THE PIT | Breathe Carolina | So What Fest, TX

Starting back in 2007, Breathe Carolina rapidly gained fame in the electronic music arena with a distinct blend of rock and vocal progressive house, amplifying their status as a leading band in the dance music niche. The cherry on the cake? A set at the So What?! Music Festival in Dallas, Texas, a nostalgic return to the very stage where they made their first ever out-of-state performance.

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Breathe Carolina is currently the brainchild of Tommy Cooperman and David Schmitt, a pair that’s come a long way from the band’s once humble beginnings, trading early days of GarageBand and MySpace to an infinite database of dance-pop brilliance.

“Today was special because you see the stage half empty before we’re about to play and then you see everybody show up and you’re like, ‘Wow, they’re here to see us,’” said Cooperman. “They could have been at any other stage. There were five other bands playing and they sweated and sat there for us. It’s a dope feeling.”

With a lethal cocktail of EDM and post-hardcore, Breathe Carolina slammed into the music scene creating such an impact, it’s hard to imagine they started the group as a low-key side project. But according to Schmitt, that’s exactly how it happened. Messing around on a laptop without any grandeur plans in mind, Schmitt found himself being drawn to the pulsating heart of electronic music, toying with its builds and drops and echoing beats. Before he knew it, he was smitten by the genre and continued to explore its lively vibe. After crafting tunes and letting them flutter into the ether of the internet, the music swiftly took on a life of its own and the band went from casual hobby to full-fledged career.

While the contagiously groovy innovators hit a milestone of success with the hit track “Blackout” (2010), don’t think for a moment that they’re one-hit wonders. Since then, the band has churned out an impressive arsenal of music with five energetic albums, including DEADTHEREMIXES (2022) being their most recent release, nine EPs, and a multitude of rhythm-fused, toe-tapping singles, such as “Novocaine”, “Safe & Sound”, and “Sweet Dreams”.

After lighting up the So What?! Music Festival stage alongside big dogs like Pierce the Veil and The Used, Breathe Carolina is literally buzzing. They’re packing their bags for a three-week tour across Asia and are ridiculously hyped to wrap up and release their upcoming EP for the band’s synth-thirsty fans.

“This EP has all singing songs on it,” said Cooperman. “It’s going to be super fun. It’s a different vibe. It’s a new, fresh energy.”

Did You Know? Here’s Some Fascinating Trivia About Breathe Carolina

1. David Schmitt kick-started his musical journey by plucking bass strings at just 12 years old and then took on guitar, performing in Colorado with As the Flood Waters Rose.

2. When Schmitt started releasing the band’s music out into the universe via GarageBand and MySpace, they hit a 10,000 song play milestone in 2008 and accumulated over 30 million plays during 2009.

3. Breathe Carolina managed to record their first full-length album entirely on GarageBand before snagging a record deal with Rise Records.

4. Their track, “Blackout”, made a splash on MTV Buzzworthy on June 13, 2011. Not just that, they even earned themselves a spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on June 16, performing "Blackout" to a nationwide audience.

5. While Schmitt has remained the constant over the years, Breathe Carolina transitioned through four other members prior to the addition of Tommy Cooperman in 2013.