Keith Carne makes solo debut
Longtime We Are Scientists drummer Keith Carne released his debut album, “Magenta Light,” April 20. The record marks a significant milestone in Carne’s musical career and a fundamental shift in responsibility from band member to band leader.
The primary hurdle in going solo wasn't technical, but psychological. For Carne, the greatest adjustment was “being the person to make the final creative decisions,” though he credits his background in jazz for his comfort with fluidity and ability to adapt.
“The feel doesn’t always have to be nailed down,” he said. “It can evolve from show to show, or even section to section, and you can give listeners a taste of how you’re hearing things differently.”
The album’s conceptual core was inspired by a vision his wife had of magenta light pouring from his face during a psychedelic experience they shared — an image Carne felt he needed to express.
“The music is meant to be the audio accompaniment to that vision,” said Carne. “I thought a lot about being awash in the color magenta while I was recording parts for the album. It was my guiding light.”
While he handled the vast majority of the instrumentation, Carne remained realistic about his technical limits, bringing in collaborators for the bass parts on a few of the tracks. The final product is a 24-minute collection of "intensely personal music.”
“This is a short album,” said Carne. “But it’s something I think is really beautiful, and I hope others agree.”