutch helps them get through their days. Even with some of my songs, most of which were recorded before quarantine, I’ve had a bunch of people tell me they’ve found peace within this time by listening to them which is insane. Personally I haven’t felt the therapeutic effects from new music during this quarantine, especially with the songs that reference COVID-19 or the quarantine in general. I’ve been seeing a lot of artists genuinely making music to help people through this time but I’ve also been seeing a lot of artists using this time for their personal gain and that completely throws me off.
RHUDE black leather button up, S.R. STUDIO LA pants, LOUIS VUITTON shoes, JACQUIE AICHE necklace, index ring, and pinky ring, DAVID YURMAN middle ring, LARA HEEMS Bracelet, and DALMATA anklet.
**How did you develop your sound?**
My parents, my band and the diversity of the San Fernando Valley helped shape my sound. Growing up listening African music gave me my sense of rhythm, my band helped give me a better sense of musicality, and my town showed me how to make songs that also work live. I keep all these things in mind when I create.
BODE pullover and Shorts, NANUSHKA tank, JACQUIE AICHE necklace and ring, LARA HEEMS Bracelet, DALMATA pinky ring, and VANS shoes.
**You have amassed a huge following on TikTok. How do you see the intersection of TikTok and music evolving in the future?**
TikTok is a very powerful tool right now. The Billboard Top 10 and Spotify playlists are bombarded with songs that broke on the platform. Spotify and Apple Music already have songs to shorten in order to favor replay value. Now with the 15-second trends taking over, a lot of people are making even shorter songs with small sweet moments that grab attention immediately as you hear it. It’s just a new wave. Not necessarily the best but not necessarily terrible either. More than anything, I think it’s a little more damaging to the artists because it started this new “but how would this work on TikTok?” issue in the industry. I think we need to focus more on the music and then when it’s all said and done, seeing how we can market it on the platform rather than the other way around.
**What kind of messages do you hope fans will garner from your music?**
I never really go into recording songs thinking there’s anything to take from my songs if I’m being completely honest. It’s always been just my stories that happen to find their ways into other people’s ears. I just hope people realize they are not the only ones with these thoughts. You’re not alone. You mean something to somebody. Even if those people hate you, you mean something to them.
**What advice would you give your younger self?**
I wouldn’t tell my old self anything. He’ll find out on his own. With his little dusty, weirdo self. Maybe I’d just tell him that people find your awkwardness endearing at times. Keep that going.
**What has been the most challenging aspect about the music industry?**
The music industry still has these contracts from decades ago and are just handing them out to these kids that can’t fully understand what’s going on in them. And a bunch of people are only paying attention to masters in contracts when there’s a whole 3 other pages that should be looked through carefully.
**What is something about you that not many people know?**
The internet says I’m in my late twenties and I’m very offended by that. I’m clearing the rumors up... I’m 46. I know. My skin looks good for my age.
LOUIS VUITTON MEN’S jakcet, pants, and shirt, JACQUIE AICHE necklace, LARA HEEMS bracelet, and TUK shoes.
**When do you feel most invincible?**
After a quick call with my mom, I feel the most invincible. We make each other feel like superstars because we’re all we got. After that, it’s after a creative feat whether that be after editing a video, recording a vocal take I enjoy, performing, etc.
**Your newest release, "Better," is very cathartic and upbeat. What is the story behind this song?**
I made the beat in my living room on Ableton with my guitarist, Fahem Erfan, after a bit of producer’s block. We produced the entire thing in about an hour and I just titled it “better better better (insert bpm here)” and sent it off to a group chat with my homies Aaron Aye and Greg NWMN. Aaron ended up sending me a freestyle over the beat and I loved the chorus he came up with so I just decided to write according to what he wrote about.
**What do you want to explore in the future of your career?**
I’d love to do modeling. Doing the shoot for this magazine actually made me more open to it. I think the coolest thing would be to have a cover page with my mom and I. My mom is where I get any ounce of my attractiveness, assuming I have any. Also owning buildings. I’m going to open a venue in the San Fernando Valley. We lost all of our venues out here so my main goal in my career is to give back to my area as much as I can.
Photographed by [Max Montgomery](https://www.instagram.com/instamaxmonty/?hl=en)
Stylist: [Sydney Lopez](https://www.instagram.com/sydneylopez/?hl=en)
Groomer: [Nathaniel Dezan](https://www.instagram.com/nathanieldezan/?hl=en)
