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Breathe Carolina

American electronic rock group from Denver formed in 2006, known for blending synth-driven pop, rock and dance music. Notable for the single “Blackout” and appearances on several compilation albums.

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Overview

Breathe Carolina is an American electronic rock group that formed in Denver, Colorado, in early 2006. The project is built around lead vocalist David Schmitt and has included several touring and studio members over time; among those associated with the band are Eric Armenta, Luis Bonet and Tommy Cooperman. The group rose from underground scenes into mainstream visibility through a sequence of studio albums, singles and high-profile appearances on compilation releases. Their 2011 single "Blackout" is their most commercially prominent song, reaching the U.S. Billboard Pop Songs chart at number 17.

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Musical style and characteristics

Breathe Carolina blends elements of electronic music, pop and rock. Early records combined screamed or rough-edged vocals with heavy guitar and programmed beats, a sound sometimes described as electronicore. Over time their style moved toward synth-driven pop and dance-oriented production, emphasizing synthesizers, programmed drums and hook-focused songwriting. The band has experimented with layered vocal harmonies, vocal processing and club-friendly arrangements that aim for crossover between alternative rock audiences and electronic dance listeners. For an overview of related genres and influences see electronic rock and electronic music.

History and development

Breathe Carolina began in Denver in 2006 and released its early material independently before signing to larger labels for wider distribution. Key early releases established a mix of pop melody and aggressive production that found an audience among fans of alternative and electronic scenes. As the band matured it explored cleaner vocal approaches and club-ready production, which helped singles like "Blackout" reach radio and streaming playlists. Members and collaborators have shifted over the years; for background on individual contributors see profiles for David Schmitt, Eric Armenta, Luis Bonet and Tommy Cooperman.

Notable releases and compilations

The band's catalog includes studio albums and a number of tracks that appeared on multi-artist compilations. Early full-length work includes It's Classy, Not Classic and Hello Fascination, followed by releases such as Hell Is What You Make It which helped solidify their presence. Beyond albums, the group contributed to various compilation albums and scene collections; examples include appearances on compilations that bring together pop, punk and alternative acts. For listings of their compilations and guest tracks see a general discography reference at compilations.

Covers and notable songs

Breathe Carolina has recorded covers and reinterpretations of contemporary pop songs, adapting them to their electronic-rock palette. Well-known cover choices include renditions of "Down" by Jay Sean, "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", each reworked with synth textures and electronic production. Links to these source songs and cover credits can be traced through the band’s discography and compilation appearances: Jay Sean, Miley Cyrus and Michael Jackson related entries provide context for those originals, while band-specific pages document the covers themselves at cover details.

Live performance, reception and legacy

The band has toured frequently in the United States and internationally, often playing music festivals and package tours alongside artists from rock, pop and electronic scenes. Critics and listeners have noted the band’s shift from raw, hybrid rock toward more polished electronic-pop production, a transition that mirrors broader trends in alternative and dance music during the 2010s. Their crossover single "Blackout" remains a reference point for the group’s commercial peak, while their inclusion on numerous compilations helped expose them to wider audiences and contributed to their ongoing presence in alternative electronic music discussions.

For more information, interviews and detailed track listings consult artist and label resources as well as dedicated music databases and archives: genre context, scene histories and curated discography pages at reference pages.

History

The band was founded in 2007 by the singers Kyle Even and David Schmitt. The name comes from a dream David Schmitt had as a child. In 2007, the duo released their first EP titled Gossip. The tracks from the EP, along with six new compositions, formed the basis for their debut album It's Classy, Not Classic, released in 2008. The duo's 2009 sophomore album Hello Fascination rose to #43 on the Billboard 200.

The band has toured with A Skylit Drive, Family Force 5, Brokencyde and other artists. They participated in a cover of Miley Cyrus' hit See You Again on the compilation Punk Goes Pop 2. In 2009, they were featured on the SmartPunk.com stage on the Vans Warped Tour. For their live performances, the duo hires a live band consisting of two keyboardists (Joshua Andrew also plays guitar) and a drummer.

The band participated in the compilation Punk Goes Pop 3 by Fearless Records and Rise Records with a cover of Jay Sean's song called Down.

On July 22, 2011, the third studio album Hell Is What You Make It was released via Fearless Records. The first single released from this album is called Blackout. The dubstep-influenced track gained strong popularity, reaching the charts in Germany, Austria and the UK, among other countries. With over one million sales in the US, it reached platinum status there. On July 10, 2012, the studio album titled Hell Is What You Make It: RELOADED was re-released under Columbia Records. This album features their latest single Hit and Run and a remix version of UK's Wideboys. Furthermore, an updated cut version of Last Night (Vegas) and a new song Reaching For The Floor.

In mid-October 2013, the band announced that vocalist Kyle Even had left the band to be with his newborn child and family. The fourth album, titled Savages, was nevertheless released on April 15, 2014. On this album, they particularly embodied their old style and thus achieved their biggest hit to date on the US album charts. However, traces of electro and progressive house music could also be heard in the productions. A new singer still did not join the band, instead they got guest singers for their live performances, some of whom also came from other bands.

After a record deal with the Dutch EDM record label "Spinnin' Records" in 2014, they changed their music style completely. While they previously covered the area of rock music in addition to electronic music, their current productions are almost exclusively in the area of progressive and electro house. Tracks like Hero (Satellite), More Than Ever with Ryos or Ruins together with Angelika Vee became big hits on the download portal Beatport and could advance to the top of the genre charts there.

On February 26, 2016, Dutch DJ and producer Hardwell premiered their single Soldiers, which they recorded with Blasterjaxx. Shortly after, they sang Marco Polo with EDM project Bassjackers and producer Reez. At the same time, they released an edit to Cuebrick, APEK and Linney's Safe. After the big room-heavy song Giants, they released the Sleepless EP in the fall. This was based on the future bass style that was very popular at the time. The songs Stable, which was created with Crossnaders and the with were released as singles.

For the end of 2016 they announced a second EP. This one was much more oriented towards progressive and big room house oriented songs. The first single, Echo (Let Go), recorded with IZII, was still in line with their future bass style. In contrast, the song Talisman, produced together with Olly James, turned out to be an electro-house track. On December 23, 2016, the Oh So Hard EP was released. To kick off the new year, the songs Atlantis with Dropgun and Break of Dawn with Swede Dreams were released as singles, which generated a very positive response.

In February 2017, they released their second collaboration with Bassjackers, titled Can't Take It.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 2008: It's Classy, Not Classic
  • 2009: Hello Fascination
  • 2011: Hell Is What You Make It
  • 2014: Savages
  • 2019: Dead: The Album

EPs

  • 2007: Gossip
  • 2013: Bangers Mixtape
  • 2016: Sleepless
  • 2016: Oh So Hard

Singles

  • 2008: Diamonds
  • 2010: Hello Fascination
  • 2010: I.D.G.A.F.
  • 2010: The Dressing Room
  • 2011: Blackout
  • 2012: Hit And Run
  • 2013: Savages
  • 2014: Sellouts (feat. Danny Worsnop)
  • 2015: All I Wanna
  • 2015: Anywhere But Home (with APEK)
  • 2015: Hero (Satellite) (with Y&V)
  • 2015: Platinum Hearts (feat. Karra)
  • 2015: Stars & Moon (with Shanahan feat. Haliene)
  • 2015: More than Ever (with Ryos)
  • 2016: Ruins (feat. Angelika Vee)
  • 2016: Lovin' (with APEK feat. Neon Hitch)
  • 2016: Soldier (with Blasterjaxx)
  • 2016: Marco Polo (with Bassjackers & Reez)
  • 2016: Safe (with Cuebrick & APEK feat. Linney)
  • 2016: Giants (with Husman & Carah Faye)
  • 2016: See The Sky (with Jay Cosmic & Haliene)
  • 2016: Stable (with Crossnaders)
  • 2016: Echo (Let Go) (with IZII)
  • 2016: Talisman (with Olly James)
  • 2017: Atlantis (with Dropgun)
  • 2017: Break Of Dawn (with Swede Dreams)
  • 2017: Can't Take It (with Bassjackers feat. CADE)

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AlegsaOnline.com Breathe Carolina

URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/13854

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