Todd Carey

Todd Carey is very busy these days. Though currently still operating at the “breaking artist” level, Carey has seen an escalating amount attention – both from fans and the media – since releasing his official debut record, Watching Waiting, early this year. At first blush, the young Chicago-based songwriter appears to be just another golden boy with a guitar. He’s articulate, handsome, friendly and, of course, talented. But is he different from any of the countless young, talented songwriters who have come and gone over the years? 

“One of the things that doesn’t come through on my record is that I consider myself to be a guitar player. I like to jam. For example, a Ryan Cabrera doesn’t jam, but if you come to one of my shows you’ll get a jam element, which, for better or worse, sets me apart a little bit,” said a candid Carey, who seems clearly aware of being written off as just another cute songwriter. “I think people really respect you when they realize that you’re more than just a singer songwriter boy with a guitar, and that there’s sub substance behind it.” Sufjan Stevens couldn’t agree more.

Now on the road promoting his record, Carey will come through Indianapolis on Saturday, October 13 to play a set with his five-piece touring band. “Milwaukee and Indianapolis and this mini-Midwest tour I’m doing are my focuses right now,” said Carey before explaining his specific interest in Midwest audiences. “I went to college in L.A., so I got a good taste of what the industry is like. What I missed, though, was the Midwest audiences; audiences out here really want to grow with artists. I feel like some of the people in ‘entertainment cities’ are a bit jaded – audiences here want to grow with artists, and that’s what I’m interested in.”

After stretching his legs as a musician in L.A., Carey headed back to his home of Chicago to focus on his career, along the way playing Indianapolis stages whenever he had the chance. “I did an in-store at Luna Music and I played the Midwest Music Summit two years ago … and maybe Birdy’s one time, too. I feel like things are snowballing for me [in Indy], like we’re really starting to get a fanbase there,” he said while simultaneously conducting an online interview.

Carey’s new record falls somewhere between Teddy Geiger, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Matt Nathanson, though played and produced in a more timeless manner. “I consider this my debut record,” explained Carey, who independently released a disc, Revolving World, just two years ago. “This record got made the right way and was written the right way – all the songs were conceived as a whole. It just feels like the right way I wanted people to hear me the first time; I’ve never been happier with a project than I am with Watching Waiting.”

Friendly as they come, Carey is well aware of the timing of his major label debut, which was released smack dab in the middle of a whole new era of young songwriters. “I feel like around 2001 or 2002 all of the sudden the young singer/songwriter became hip again, or at least commercial again. John Mayer really brought in a new era,” said Carey, who recently opened for Indiana’s own John McLaughlin in Ann Arbor. “The response John and I got was huge. It really made both of us feel like we’re on the right track.”

Written by G. William Locke