I guess, Charlotte Ann Martin needn’t need any kind of introduction but for the benefit of those who are not acquainted with her name, well, I am giving this brief information about the icon. She is an American singer-songwriter, who performs on the piano and has written several studio albums, one of which has received a mainstream commercial release. Her second full-length album, Stromata was released on September 12, 2006 on Dinosaur Fight Records. Rest, this email interview will reveal about her latent traits,
1. What led you to choose music as your profession? Looking at your life history it seems that you were constantly surrounded by people related to music some way or the other. Was that an instrumental factor in influencing your musical taste?
Charlotte: I grew up around music. Both my parents are musicians so I was around it constantly. I started studying classical voice and piano at 7, and my teacher had a huge amount of influence on me. I wanted to do music for the rest of my life as soon as I started making it myself as a child.
2. Charlotte, you’re a classically trained vocalist, songwriter, how you’re able to adapt to the different fortes and what challenges did you face?
Charlotte: It took a while to reverse some of my voice training. I still use a lot of it but I had specific techniques and habits that were formed from singing only opera for years. So when I started writing, it was a lot of demos and recording and listening to myself. I think I’m still developing my vocal style as it changes during the process of every album cycle. Although it’s gotten a lot grittier. I have all those years of touring in clubs to thank for that! On the flip side, my training has helped me with my stamina on tour as well as in the studio. I can sing and record for long, long hours and I believe that is because I sang hours and hours a day in college. I also can tell when I’m tired vocally-which is the key to saving my voice from damage.
3. From where do you draw inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Charlotte: Being a human on this planet. My personal life.
4. Can you tell us about a couple of songs that are extremely special to you?
Charlotte: Cardboard Ladders is a song I wrote about everyone trying to climb the human food chain to get what they think will make them happy-fame, big houses, perfect bodies, lots of money-when in the end it doesn’t make you happy. Those things aren’t bad but if they don’t give you personal peace or joy. This life is about finding out who you are and then sharing that with other people. I’m not willing to sell my soul to have what the status quo tells me I should have to be happy. I make myself happy.
Something Like a Hero is about my struggles with anorexia as a teenager.
5. When you’re at your best - on stage during a Live concert or in studio? How do you handle the adrenaline rush in front of the crowd?
Charlotte: Live and studios are two very different animals. I get high from both in different ways. When I know I’m onto something in the studio...it’s something I can’t describe. Euphoric is an understatement because there are so many days in the studio where it’s also just plain old work. Both kinds are important in making an interesting record, in my opinion. The rush from a crowd is entirely different. The energy and connection I get from a certain crowd is impossibly unique because everyone in the room is different from any other city I’ve played before. I never get the exact same people-although I have a rad following and I know a lot of the dedicated fans that travel with me from city to city-even they feel the different energies in different cities. It comes down to the basic fact that no two people are alike, and because there are different people every night, no two shows are alike. It’s different rushes. I have more incredible shows now that I understand this. I embrace that they are all different. I guess that is the ultimate rush.
6. Which are some of the most memorable venues you’ve played in?
Charlotte: The Wiltern in LA, World Cafe Live in Philly, Joe’s Pub in NYC, Varsity.
Theatre in Minneapolis, Metro in Chicago, Earthlink in Atlanta, Freebird Live in.
Jacksonville, Jammin Java in Vienna, Walnut Room in Denver-I could keep going, you know.
7. How do you feel about being compared to Tori Amos?
Charlotte: After many hours of therapy, I finally decided to burn my red wig and get on with my life. I’m now a blonde.
8. How have internet contributed to your career so far and what maximum do you think the web can deliver to you in the future?
Charlotte: The Internet is what launched my career many years ago. After launching my first web site, the mp3s we put up were what attracted my first fans, and then it grew from there. I wouldn’t be where I am, that is, making a living doing music, without the Internet. I have a separate online publicist and have for years. My whole team embraced it very early in my career.
9. What are the forthcoming events you are looking forward to?
Charlotte: *The release of Something like a DVD in stores on May 1, 2007.
*The new Ben Lee record, as I am lucky enough to have a song on his record that I wrote with him. He’s brilliant!
*Working on my next album.
*I’m looking forward to the season finale of Lost as well as a new season of Top Chef.
10. Charlotte, please share one thing that changed your life, if any?
Charlotte: My marriage, to my best friend and partner forever, Ken Andrews. He’s the love of my life.
11. What advice would you like to give to the budding artists?
Charlotte: Become your own critic. Write songs that convict you and that move you. You’re the one that has to sing them over and over. Realize that ‘making it’ is something you have the power to measure. If you measure it to American Idol and you’re not on the show, well then you might be screwed. If you’re making music because you have to do it or you’ll not be able to wake up in the morning, then most likely you’re doing it for the right reasons and the success you have on your path will come the way it’s supposed to. Don’t measure yourself. Just make music that moves you and most likely it will reach someone else. If it changes just one person, it’s worth it all.
Now its turn for a Rapid Fire round:
1. If not a singer, Charlotte Martin would have been?
Charlotte: Food critic
2. Bob Marley or Bruce Springsteen
Charlotte: Bruce!
3. Describe yourself in one word
Charlotte: Intense
4. Music is my—-.
Charlotte: Passion
5. Best song/lyric/theme that makes you feel complete.
Charlotte: ‘Open wide the arms you’re given, you’re too alive to just stand still’, by Future of Forestry.
Before signing off, I’d like to thank Charlotte for taking time out to do an interview with us, it is greatly appreciated. Also, we’d like to wish her success for all her future endeavors.
