Breathe Carolina: Biography, Discography and More | EDM Encyclopedia
Introduction
Breathe Carolina is an American electronic music duo originating from Denver, Colorado. David Schmitt and Kyle Even formed the project in 2007, building a sound that would eventually bridge multiple eras of electronic and rock music. What began as a two-person operation evolved into a full touring and recording band. The most widely recognized lineup included Schmitt on vocals, Even sharing vocal duties, Eric Armenta on drums, Joshua Aragon on keytar, and Luis Bonet handling DJ and sampling responsibilities.
In 2013, the group underwent a significant lineup shift. Kyle Even departed the project, and Tommy Cooperman joined the roster that same year. Despite this major change in personnel, Breathe Carolina continued to produce and release music for djs without interruption, maintaining an active presence in the electronic music scene from their first release in 2007 through 2020. Schmitt remained the consistent creative anchor throughout the project’s entire lifespan.
The Denver duo carved out a distinct space in the electronic music landscape by fusing synthesizer-driven production with live instrumentation and vocal performances. This hybrid approach allowed them to move between club settings and live concert stages with equal ease. Their longevity in a rapidly shifting electronic music scene demonstrates a commitment to consistent output and adaptation across multiple stylistic shifts in the genre.
Genre and Style
Breathe Carolina approaches electronic music with a focus on vocal-driven melodies layered over synthesizer arrangements and bass-heavy drops. Rather than adhering strictly to one subgenre, the duo draws from dubstep, electro house, and pop-punk vocal stylings to create tracks that appeal to both dance floor audiences and live concert crowds. Their production style often pairs clean, processed vocals with aggressive basslines and bright synth leads.
The dubstep Sound
The integration of keytar and live drums in their lineup gave their performances a rock-inspired energy that separated them from purely laptop-based electronic acts. Joshua Aragon’s keytar work and Eric Armenta’s drumming added a physical, visual element to their stage presence that amplified the electronic production at the core of their recordings. Luis Bonet’s DJ elements provided the texture and sampling that grounded the live show in electronic music tradition.
Across their career, the duo’s sound evolved from earlier recordings with stronger pop-punk vocal influences toward heavier electronic production. The shift in personnel in 2013 coincided with continued refinement of their electronic focus. Their approach to dubstep and electronic styles emphasizes accessibility through vocal hooks while maintaining the rhythmic intensity and bass weight expected from club-oriented electronic music. This balance between melodic content and production aggression defines their specific contribution to the electronic music landscape.
Key Releases
Breathe Carolina’s recorded output spans over a decade, beginning with their Gossip EP in 2007. This initial EP established the foundation for their electronic and vocal-driven approach.
- Gossip
- It’s Classy, Not Classic
- Hello Fascination
- Hell Is What You Make It
- Savages
Discography Highlights
Albums:
It’s Classy, Not Classic (2008): The duo’s debut full-length album, released the year after their formation, capturing their early blend of electronic production and pop-punk influenced vocals.
Hello Fascination (2009): Their second album arrived just one year after the debut, demonstrating rapid creative output during their formative period.
Hell Is What You Make It (2011): This third album pushed further into electronic territory, arriving during a period of significant growth in the American dubstep and electronic music scenes.
Savages (2014): Released the year after Kyle Even’s departure and Tommy Cooperman’s arrival, this album marked the first full-length release under the revised lineup.
DEADTHEALBUM (2019): The most recent confirmed album in the duo’s catalog, arriving five years after the previous release.
From their first release in 2007 through confirmed activity in 2020, Breathe Carolina maintained a consistent release schedule across seven distinct projects: one EP and five full-length albums. Their discography documents a clear arc from early vocal-driven electronic rock toward increasingly bass-heavy electronic production, reflecting both personnel changes and broader shifts in the electronic music landscape during their active years.
Famous Tracks
Breathe Carolina emerged from Denver, Colorado in 2007 when David Schmitt and Kyle Even formed the electronic duo. Their debut EP, Gossip, arrived that same year, introducing their blend of synth-driven melodies and vocal processing. The release helped establish them in the burgeoning electronic scene before they quickly transitioned to full-length projects.
Their first album, It’s Classy, Not Classic (2008), refined the sound introduced on the EP. The record leaned heavily into club-ready production, with layered synthesizers and auto-tuned vocals that would become a signature element of their early work. This release caught the attention of listeners seeking electronic music with accessible pop structures.
Hello Fascination (2009) followed, pushing their production values further. The album demonstrated growth in both vocal delivery and instrumental arrangements, incorporating more complex rhythmic patterns and textural variety. By this point, the duo had developed a recognizable sonic identity within the electronic landscape.
The 2011 release Hell Is What You Make It marked a shift toward heavier bass elements and more aggressive drops. This album found the group embracing the rising dubstep movement while maintaining their melodic sensibilities. The contrast between clean vocals and heavy bass drops became a defining characteristic of this era.
Savages (2014) arrived after significant lineup changes, including the departure of Kyle Even in 2013 and the addition of Tommy Cooperman. The album reflected this transition, exploring darker tones and more experimental production choices. Their final confirmed release, DEADTHEALBUM (2019), continued their evolution with updated production techniques and a harder-edged approach to electronic composition.
Live Performances
Breathe Carolina’s live presence evolved significantly from their origins as a duo. The initial two-piece format of David Schmitt and Kyle Even eventually expanded into a full five-member band, transforming their stage show from a compact electronic setup into a dynamic live experience. This expanded lineup featured Schmitt on vocals, Even on vocals and guitar, Eric Armenta on drums, Joshua Aragon on keytar, and Luis Bonet handling DJ duties.
Notable Shows
The inclusion of live drums through Armenta gave their performances a physical weight that separated them from purely laptop-driven electronic acts. Aragon’s keytar work added visual spectacle while contributing real-time synth layers that differentiated their live sound from studio recordings. Bonet’s DJ position allowed for seamless transitions between songs and the incorporation of extended bass drops during critical moments.
This full-band configuration allowed Breathe Carolina to bridge the gap between electronic music and traditional rock performance energy. Festival crowds responded to the visual variety provided by multiple performers, each handling distinct musical elements. The setup also permitted improvisation and extended versions of tracks, giving attendees a unique experience rather than a straightforward playback of studio recordings.
Even’s departure in 2013 and Cooperman’s arrival, the live setup adapted again. The restructuring required Schmitt to take on full vocal responsibilities while Cooperman integrated into the performance dynamic. This period saw the group continuing to EDM tour, maintaining their commitment to live electronic performance despite the internal changes to their roster.
Why They Matter
Breathe Carolina represents a specific intersection in American electronic music where pop sensibility met bass-heavy production. Their career arc from 2007 through 2019 spans a transformative period in the genre, during which dubstep and electronic rock moved from underground clubs to mainstream festival stages. The duo’s willingness to incorporate melodic vocals over aggressive drops offered a template that numerous later acts would follow.
Impact on dubstep production
Their evolution across six confirmed releases documents a band willing to reinvent their sound rather than repeat successful formulas. Each album brought production shifts that reflected both their personal growth and the changing landscape around them. From the synth-pop leanings of their early work to the heavier bass focus of their later material, they avoided creative stagnation.
The group’s decision to expand from a duo to a five-piece live band demonstrated a commitment to live performance authenticity rare in electronic music at the time. While many electronic acts relied solely on laptops and pre-recorded elements, Breathe Carolina invested in musicians who could reproduce their complex arrangements in real time. This approach helped legitimize electronic music as a live performance art form.
Their longevity through multiple lineup changes and stylistic shifts speaks to the strength of their core creative vision. David Schmitt’s continued leadership through these transitions maintained musical continuity even as collaborators changed. For electronic music fans tracing the genre’s development through the 2010s, Breathe Carolina’s discography provides a useful reference point for how artists navigated the decade’s rapidly shifting sonic trends.
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