Interview with Free Carmen
COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
CV: Every artist experiences highs and lows. Many struggle just to move from one level to the next, and some, unfortunately, never do. What would you consider to be a pivotal point in an artist's career which would take them from one level to the next that a struggling artist should be aware of? Is it an individual mindset or does it equate more to opportunity? Or is it something all together different in your opinion?
Free Carmen: Well, I can’t say that I’d be past that point yet. But I think you can achieve it through consistency. Basically, to stop struggling at some point, you first need to struggle quite a lot. I think many artists quit as soon as the struggle begins, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s actually a great way to find out whether you’re truly cut out for it.
CV: What have you found to be the balancing point between relevance and over saturation when it comes to being an artist? Is there a fine line between the two or can it be looked at to some degree as the two essentially being one in the same?
Free Carmen: I tend to lean more to the artists who feel real or to whom I can relate to. Those who seem larger than life don’t really do it for me. Every time there are dancers on stage or the singer is overly theatrical, I get the feeling that there’s something to hide or compensate for. When I see Eddie Vedder on stage, I listen carefully to what he has to say. Neil Young doesn’t need a “show,” because people come to his gigs for the art itself. That’s probably why I try to stay on that kind of path.
CV: Is there any level of consideration, or even concern, to deliver on expectations, whether it being your own or that of the fans, when working on new material?
Free Carmen: We definitely have our own expectations that we need to exceed. If we couldn’t do that, we wouldn’t release anything at all. I don’t really think much about the audience or their expectations. I think I’d lose the whole point of creating art if I did.
At the same time, I’m still excited to release new music and perform it live so people can decide whether they like it or not. It’s just that their reaction wouldn’t change the way we make the music.
CV: For you, what’s first when it comes to songwriting…is it a matter of lyrics melody, chords, beat, attitude? Or is it more organic than that where the moment dictates the process and outcome?
Free Carmen: It can be all of the above. Most of the time it’s an idea that comes up when fiddling with the guitar. I also write lyrics all the time and use that stuff surprisingly a lot. Many times when I write without any purpose or specific song in mind, I write my best stuff.
CV: What do you believe makes songwriting more honest and impactful...that something that both the artist and listener can share?
Free Carmen: Well, I think there’s three steps before the artist and the audience share the song.
First and the most important, is the actual writing process. If in that stage you start to think about the audience, it usually goes wrong.
The second step is the recording. Once again, if you decide anything on the public's opinion, the track is going to sound outdated at some point.
The third step is the release and people listening to it at home, or in the car, or wherever. That’s when the listener makes their own conclusions about the song, and either digs it or not.
But only when experiencing the song live, the artist and the audience really share it. Seeing how the artist feels about performing the song and how the audience feels when they hear it can change both sides’ perspectives. That’s where the real magic happens.
CV: What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to your success as an artist?
Free Carmen: The love that I get from my family.
CV: What's next for Free Carmen? What can fans expect to see coming up?
Free Carmen: In spring 2026 we already have a good number of shows scheduled, plus a small record store tour. We also have some festivals booked for the summer, which is a big deal for us as they’ll be our first ones.
We are working on new music that will come out as an EP in the fall of 2026.
We’re going to the studio in January to record it. And actually there is so much new music we’ve written (that we think is absolutely great stuff) so we’re heading to the studio after the EP next fall. From that session will be born our next full-length album
CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Free Carmen: Thank you for having me. Great questions.
Check out Free Carmen at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freecarmenband
Spotify:
Solstice I (all platforms): https://orcd.co/freecarmensolstice
Solstice II (all platforms): https://orcd.co/freecarmensolstice2
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/FreeCarmen
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, author, show host, big dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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