PennyDrop are Anth Clarke and Craig Carpenter, a pair of music lovers turned music makers inspired by an endless enthusiasm for sourcing new sounds.
The duo call on bottomless record collections of heavy dub, pop, hip hop, new wave and roots reggae to fuel their music. Having connected 13 years ago, the pair have been making music on and off, both together and apart for years.
Craig played bass for Irish Indie pop band Catchers in the late nineties, while Anthea went solo before making the quartet Bushcraft in 2001, with Craig on guitar, bassist Richard Ford and drummer Suko Yoshimi. More recently fans of Kate Tempest will have seen Anth doing her thing as part of the Mercury Prize nominated artist’s live show. Get to know their dubby sounds below and watch out for live shows in 2015…
We first started writing music because...
A: It wasn't a choice. I started writing words down when I was quite young. Poems I suppose. I always knew I wanted to sing from when I was little.
C: Growing up in Africa surrounded by music and rhythm it was unavoidable. I had to have a piece of that.
We have been making music since...
A: We met about 13 years ago. A loooong time ago. And we started making music straight away. Craig introduced me to CAN, Wire and Deus. My mind was blown. I was hungry for that stuff. I was a bit lost musically before I met Craig.
C: It could be 13 years ago, I can't remember. I remember Anth loved what I was doing then and I was really chuffed about it because I loved her voice and her vibe. Anth taught me to be confident about what I created and I've been forever indebted to her for that. Most of all she's great to make music with and is never shy of saying how it is and how it should be which is good for those of us who procrastinate too much.
Our music is...
A: Adventurous, Soulful and full of hope. And sexy as frig.
C: Exactly how WE want it.
You'll like us if you listen to…
A: Dub reggae for sure ... Tricky ... and any strong female vocal music like Kate Bush, Portishead, Fleetwood Mac. Or maybe that’s just me!
C: If you like dub-oriented grooves, fat bass lines, melody and great lyrics thanks to Anthi.
Our favourite venue is...
A: Some random party with a makeshift soundsystem and a sweaty crowd of open minded souls.
C: I'm with Anth on that one.
Music is important because...
A: It inspires people.
C: It's one of the few forces that can bring all creeds, cultures and ages together. No one can take your music away, it's very deep inside.
Our biggest inspiration is...
A: Love.
C: ... and food.
Our dream collaboration would be...
A: It is my ultimate dream to work Tricky also Dennis Bovell as I'm a massive Lovers Rock fan and The Slits album ... ‘nuff said really. Who else? Caribou, Roots Manuva, Mouse On Mars … I'm adding to the list all the time. So many amazing artists and producers out there. I could go on for days with this list actually.
C: Roots Manuva.
To try us out, listen to our song...
A: Every song is so different so it’s really hard to choose one. Maybe one of our first like Penny Drop or the latest track Little One. It’s pretty deep but really vibey and beautiful.
C: I'll go with Dead Leaves as it was the first one we finished off this latest project and I'll never forget how good we felt when we had done it.
If we weren't making music we'd be...
A: I would be a seriously unwell person. In so many ways. I need this.
C: Maybe working in a haberdashery or a shoe shop or something like that … ‘yes we have them in back’.
In 10 years’ time we want to be...
A: Inspiring the youth.
C: Inspiring and being inspired … and still dancing.
soundcloud.com/pennydropmusic
facebook.com/pennydropmusic
twitter.com/PennyDropMusic
pennydropmusic.co.uk
The duo call on bottomless record collections of heavy dub, pop, hip hop, new wave and roots reggae to fuel their music. Having connected 13 years ago, the pair have been making music on and off, both together and apart for years.
Craig played bass for Irish Indie pop band Catchers in the late nineties, while Anthea went solo before making the quartet Bushcraft in 2001, with Craig on guitar, bassist Richard Ford and drummer Suko Yoshimi. More recently fans of Kate Tempest will have seen Anth doing her thing as part of the Mercury Prize nominated artist’s live show. Get to know their dubby sounds below and watch out for live shows in 2015…
We first started writing music because...
A: It wasn't a choice. I started writing words down when I was quite young. Poems I suppose. I always knew I wanted to sing from when I was little.
C: Growing up in Africa surrounded by music and rhythm it was unavoidable. I had to have a piece of that.
We have been making music since...
A: We met about 13 years ago. A loooong time ago. And we started making music straight away. Craig introduced me to CAN, Wire and Deus. My mind was blown. I was hungry for that stuff. I was a bit lost musically before I met Craig.
C: It could be 13 years ago, I can't remember. I remember Anth loved what I was doing then and I was really chuffed about it because I loved her voice and her vibe. Anth taught me to be confident about what I created and I've been forever indebted to her for that. Most of all she's great to make music with and is never shy of saying how it is and how it should be which is good for those of us who procrastinate too much.
Our music is...
A: Adventurous, Soulful and full of hope. And sexy as frig.
C: Exactly how WE want it.
You'll like us if you listen to…
A: Dub reggae for sure ... Tricky ... and any strong female vocal music like Kate Bush, Portishead, Fleetwood Mac. Or maybe that’s just me!
C: If you like dub-oriented grooves, fat bass lines, melody and great lyrics thanks to Anthi.
Our favourite venue is...
A: Some random party with a makeshift soundsystem and a sweaty crowd of open minded souls.
C: I'm with Anth on that one.
Music is important because...
A: It inspires people.
C: It's one of the few forces that can bring all creeds, cultures and ages together. No one can take your music away, it's very deep inside.
Our biggest inspiration is...
A: Love.
C: ... and food.
Our dream collaboration would be...
A: It is my ultimate dream to work Tricky also Dennis Bovell as I'm a massive Lovers Rock fan and The Slits album ... ‘nuff said really. Who else? Caribou, Roots Manuva, Mouse On Mars … I'm adding to the list all the time. So many amazing artists and producers out there. I could go on for days with this list actually.
C: Roots Manuva.
To try us out, listen to our song...
A: Every song is so different so it’s really hard to choose one. Maybe one of our first like Penny Drop or the latest track Little One. It’s pretty deep but really vibey and beautiful.
C: I'll go with Dead Leaves as it was the first one we finished off this latest project and I'll never forget how good we felt when we had done it.
If we weren't making music we'd be...
A: I would be a seriously unwell person. In so many ways. I need this.
C: Maybe working in a haberdashery or a shoe shop or something like that … ‘yes we have them in back’.
In 10 years’ time we want to be...
A: Inspiring the youth.
C: Inspiring and being inspired … and still dancing.
soundcloud.com/pennydropmusic
facebook.com/pennydropmusic
twitter.com/PennyDropMusic
pennydropmusic.co.uk