Carvin profile picture

Carvin

East + West
Past + Future
Life + Death

About Me

BACK IN PRINT!
Thanks to all my friends and fans for being patient. It has been a long time, but now the wait is over.

By special arrangement, Hamsa is back in print as an import from New Zealand! Dancers around the world have discovered Carvin Knowles' infectiously groovy album of Middle-Eastern fusion. Now, once again, you can too!

To order Hamsa, visit cdbaby.com now.
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Hamsa, is a fusion of Middle-Eastern music with modern beats. Infectiously groovy. Don't say I didn't warn you. Seriously, if you buy Hamsa, you will begin to spontaneously dance. I've seen it happen. Once, a religious girl listened to Hamsa and just lost control. She began shaking and gyrating on the spot. In her religion, that was a sin. And believe me, it looked like it was a sin too. I don't want to be the cause of anyone endangering their immortal souls our anything like that. That's why I tell you these things. You'll find Hamsa at your favourite download services including the Apple iTunes Music Store and Rhapsody. Visit my website for complete credits and album notes.

Carvin Knowles has composed and/or produced music for over 20 feature films.
From the beginning of his music career, Carvin has been regarded as the go-to guy for any job that seemed too difficult, strange or controversial for other composers. His first real break came with the "pie scene" in Universal’s American Pie, but his range has included Orchestral Score, Jazz, Blues, House, Jungle, Lounge, Dub, Ancient Music, World Music and, of course Funk.
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Featured on my Standalone Player is Treacherous (downtempo) This is the downtempo remix of Treacherous Intent that closes the album, International Affairs, Inc.
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Also featured: Medjool The first preview track from the upcoming album (currently in production) Little Bohemia, Enjoy.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/1/2004
Band Website: carvinknowles.com/hamsa
Band Members: Carvin Knowles has written music for TH!NKFilm's "Strangers With Candy," Universal's "American Pie," John Waters' "Cecil B. Demented," Steve Martin's "Novocaine," and TH!NKFilm's hilarious documentary, "FUCK" about the mother of all profanities with a broader message about Freedom of Speech in Bush's America.

Carvin has collaborated with Adam Pike, Shakti, The Backyard Bangers, Jon Anderson, Sex-0-Rama, JoelSkool, Tao Factor Dub, Bootsy Collins, Ethan James, Kate St. Pierre, DJ Chris Monaco, Jason Hamlin, Jason Friedrich, The Syrups, Rachel Christian, and Lately Blue on various occaisions.

Influences: When asked about influences, I never give the same answer twice. That's because everything I hear influences everything I write and produce. Today I have been influenced by Morcheeba, Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem, K&D, Bill Laswell, Talvin Singh, Rashid Taha, Cheb Khaled, Dead-Can-Dance, Daft Punk, Royksopp, Jazzanova, Dan the Automator, DJ Cheb I Shabbah, Om Kalthoum, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Dr. Israel, Matisyahu, Dave Tarras, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Freddy Mercury, Carl Stalling, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Danny Elfman, Bernard Herrman, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Akira Ifakube, Les Baxter, Igor Stravinksi, Yellowman, Femi Kuti.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention those radio DJs who influence me: Chris Douridas, Liza Richardson, Garth Trinidad, Scott Willis, Chuck Niles (OBM), Helen Borgers, Jose Rizo, Kevin Lincoln, Raul Campos and Tom Schnabel. I am lucky enough to live in a city with great public radio. If you don't subscribe, you should.

Sounds Like: NOW PLAYING ON THE STANDALONE PLAYER

1. Mme. Zorna Featuring lots of traditional Turkish Ud in a rhythmic balady jam, this track is from Carvin's 2005 album Hamsa. (85bpm)

2. Ghita Broken-beat remix of traditional Egyptian dance music from Carvin's 2005 album Hamsa. (134bpm)

3. Keter Ehyar Inspired by Arabic Classical Music and traditional Jewish dance rhythms, this track is from Carvin's 2005 album Hamsa. (85bpm)

4. Liberi Noctum: Think World-music Dub with a Gothic flair. Because everybody looks better wearing black, this track is from Carvin's 2005 album Hamsa. (85bpm)

5. Medjool Broken beat remix of traditional Mizrahi music. (135bpm)

6. Treacherous (downtempo) The final track on International Affairs, Inc. is a chilled out, downtempo remix of Treacherous Intent. (65bpm)

Record Label: Ozone Layer Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Happy Pesach

I'm going to be away from my computer for a few days and Pesach (or Passover: The Festival of Freedom for the rest of you) begins on Sunday.I'm in New Zealand and it took a while to hook up a communit...
Posted by Carvin on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:42:00 PST

LEGAL ALIEN

After six weeks in New Zealand, I have my Work Visa. Finally, I am a Legal Alien. As soon as my equipment arrives, I can start setting up some live gigs.New Zealand is culturally just different enough...
Posted by Carvin on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:25:00 PST

Saturday in Auckland

It's Saturday morning in Auckland, New Zealand. I have finally sorted out my power adapter and have my computer up and running. Sorry about the delay in getting back to everyone. The dangers of intern...
Posted by Carvin on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:53:00 PST

Der Golem

Der Golem: Summoning AstarothIn the 16th Century (c.e.), Rabbi Judah Loew was said to have created a powerful Golem to defend Prague's Jewish Ghetto. Control of the Golem was siezed by a jealous serva...
Posted by Carvin on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:23:00 PST

Danny Elfman

Over the years, my day-job at the Jewish Journal has allowed me to interview some of my favorite composers.I once had tea with Elmer Bernstein after an interview. It was pouring down with rain and he ...
Posted by Carvin on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:53:00 PST

The Sopranos

During his acceptance speech at the Emmy's a couple of nights ago, "The Sopranos" creator David Chase thanked me.Or at least, he thanked all those musicians who have licensed their music to The Sopran...
Posted by Carvin on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:11:00 PST

Homeless

It's not exactly what you think....On Labor Day, the power grid in Los Angeles blew. And that blows. 22 neighborhoods in Los Angeles lost electricity, including central Hollywood, where I live. Temper...
Posted by Carvin on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:03:00 PST

Forward in All Directions

"Forward in All Directions" has been the slogan of one of the first "World-Music" bands out there (and I really mean "out there"): 3Mustaphas3. Those guys have had that slogan since the early '90s. Ma...
Posted by Carvin on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:15:00 PST

Cold War Again

It's a tough time to be a spy. Or a former spy. Victor Litvinenko's poisoning at the hands of his former boss and the White House's double-cross of Valerie Plame just bring back memories of the Cold ...
Posted by Carvin on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:59:00 PST

Jews In Space!

Every musician needs a flexible, part-time day-job now and then. For the past 10 years, mine has been at The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. For three days a week, I design their covers and mis...
Posted by Carvin on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:59:00 PST