Listen Here – Out Now!
From the gritty heart of a pie factory to the evocative strains of a deeply personal record, Cartoon Carnival’s ‘Writing in Poverty‘ dropped on the 12th April, 2025, promising a sonic journey through life’s highs and lows. This isn’t just an album, it’s a time capsule of true stories, heartbreak, and resilience, distilled into a collection that defies genre and demands attention.
The title track, ‘Writing in Poverty’, anchors the release, pulling listeners into Cartoon Carnival’s childhood, a world of struggle, scarcity, and quiet defiance. Each song unravels tales of loss and young love, penned with the raw honesty of a kid navigating life’s rough edges. He wrote every lyric himself, most of them scrawled nearly two decades ago, carrying the weight of youth and the clarity of hindsight. A twice semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest for his lyrics alone, Cartoon Carnival’s words cut deep, now brought to life with a bold mix of modern tech and timeless storytelling.
‘Writing in Poverty’ hops across genres, refusing to be boxed in, much like Cartoon Carnival himself. From wistful ballads to tracks that pulse with restless energy, the album mirrors the chaos and beauty of a life lived on its own terms. With hundreds of songs still in his vault, he hints this could be just the beginning, if the world’s ready for more.
Cartoon Carnival’s path to this moment is as unpolished as his music. At 17, loading pasties into ovens at a pie factory, he found inspiration in the simplicity of Oasis’ Wonderwall, proof that words on paper could spark something massive. That spark led him to Sheffield Media College, where he dove into music production, honing a craft that’s uniquely his. A 2017 single was a first experiment; Writing in Poverty is the full explosion of his vision. His knack for catchy ideas, think “Cartoon Carnival”, and a knack for lyrical depth earned him two semi-finalist nods and an honourable mention in the UK Songwriting Contest.
Influences
Oasis, Ed Sheeran, Eminem, 2pac, Elvis Presley
Socials
Instagram
Spotify
Apple Music
