Rising Arp: “Friendship-Core” Band, Carpet Golf, Take Big Swings With Their Debut

This is the unapologetic youth of Carpet Golf (Credit: Carpet Golf)

Embrace the transience of adolescence, because it does fly by in a flurry. Capturing these hurricane moments of their lives in song is Carpet Golf, a new quartet built on impenetrable friendship, growth milestones and a love for the alternative exploration of rock music.

If these faces look familiar to you, your gut instinct is right. The self-professed “friendship-core” band comprises Nathaniel Soh, Daniel Borces, Spencer Tan and Jordan Fernandes Khoo; all of whom are members from Subsonic Eye, Charm and The Neptune Waves. Scooped out from this melting pot of artistries is an effervescent sound that's become the shared soundtrack of their next collective chapter – or what they call, “brotherhood soup”.

The bandmates of Carpet Golf have been friends for a long time (Credit: Carpet Golf)

As Carpet Golf, their entry into the scene strikes hard and fast without much fusses of pre-hype. In fact, they’ve already done up a six-track debut EP that instantly sets the tone for their joint shenanigans, set to release on 22 September. Titled Not As Good A Fisherman As Brock Lesnar Is A Man – and what a title it is – the self-released record addresses themes of perceived masculinity, repressed insecurities, and the bonds of friendship. These are delivered in bite-sized snapshots of youth, with a bulk of its tracks being barely over a minute in length. With rowdy sentiments of garage rock, emo and power pop, these are compositions that deliver bullet-like intensity and dash out the door before you can even process the pandemonium.

Take its lead single for example, the brawny and incendiary “Brock Lesnar” that audaciously references the beastly professional wrestler. With layers of crusty guitar fuzz and licks that pierce through, it possesses a dizzying energy just like an F5 in a circle pit. “Brotherhood Soup” is another unruly barrage of sound, densely layered to simulate the claustrophobia of pressing grievances. And then you have “Terror Hamster”, a crunchy blitz that toys with time signatures and rhythms, all while painting the picture of a crumbling relationship. The six tracks of this EP slam swiftly, yet they leave indelible dents that persist even after the first few listens.

This is how you make a first impression. This is how you immortalise your youth – with art, and in the case of Carpet Golf, with friends.  

Listen to the debut EP of Carpet Golf, Not As Good A Fisherman As Brock Lesnar Is A Man, on their Bandcamp page. Follow the band on their Instagram page to stay updated with their activities.