Cody Carson Biography

Cody began his career in music in the year 2000. He followed in the footsteps of his father and started playing instruments in orchestras. He started off as a clarinet player as he had completed his clarinet lessons, which he had started during his high school days. 

While pursuing his Bachelor’s degree, Cody Carson performed with many popular bands. Right after completing his first year in college, he got a chance to perform with the band All Time Low. The show was a hit and Cody’s performance was praised by one and all. That was when he realized that he can make a career out of rock music.

Cody belongs to a family which advocates classical music. Hence, he had difficulties in explaining rock music to his family, especially to his father. Unfortunately, Cody’s idea was not well-received by his family as they wanted him to stick to conventional music.

Cody Carson then started to chalk out a plan to step into the world of rock music. He discussed his plans with his friend, Dan Clermont. Cody and Dan had already formed a band when they were studying in their high school and had performed locally on several occasions.

Cody and Dan came across another duo that had formed an amateur punk band. Austin M. Kerr and Zach DeWall were the members of the punk band and they eventually collaborated with Cody and Dan to form a new band. Thanks to the YouTube channel which Cody had created in 2006, the newly formed band found some music lovers who were ready to lend their ears.

Cody Carson already had a huge fan base as he had displayed his skills as a clarinetist through his YouTube channel. He also requested All Time Low, the band for which he was playing earlier, to post some of the videos in which he had exhibited his skills, on his channel. By now, his channel had already garnered close to 100,000 subscribers which helped the newly formed band to promote its talent. 

On July 26, 2008, the band Set It Off came into existence. The initial days were difficult as Cody and his fellow musicians struggled to earn enough money for the release of their debut extended play. After a few months of struggle, the band finally released its first EP, Baby, You Don't Tripajaharda, on October 31, 2008.

Within a few days from the release of his first EP, Cody suffered a huge setback as he lost his father who was suffering from mouth cancer for a long period of time. Cody was devastated to such an extent that he lost interest in music. But it was his father’s encouraging note which he had left behind for his son that motivated Cody to make a comeback.

Set It Off then released its next EP, Calm Before the Storm, on May 16, 2009. The next year, the band released its hit single Hush Hush. On July 19, 2011, the band signed a contract with one of the top music record labels Equal Vision Records. A few months later, Cody announced the details of his band’s first labeled album, Horrible Kids. The album had elements of all the emotions and experiences he and his fellow band members endured while growing up. The album was a smash hit and made it to the list of 100 Alternative Albums on iTunes.

The band’s first full-length extended play, Cinematics, was released in July 2012. This album is very close to Cody’s heart as it includes a track titled Daddy’s Song which he composed in the loving memory of his father. In 2014, Cody Carson released the second labeled EP, Duality: Stories Unplugged, which secured a position in Billboard top 100. A year later, the band set out on its most popular tour, Vans Warped Tour '15. On October 7, 2016, Cody released the third album, Upside Down, which surpassed Duality in terms of sales.

On February 14, 2020, Set It Off came up with their fourth extended play, After Midnight. On January 14, 2022, the band went on another tour called Welcome to Elsewhere Tour.

Cody Carson was born on January 9, 1989 in Tampa, Florida, US, into a family of classical musicians. He grew up along with his sister Cambia. Cody went to a local high school in Tampa. In 2019, he got engaged to Shay Phox.

He majored in orchestral arts from Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. While pursuing his higher education, Cody Carson opted to drop out in order to devote more time to his band Set It Off.