Girl meets boy at a party, and the two hit it off right away. They spend the whole night together, inseparable as they laugh, smile, and revel in each other’s company. They exchange numbers at the end, the girl giddy and so hopeful that come the next day, her phone will ring and both will speak again.
It’s a simple, common story, but it’s a story that captures the anticipation following promising pop duo Karmin. With their cheeky dance beats that vaguely harken back to the 60s’ bubblegum pop days, it’s no surprise that Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan’s “Brokenhearted” took music charts by storm and ended as one of summer 2012’s biggest pop anthems. The classic boy meets girl, girl meets boy story needed a new take, and here were two rising music stars that provided it.
But look back at Karmin’s last two years and it’s clear that the same pep, creativity, and charisma were all there from the very beginning, tantalizingly hinting at the duo’s impending fame. From the moment Heidemann and Noonan formed Karmin while attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music, the two pop stars made a name for themselves online by combining their instrumental versatility and eclectic vocals. Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass,” LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” and even Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” fell within their wheelhouse as Heidemann and Noonan revamped each song to fit their fresh, carefree image that won them legions of fans.
And then came the live performances. Soon Heidemann and Noonan were appearing on Ellen, cheerfully rapping their way into viewers’ hearts with Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now.” A year later they returned to the show, but this time with “Brokenhearted” and an EP, Hello, under their belt. Karmin’s newer, more sophisticated and more polished sound also landed them a performance slot on Saturday Night Live where they belted out “Brokenhearted” and another original tune, “I Told You So,” to the delight of the show’s audience. Heidemann and Noonan had taken their music to a whole new level, bringing another set of challenges to overcome.
“We lost weight and didn’t sleep much. All of a sudden, you have attention from seemingly everyone,” recalls the duo. “We had to develop as a pop group in front of the world, debuting our first EP and performing on SNL, our first live performance with our band!”
Since then the road to success has certainly gotten busier, but smoother, for Karmin. Apart from collaborations with artists like Big Time Rush, Heidemann and Noonan have also teamed up with Tone Body Wash as part of the company’s Turn It Up! series, a partnership that not only promotes Karmin, but also gives their fans the chance to meet the band, win prizes, and get free tickets to see Karmin live as they tour the country opening for the Jonas Brothers.
“The partnership with Tone started organically – we were already using the body wash. So when they contacted us through our management, we were all ears,” explains Noonan. “After introducing the Turn It Up! program that could better connect us with fans around the country, we decided to do the campaign.”
But perhaps the most exciting news of all is Karmin’s upcoming debut album. While they were busy running around and setting up for their tour with the Jonas Brothers, Heidemann and Noonan were also putting together the much anticipated Pulses. Set for release this fall, Pulses will feature a whole new set of songs by Karmin, including their most recent single “Acapella.” With the help of Tone Body Wash, the duo is enthusiastically promoting their album, feeding ever-eager fans with information bit by bit leading up to Pulses’ release.
Today, going back through Karmin’s song covers leaves you in awe of how far the group has come. From their humble but charming beginnings on YouTube, Heidemann and Noonan have now grown into internationally recognized artists with a sound that is all their own. The transformation has been gradual and magical, as Karmin has stepped up to the occasion and grown into an energetic music brand with their own vision of pop music. The duo hardly shies away from the spotlight, working harder than ever to engage their audience and win more fans.
“We have gotten so comfortable that now it’s just the best feeling to get on stage in front of fans or people that have never heard of Karmin and rock out,” says Karmin. “People tell us they don’t expect the energy to be what it is at a Karmin live show, but that’s fine with us!”
One thing’s for sure: Heidemann and Noonan will never leave us brokenhearted as they compose hit after hit, and we’re more than excited to hear what Karmin has in store for us.