Carnival Youth

{{Short description|Latvian musical group}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Carnival Youth

| image = File:Carnival Youth 20160516 Innsbruck 04.jpg

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = Carnival Youth performing in Innsbruck in 2016

| alias =

| origin = Riga, Latvia

| genre = Indie

| years_active = 2011–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|https://carnivalyouth.lv}}

| current_members = Roberts Vanags (keyboards, vocals)
Edgars Kaupers (guitar, vocals)
Emīls Kaupers (drums, vocals)
Kristiāns Kosītis (bass)

| past_members =

| module =

| module2 =

| module3 =

}}

Carnival Youth is a Latvian indie{{Cite web|url=https://nbhap.com/stories/journey-from-latvia-to-europe-carnival-youth-on-tour|title=A Colorful Journey From Latvia To The Rest Of Europe: Joining Carnival Youth On Tour|last=Toerkell|first=Liv|publisher=Nothing but Hope and Passion|language=en|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2020}} band formed in Riga in 2011. The band consists of twins Edgars Kaupers (guitar, vocals) and Emīls Kaupers (drums, vocals), Roberts Vanags (keyboards, vocals) and Kristiāns Kosītis (bass).{{Cite web|url=https://beehy.pe/carnival-youth-connection-lost-latvia/|title=Latvia: Carnival Youth "Connection Lost"|last=Spalvēns|first=Raivis|publisher=Beehype|language=en|date=March 16, 2016|access-date=July 26, 2020}}

On May 26, 2014, the group released their first EP, titled Never Have Enough,{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/news/music/foto-carnival-youth-prezente-debijas-albumu-never-have-enough.d?id=44541964|title=Foto: 'Carnival Youth' prezentē debijas albumu 'Never Have Enough'|publisher=Delfi|language=lv|date=May 28, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2020}} which was followed by their first studio album, No Clouds Allowed on October 20 the same year,{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/news/music/iznak-carnival-youth-debijas-albums-no-clouds-allowed-un-video-dziesmai-octopus.d?id=45121830|title=Iznāk 'Carnival Youth' debijas albums 'No Clouds Allowed' un video dziesmai 'Octopus'|publisher=Delfi|language=lv|date=October 20, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2020}} which won the Latvian Golden Microphone award for best debut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/news/music/foto-zelta-mikrofona-apbalvosanas-ceremonija-triumfe-instrumenti-un-dons.d?id=45618548|title=Foto: 'Zelta mikrofona' apbalvošanas ceremonijā triumfē 'Instrumenti' un Dons|publisher=Delfi|language=lv|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=July 26, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/da/article/rnvayg/carnival-youth-latvian-indie-premiere-new-music|title=Latvian Indie Bros Carnival Youth's New Album is Versatile and Really Freaking Good|last=Maddox|first=Alfred|publisher=Vice|language=en|date=May 19, 2016|access-date=July 26, 2020}}

In January 2016, the band was awarded the European Border Breakers Award (EBBA) for their success abroad,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bumacultuur.nl/en/carnival-youth-unveiled-as-first-winner-of-2016-european-border-breakers-awards-ebba-for-pop-rock-and-dance-music/|title=Carnival Youth unveiled as first winner of 2016 European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) for pop, rock and dance music|publisher=Buma Cultuur|language=en|date=October 9, 2015|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726212448/https://www.bumacultuur.nl/en/carnival-youth-unveiled-as-first-winner-of-2016-european-border-breakers-awards-ebba-for-pop-rock-and-dance-music/|url-status=dead}} where they, at the same occasion, also won the EBBA Public Choice Award. In the spring of 2016, their second studio album, Propeller, was released.

On June 1, 2017, their third album, Vienā vilcienā was released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/carnival-youth-izdod-albumu-viena-vilciena-noklausies-pirmo-singlu-4856|title="Carnival Youth" izdod albumu "Vienā vilcienā". Noskaties pirmo video!|publisher=Parmuziku.lv|language=lv|date=June 1, 2017|access-date=July 26, 2020}} To this date, it is their only album to be sung exclusively in their native language, Latvian. The choice to sing exclusively in Latvian, rather than in both Latvian and English as on previous albums, was allegedly due to Latvia celebrating its centenary of independence the year after, in 2018.

Two years later, the group followed up with their fourth studio album, Good Luck.{{Cite web|url=https://www.diena.lv/raksts/kd/muzika/_carnival-youth_-izdod-jaunu-albumu-_good-luck_-14224961|title=Carnival Youth izdod jaunu albumu Good Luck|publisher=Diena|language=lv|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2020}} In May 2020, the group appeared on the album Leto bez interneta{{efn|Transcribed from Russian Cyrillic: лето без интернета, meaning "Summer Without Internet"}} by Russian rock band Mumiy Troll, performing a Latvian language version of the song Leto bez interneta, titled Vasara bez internetiem ({{langx|en|Summer Without Internet}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnet.lv/6976012/carnival-youth-ieraksta-mumiy-troll-dziesmu-latviesu-valoda|title="Carnival Youth" ieraksta "Mumiy Troll" dziesmu latviešu valodā|publisher=TV NET|language=lv|date=May 18, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2021}}

In addition to their home country of Latvia, the group has performed in countries such as Canada,{{Cite web|url=https://www.montrealrocks.ca/interview-with-carnival-youth/|title=Interview with Carnival Youth|last=Wark|first=Randal|publisher=Montreal Rocks|language=en|date=November 5, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2020}} the United States Austria{{Cite web|url=https://www.conradsohm.com/carnival-youth-im-interview|title=Carnival Youth im Interview|publisher=Conrad Sohm - Bar & Club|language=en,de-AT|date=June 17, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2020}} England,{{Cite web|url=https://highwire-magazine.com/2019/12/02/carnival-youth-at-the-sebright-arms-london/|title=Carnival Youth at the Sebright Arms, London|last=Andrews|first=Nikki|publisher=Highwire Magazine|language=en-UK|date=December 2, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2020}} Hungary,{{Cite web|url=https://musicgetsmeby.com/2014/08/19/ones-to-watch-interview-carnival-youth/|title=Ones To Watch – Interview / Carnival Youth|author=Eva6Kora|publisher=Music Gets Me By|language=en|date=August 19, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725160857/https://musicgetsmeby.com/2014/08/19/ones-to-watch-interview-carnival-youth/|url-status=dead}} Finland, France and Germany, as well as festivals such as SXSW, The Great Escape, Sziget, Positivus, Open'er, Reeperbahn, Eurosonic, Summer Sound.{{Cite web|url=http://carnivalyouth.lv/about/|title=Carnival Youth-ABOUT}}