John Carlin has been a respected artist throughout the downtown NYC music scene for more than a decade. As the leader of the band 700Miles, John toured extensively across the US, released two CDs on RCA Records, and shared stages with acts such as Radiohead, PJ Harvey, and Violent Femmes. As a solo independent artist, John received critical acclaim for his debut CD 'Songs From the Black House' - TimeOutNY called John "one of NYC's better-kept secrets" and New York Magazine referred to him as a "soulful young bad-ass". He has performed in England, Japan, Italy, and South America, as a musician and an actor.
In 2000, John began teaching Music for Aardvarks classes in Brooklyn where its founder, David Weinstone, began his career. Before long, there were waiting lists to get into his classes. Weinstone himself once remarked, after sitting in on one of John's classes, "I've seen a lot of teachers come and go, but John's in a league of his own." By the time John began doing family concerts in 2004, he had a devout following of hundreds of NYC families. In 2006 he released his debut family CD 'First Time For Everything', which TimeOutNYKids called 'one of the best kids' albums we've heard in some time.' That same year, he also founded his own program of interactive music classes for little people, called The Kids Music Underground. Drawing from his diverse musical/theatrical history, his remarkable affinity for all things child-related, and his own experience as a single parent, John has developed an exuberant and heartfelt approach to early childhood musical awareness. And ask any parent whose child has requested John's CD for the 20th time that day unlike the majority of 'children's music', it's not only tolerable, but actually quite good. Catchy, soulful, silly songs written and performed by a world-class songwriter/musician.
In his own words: "Music connects people - it always has. Whether you're 2, or 82, music has the capacity to bring joy into peoples' lives. Kids want to have fun, and are eager to learn. I get to create joy on a daily basis, singing and dancing and being silly, with women and children (dads too!). Meanwhile, we're planting the seeds of a lifelong appreciation for music. I'm so grateful to be doing what I do. I know a lot of kids, and parents, who share that gratitude. I guess sometimes you don't know what you're supposed to be doing, until you're doing it."