Cartoon (band)
Cartoon | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Genres |
|
| Years active | 2015–2017, 2020–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members |
|
| Past members | Ago Teppand |
Cartoon is an Estonian band formed in 2015 by Hugo Martin Maasikas, Ago Teppand, and Joosep Järvesaar.[1] Their most successful song is "On & On" featuring Daniel Levi, which has over 450 million views on YouTube as of March 2022.[2]
They also have many other songs with millions of views, including "Biology" in collaboration with nublu and Gameboy Tetris, "Why We Lose" in collaboration with Coleman Trapp, and "I Remember U" in collaboration with Jüri Pootsmann.[2]
In early 2024, Ago Teppand (a.k.a. Jéja) left the project to pursue his solo career.
History
Formation and breakthrough with "On & On" (2015–2016)
Ago and Joosep met in high school in Estonia in 2004, and they met Hugo at a party hosted by Ago.[3] Cartoon was then formed in 2015 and gained attention when they released "Why We Lose" featuring Coleman Trapp on the British record label NoCopyrightSounds.
On July 9, 2015, Cartoon released "On & On" featuring Estonian-Mexican-American singer Daniel Levi. The song was featured as his third song on the NCS: The Best of 2015 album and was also released as his single on December 31, 2019 by Más Y Más / On & On AB. The song was a huge hit and received over 500 million views on NCS' YouTube channel. The song reached #1 on the Estonian airplay chart in its 39th week.[4][5] On May 12, 2022, Cartoon released a Remixes EP of this song. The EP includes Time to Talk Remix, nuumi Remix, and Afe & Cole Phillips Remix.[6]
In 2016, Cartoon participated in the Eesti Laul 2016 song contest with Kristel Aaslaid with the song "Immortality".[7] They lost to Jüri Pootsmann in the finals and took third place.[8]
On March 11, 2016, Cartoon released the song " I Remember U" featuring vocals by Estonian singer Jüri Pootsmann. The song was released as a digital download through NCS and peaked at number 1 on the Estonian airplay chart.[9] This song is used as the theme song for the ADVChina YouTube channel. The video clip for this song became Estonia's most viewed music video on YouTube in 2016. Elsewhere, Cartoon has been ranked No. 1 in the Estonian Artists Top Charts 2016.[10]
Disbandment, subsequent reunion and further success (2017–2023)
Cartoon went on hiatus in August 2017,[1] but the band resumed activities in spring 2020.[11]
On January 29, 2022, Cartoon released a new song, "Piranha," featuring rapper Pluuto. Along with the new song, a music video was also released. The song was released in collaboration with Discover Records and Sony Music. The music video was filmed and produced in Tallinn by Turkish audiovisual artist Bertan Can.[12]
On March 26, 2022, Cartoon released the single "Whatever", a collaboration with Belgian producer Andromedik, which also features Estonian singer Jüri Pootsmann. According to Cartoon members, the song was born on the internet, as is common these days.[13]
On July 8, 2022, Cartoon released the single "I'm Not Alright" featuring Estonian band Bedwetters. The song was released by French label Dancing Dead and also came with an animated music video by Reimo Õun.[14] On the same day, they performed at the Beach Grind Festival in Pärnu, Estonia.[15]
Cartoon had planned to do an NCS remix of Alan Walker's track "Dreamer", due out in April 2023.[16] However, it was canceled for unknown reasons. In July 2023, "On & On" was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[17] In September, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[18]
Their songs have grown in popularity mainly thanks to YouTube videos that have over 850 million views. It has also received a significant number of plays on Spotify, over 500 million times.
Departure of Teppand, Eurovision Song Contest and further releases (2024–present)
In early 2024, Cartoon announced that Ago Teppand would leave the project to pursue a solo career under the moniker 'Jéja', which led to Teppand being credited separately on all Cartoon releases. Hugo Maasikas and Joosep Järvesaar continue Cartoon as a duo.
Cartoon participated alongside Ewert Sundja in Eesti Laul 2024, the Estonian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "Oblivion". They did not qualify from the semi-final.[19] Cartoon released the song through Liquicity.
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Made Me Feel / One Day |
|
| Mas Y Mas / On & On |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EST | ||||
| "Made Me Feel" (featuring Kristel Aaslaid) |
2015 | — | Made Me Feel / One Day | |
| "One Day" (featuring Karl-Kristjann Kingi) |
— | |||
| "Why We Lose" (featuring Coleman Trapp) |
— | Non-album single | ||
| "On & On" (featuring Daniel Levi Viinalass) |
1 | NCS: The Best of 2015 | ||
| "Whatever I do" (featuring Kóstja) |
9 | Non-album single | ||
| "Immortality" (featuring Kristel Aaslaid) |
4 | |||
| "Feeling (Piece Of You)" | 2016 | — | ||
| "Here" (featuring Würffel) |
1 | |||
| "C U Again" (featuring Mikk Mäe) |
— | NCS: The Best of 2016 | ||
| "I Remember U" (featuring Jüri Pootsmann) |
1 | |||
| "Your Stories" (featuring Koit Toome) |
2017 | — | NCS: Colors | |
| "Howling" (featuring Asena) |
2020 | — | Non-album single | |
| "Don't Be A Stranger" (featuring Jason Diaz) |
— | |||
| "Fade Away" (featuring Ewert and the Two Dragons) |
— | |||
| "Biology" (featuring nublu and gameboy tetris) |
2021 | — | ||
| "Omen" (featuring Asena) |
— | |||
| "Whatever" (featuring Andromedik and Jüri Pootsmann) |
2022 | — | ||
| "Piranha" (featuring pluuto) |
— | |||
| "No Halo" (featuring Asena) |
— | |||
| "I'm Not Alright" (featuring Bedwetters) |
— | |||
| "Flashback" (featuring Elina Born) |
2023 | — | ||
| "Sideways" (with TWISTED, Zaug and SlidV) |
— | |||
| "Oblivion" (featuring Ewert Sundja) |
2024 | — | ||
| "On The Break Of Dawn" (with Kristjan Järvi, Kitty Florentine and Nordic Pulse) |
2025 | — | TBC[A] | |
| "Bounce On Da Riddim" (with NCT, Southby and Emily J) |
— | |||
| "Made For The Game" (with Jessee, Kazhi and AC13) |
— | |||
| "Around Us" (featuring NCT, Vallo Kikas, Carlos Ukareda and Pasha) |
— | |||
| "Wait A While" (featuring LEOWI, m els and Pasha) |
— | |||
| "Euphoria" (with Vallo Kikas, Blooom and KAZHI) |
— |
Notes
- ^ The album name is to be confirmed as of June 22nd, 2025.
References
- ^ a b "USKUMATU MENU ⟩ Eesti bändi Cartoon hittlugu hingab maailmakuulsale muusikule kuklasse". Postimees (in Estonian). 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ a b "Suveks valmis? Beach Grindi esinejate nimekirja lisandus neli tõelist tegijat". Postimees (in Estonian). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Cartoon, Jéja & Daniel Levi - The Story of 'On & On' [NCS Documentary], 10 January 2020, retrieved 2024-02-23
- ^ Cartoon - On & On (feat. Daniel Levi) [NCS Release], 9 July 2015, retrieved 2023-05-04
- ^ "Raadio MyHits otseeeter ja järelkuulamine". myhits.pleier.ee. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- ^ On & on Remixes - Single by Cartoon, Jéja & Daniel Levi on Apple Music, 2022-05-12, retrieved 2025-06-26
- ^ Clark, Liam (2016-02-11). "Meet Eesti Laul 2016 participants Cartoon feat. Kristel Aaslaid". ERR. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ ERR (2016-03-07). "Jüri Pootsmann wins Eesti Laul 2016". ERR. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Raadio Uuno". 2016-04-23. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Cartoon's Top 40 Artists Chart Achievements'". Popnable.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- ^ "HÄSTI HOITUD SALADUS ⟩ Cartoon avaldas koos Eesti ühe menukaima bändiga loo". Postimees (in Estonian). 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "MUUSIKAVIDEO ⟩ Cartoon avaldas koostöös Pluutoga värske loo «Piranha»". Postimees (in Estonian). 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Uus hitt? Cartoon on purki saanud verivärske singli: Jüri ületas taas meie ootuseid". Postimees (in Estonian). 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "KUULA ⟩ Cartooni uuel singlil teeb kaasa Bedwetters". Postimees (in Estonian). 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Suveks valmis? Beach Grindi esinejate nimekirja lisandus neli tõelist tegijat". Postimess (in Estonian). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Cartoon just made a Meow Mix of ‘Dreamer’, you have to watch till the end 😂🐱 #nocopyrightsounds. Retrieved 2025-06-26 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "British certifications – On & On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - Cartoon". RIAA. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ^ Carabaña Menéndez, Hugo (20 January 2024). "Eesti Laul 2024: Ewert And The Two Dragons, OLLIE y 5MIINUST x Puuluup, Peter Põder y Anet Vaikmaa clasificados para la gran final de la preselección estonia" [Eesti Laul 2024: Ewert And The Two Dragons, OLLIE and 5MIINUST x Puuluup, Peter Põder and Anet Vaikmaa qualified for the grand final of the Estonian preselection]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Peak positions for singles on the Estonian Airplay chart:
- For "Whatever I Do": "TOP 20 (nädal 48, 2015)". Raadio Uuno. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016.
- For "Immortality": "TOP 20 (nädal 3, 2016)". Raadio Uuno. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016.
- For "Here": "TOP 20 (nädal 32, 2016)". Raadio Uuno. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016.
- For "I Remember U": "TOP 20 (nädal 13, 2016)". Raadio Uuno. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - Cartoon". RIAA. Retrieved 2023-09-12.