CARLOS JARAMILLO

Growing up in Elmhurst Queens as the son of two Ecuadorian immigrants, Carlos developed a musical taste that was just as informed by the rock and grunge genres of the day as the Latin songs his parents referred to as their “oldies.” Though music was always present in his life, it wasn’t until Carlos taught himself to play guitar at sixteen that he realized it was a viable passion. He enlisted in the Marine Corps but recognized after studying guitar that his beliefs were more aligned with artistic expression than military service.

After years of performing with local bands, Carlos met Luis at a 2015 rooftop party and found he was looking for a new guitarist for his band. On listening to the late Ode To No One tracks, he was struck by their progressive contrasts in structure and energy. A fan of progressive artists like Mikael Akerfeltd of Opeth and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, Carlos has always been attuned to the narrative journey of music—the more fearless, the better. He joined the band shortly thereafter and since then has heavily contributed to Night Coast’s contemporary sound with his experimental riffs and atmospheric ruminations.

Why music? “The world can be a discouraging place—there is always something telling you that you should look, act, or sound a specific way—and the hardest thing is to find a balance between surviving and doing what you love. Expressing myself musically helps me do both. I’ve always struggled with communicating, and sometimes I can’t describe what’s going on in my head with words. But everything makes more sense when I can translate my thoughts into sound. Music has a way of helping me bridge that gap and accept the ways that I am unique. I think that now, more than ever, we need to find ways to communicate and listen to one another respectfully, and music can be a powerful tool for that. No matter how different we may seem, we’re more alike than we think.”

Loves: I'm very into coffee culture and the impact coffee has on a global, collaborative effort.

Paying for a cup doesn't just pay the employee and the business you get it from, it has a positive effect down to farms they come from. It aids communities in the country of origin, helps the environment, ensures farm workers are paid and treated fairly, empowers and employs women, and helps build and sustain economies.

I also really love video games.

Favorite Night Coast Song: L.A. Ghost