On the occasion of its concert at Badaboum on April 26th, JustFocus met the adorable Charlotte OC. She told us about her childhood, her first album Careless People released in March and her plans for the future…
Interview translated into French to be found in English just below.
JF: Hello Charlotte! First of all, could you perhaps just introduce yourself to French readers who don't know you?
Charlotte: My name is Charlotte OC, I'm from the UK and I make alternative music… dark… and dramatic. (laughs)
"It's a strange feeling to think you can do something like that, like a vocation."
JF: When did you realize you wanted to become a singer?
Charlotte: My older sister was a singer, she sang me The Little Mermaid all the time and I loved singing to her in return. I think I realized I wanted to be when my mom bought me a karaoke machine and I wouldn't stop! I was on it all the time, my family listened to me and realized that I was gifted. I remember a sweet feeling in the school choir where I felt very comfortable, the sounds came out of my mouth in a very fluid and natural way. It's a strange feeling to think that you can do something like that, like a vocation.
JF: How old were you at that time?
Charlotte: I was 5 or 6 years old when I was in the choir. I always struggled with everything else but it was the only thing I didn't have a problem with.
JF: What did you listen to when you were 6 years old then?
Charlotte: A lot of Freddie Mercury, I loved Queen when I was younger, I was a fan! Michael Jackson too, I think as a kid, everyone loves him. We can't help it, we're just here "Oh my god, this person is awesome!».
JF: Now, let's talk about your album Careless People which was released on March 31st. It took you 4 years to release this album after your first EP Colour My Heart. Why so long?
Charlotte: Well, it took me a while to figure out who I was. I knew I could sing but there is a difference between being able to sing and being able to create something that represents us. For some people it's easy, for others it's not. In 2013, I was pretty young. So, it showed me how to share and I feel like I just did it. I needed to grow up and know what I wanted to say. After making Colour My Heart, I wanted to be inspired by different things instead of trying to "feed" that song. I needed time, I needed it.
JF: So what do you think are the biggest differences between your three EPs and the album?
Charlotte: I think the album is more like the first EP, it's more traditional. Strange is a bit more electronic and I was scared of it. I didn't want to be covered in production, I didn't care if it was "cool". As soon as I made this EP, I was like, "It's not okay, it's not me." Finally, when I did If My House Is Burning, I wanted to bring it to live sound. Once the moment of the album arrived, I wanted to combine the two because I am happy in both worlds. I'm not happy in either, the two have to be joined.
JF: The album cover is very simple, just you in black and white. What for?
Charlotte: I had some visuals for the album but when it happened, I didn't have time to put it all together. So when I was shooting the music video for Darkest Hour, we did a photoshoot, the director took a picture and as soon as I saw her, she hit me. I think it fits the name, it looks like I'm looking down at someone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mochsfDjtN8
JF: Indeed, Careless People, why the name?
Charlotte: I was watching The Great Gatsby and that sentence totally hit me. The guy describes Tom and Daisy as careless. I feel like I've been quite careless, I've seen people being careless with me and with other people. That's what I was inspired by in the first place: people doing. The whole album is about people making mistakes, realizing that you made a mistake or that someone made one. Then, it looks good and it sounds good!
JF: Do you have a favorite track on the album or do you love them all like your kids?
Charlotte: Do I have a favorite? I think they are all from the same family. I am proud of all. Running Back To You is a very good song but I think it's Choice. I also love playing In Paris live, it's my favorite on stage.
JF: In Paris is just about Princess Diana, was it good to sing it A PARIS last night?
Charlotte: YES! I kept telling the audience! (laughs)
JF: This concert was part of a tiny tour: only three concerts in London, Berlin and Paris where she finished yesterday. Are you happy about it?
Charlotte: Yes, these cities mean a lot to me. If it wasn't for those cities, I don't think I would have done it. Berlin inspired me a lot for Colour My Heart, In Paris is about Paris and the rest is about my life in London and what I had to deal with. It was very nice to do that, to do these concerts in these cities, I felt like I was telling the story of the album.
JF: Speaking of Berlin, you recently collaborated with German producer Wankelmut on Almost Mine. It's rather different from your album but do you have good memories of it?
Charlotte: Yes, Wankelmut is a love. I didn't actually write the song, it was a featuring but I heard the voice of the girl who wrote the song and it sounded like mine so I wanted to do it. It was very difficult because it was his style of music. The lyrics are always sad and desperate, that's what I love! (laughs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGEzd44KBg
JF: I've read a lot of people comparing you to Lana Del Rey. What do you think?
Charlotte: I wish I wasn't compared one day! However, I think it opened a door for artists like me, to be able to be sad and make the music I make. For that, I think artists like Lorde and I should be grateful because it's a whole new thing. However, I think Lana and I are very different, her aesthetic is more of a world she created while mine is more personal. Our voices are also different but the mood may be similar, I don't know. I can't wait for the day when it won't happen anymore!
"I wish a day would pass without me being compared"
JF: Do you have a dream collaboration? Maybe with Lana?
Charlotte: (laughs) I'd love to do something with Little Dragon, I love Little Dragon so much. I would like to work with Damon Albarn from Gorillaz. I would like him to write me something. I love Tom Odell, this last album is so good. I think it's a very intelligent album, I admire him for that. Nevertheless, my main choice is Little Dragon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AsLISPht_M
JF: So what's next for you?
Charlotte: I have a few concerts and festivals soon. I just made a video for Shell that will be released soon.
JF: Last question, what can you say in French?
Charlotte: "What are you doing today?" (with a very good accent) Is my accent good? (laughs)
Interview at the Badaboum in Paris on April 27
Transcription in English
JF: Hello Charlotte! First, could you maybe present yourself to the French people who don't know you but are going to read the interview?
Charlotte : My name is Charlotte OC, I'm from the United Kingdom and I make dark… dramatic… alternative music. (laughs)
"It's a funny feeling that you could just do something like that, like a calling."
JF : And when did you realize you wanted to be a singer?
Charlotte : My older sister was a singer and she was always singing The Little Mermaid to me and I loved singing it back to her. I think I realized I wanted to do it when my mum bought me a karaoke machine and I just didn't get off it! I was just always on it, my family was listening to me and they heard that I could hold the chin. Yeah, I just remember a quiet feeling in choir at school where I felt really at ease and it felt really fluid and natural coming out of my mouth. It's a funny feeling that you could just do something like that, like a calling.
JF: How old were you at the time?
Charlotte : I was about 5 or 6 when I did the choir. I always struggled with everything else but that was the only thing that felt like I didn't struggle with.
JF: Then, what were you listening to when you were 6?
Charlotte : A lot of Freddie Mercury, I loved Queen when I was younger, I was obsessed ! Michael Jackson as well, I think when you're a child, everybody loves him. You can't help it, you're just like "Oh my god, this person is amazing!".
JF: Now, let's talk about your record. It's named Careless People and it came out on March 31st. It took you 4 years after your first EP Colour My Heart to release it. Why so much time?
Charlotte : Well, it took me time to figure out who I was. I knew that I could sing but there is a difference between being able to sing and actually being able to create something that represents you. Sometimes, that comes easily for people, sometimes it doesn't. Back in 2013, I was quite young. So, it showed to myself how it grown into myself to share and I feel like I have just done that. I just needed to grow up and figure out what it was that I wanted to say. Also, when I made Colour My Heart, after that, I wanted to just get inspired by different things instead of trying to feed off that song. Yeah, I needed time, I needed it.
JF : So, in your opinion, what are the major changes between your three EPs and the album?
Charlotte : I think the album sounds more like the first EP Colour My Heart, it's more traditional. Strange is a little bit more electronic and I got scared of that. I didn't want to be covered in production, I wasn't bothered about it "being cool". As soon as I did that EP, I was like "that's not right, that's not me". And then, when I did If My House Is Burning, I wanted to lead it more towards the live sound of it. When it came to the record, I wanted to combine the two because I'm happy in both worlds. I'm not happy in one or the other, I need them to be joined.
JF : The cover of the album is really simple, it's just you in black and white. Why is that?
Charlotte : I had some visuals for it but when it came by, I just didn't have the time to pull all of that together. So, when I was doing the video for Darkest Hour, we actually did a photoshoot, the director took a photo and as soon as I saw that one, it just stood out to me. I think it suits the name, it looks like I'm looking down on somebody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mochsfDjtN8
JF: Indeed, Careless People, why that name?
Charlotte : I was watching The Great Gatsby and that line totally struck out for me. The guy describes Tom and Daisy careless. I feel like I've been pretty careless and I've watched people be careless with me and with other people. That's initially what I got inspired by: people just fucking up. The whole album is about people making mistakes or realizing that you've made a mistake or somebody else made one. Finally, I think it sounds and looks nice !
JF : Do you have a favorite song on the album or do you love them all as your children?
Charlotte: Do I have a favorite? I think they're all of the same family. I'm proud of all of them. Running Back To You is a really good song but I think I'd choose Choice. I also love playing In Paris live, that's my favorite to perform.
JF : In Paris is actually about Princess Diana, was it great to perform it IN PARIS yesterday night?
Charlotte: YES! I kept saying it to the audience! (laughs)
JF : This gig was part of a really small tour: only three gigs in London, Berlin and Paris where it finished yesterday. Are you happy about it?
Charlotte: Yes, these cities mean a lot to me. If it wasn't for these cities, I think I would not have made it. Berlin inspired me for Colour My Heart, In Paris is about Paris and the rest of them was about my life in London and what I was dealing with. It was really nice to do that, doing these shows in these cities felt like I was telling the story of the record.
JF : Talking about Berlin, you recently collaborated with the German producer Wankelmut on Almost Mine. It's kind of different from your record but are you keeping good memories out of it?
Charlotte: Yes, Wankelmut is a sweetheart. I didn't actually write the song, it was a feature but I heard the vocal on it from the girl who wrote the song and it sounded like me so I wanted to do that. It was really difficult because it was his style of music. The lyrics are still sad and desperate, that's what I like ! (laughs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGEzd44KBg
JF : I read a lot that people compare you to Lana Del Rey. How do you feel about it?
Charlotte : I'd like for a day where I don't get compared! But I think that she opened up a gateway for artists like myself, to be sad or to make music I do. And for that, I think that artists like Lorde and myself should be grateful because it has opened up a whole thing. However, I do think that Lana and I are very different, her aesthetic is more of a world that she has created and mine is more personal. Our voices are also different but the mood may be similar, I don't know. I look forward to the day it doesn't happen anymore!
"I'd like for a day where I don't get compared!"
JF: Do you have a dream collaboration? Maybe Lana?
Charlotte : (wild laughter) I'd love to do something with Little Dragon, I love Little Dragon so much. I'd like to work with Damon Albarn from Gorillaz. I'd like him to write something for me. I love Tom Odell, that last album is so good. I think it's a really cleverly crafted album, I admire him for it. However, my main one is Little Dragon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AsLISPht_M
JF: So what's next for you?
Charlotte: I've got some gigs and festivals coming up. I just did a video for Shell that is coming soon.
JF: Last question, what can you say in French?
Charlotte: What are you doing today? (with a really great accent) Is my accent good? (laughs)
Compiled on April 27th at Badaboum
