The North East coast of England’s Hartlepool is home to singer-songwriter Charlotte Grayson. At the age of 14, she began performing on the regional Open Mic circuit and honed her craft in North East pubs. She performed her first “Live BBC Introducing Session” when she was 16 years old. Two years later, she released her debut single, “Maybe,” which was chosen as the “Track of the Week” by BBC Tees Introducing. By the end of the following year, she had recorded her debut 14-track album, “Grow,” (Released 2020) and released another 4 singles dancing to the album’s dynamic highs and understated lows, pop sizzle, indie-folk nuances, twinkling modernity, and unexpected maturity.
The upbeat song “Mug” was written after witnessing, in despair, as a friend mugged themselves off on a night out. She took the closest instrument (a ukulele) when she got home and let it all out. Producer Mark Aubrey received the voice memo demo, and together they developed it into the track you’re listening to now.
As Charlotte sets the scene and the hi-hat teases you of what’s to come, the song eases you in with sparse piano. A four to the floor, dirty disco beat that announces the chorus and doesn’t let up thereafter kickstarts the song. Even the middle eight includes a Motown reference. Charlotte gives one of her best vocal performances, and the lyrics have the finesse and directness we have come to expect from her. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: I am from Hartlepool on the North East Coast of England. It is a very small town with some decent beaches, as long as you ignore the power station and the chemical plant. It has got a pretty good artistic scene: art collectives, community projects, yarn bombers and a lot of bands. It ain’t much but its home.
I picked up my first instrument, ukulele, at 14 and my grandad taught me 4 chords. After a few months my Mum was taking me to open mic nights as a chaperone (given that I was underage I couldn’t blame pubs for not wanting to let me in, but my Mum is feisty). I still play at those same open mic nights now. They are the best place to test out new songs, and you know instantly which ones are keepers.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self taught?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: Apart from those first four chords, I am self taught. I turned those 4 chords into a song within 15 minutes of picking up the ukulele and guitar was very much the same. I cannot focus at something I am not immediately good at, so it is probably a good thing that I picked them up fast.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name Charlotte Grayson?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: My biggest influence is Taylor Swift. Her ability to take universal experiences and write about them in a unique but entirely relatable way made me absolutely fall in love with songwriting as an art. Her achievements and longevity in her career is something I admire. She can change genres with every album and yet completely remain herself through it all. My love of country music all started with Taylor.
As a kid, I was exposed to lots of music. My Dad was into heavier alternative music and I remember a lot of ramblings about the Seattle grunge scene (I can usually recite any pop punk song from the last 20 years with no recollection of how I know it?). My brother is into heavy metal. My mum is into 60s and indie music. I still have her Pixies posters on my wall in fact. I was always drawn to more pop style music though, whatever form that may take.
Charlotte Grayson is my real name. I reached out to my parents who unfortunately have no story or comment on why they chose it.
4. What do you feel like are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: The key element for me is always the lyrics, and I always write from real experiences. Everything I talk about in my lyrics has either happened to me, or to someone close to me. (Besties, you should know by now not to share any gory details with me). I like to be playful and quick witted when I write but I try not to be too abstract or clever.
Musically, we have played around with sound and genre a lot on my new album with elements of country, indie, disco and summer groove but they all have the same pop formula: good hooks and a memorable chorus.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON:
My first foray into songwriting came from completing an unreleased Melanie Martinez track. Only 7 lines were released and I remember thinking, this is the perfect chance for you to try while there is a basis for you. After that, I was hooked.
Ive developed as most writers and musicians do: always wanting my next song to be my best. Never being good enough for myself. Hopefully this shows in the progression through my releases.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON:
I think music has its role to play, politically. Especially for bigger artists with a large platform, I think it almost becomes a responsibility to use that influence for good. I am very open on social media and in my shows about where I stand on topics, however in terms of writing about political or social issues, it can be very clumsy, and dare I say cliche, if it is not done well. I do write about tough subjects, because I write about anything that happens to me, and tough things happen all the time. Sugarcoat and Far too Short on the upcoming album are testament to that.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON:
It is a lot of peaks and troughs at the moment. The buzz from an amazing gig, or someone stopping you in the street to say they like your music, or hearing your song on the radio. But then the lows of playing a gig to the soundman, missing out on a festival slot to the same band for the 5th time, accidentally reading a bad review that you were avoiding. In the future I wouldn’t like the troughs to change, I would like the troughs to not impact me. Id like to be strong enough to bounce back. I always love it, and I always get fulfilment. If that ever changed, it would be time to reassess.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON:
I usually start with a story, or even a word or phrase that I want to write about. Sometimes these will sit in my phone for months until I finally come up with that last little detail or the one hook, or that clever lyric. Then I write. I start with guitar and hum a melody over it. Then I manipulate the words and syllables until they fit that melody.
I share my demos with Ed, and recently Mark too. I trust them both with everything, and give them complete control over their elements (I can always ruin their day later by saying I hate it).
9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: I have always preferred to play live for a number of reasons. The energy from an audience is something that is incomparable. When they are there in front of you and you feed off each other it makes for an entirely unique experience every time. I am also far too much of a perfectionist for studio work. I always think I can do better. Every. Single. Take. It makes for a frustrating session for me and Mark. I do better when there are no do-overs.
10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
CHARLOTTE GRAYSON: When I perform live I love to tell the backstory behind each song before I sing it, I think its a little bit extra for the audience to get into. I also think its sometimes a little hard to really hear my lyrics in a live setting so a little bit of backstory can change the whole experience. In general, I think the listener should come up with their own meanings, or apply the sing to their own experiences. I don’t use any crazy metaphors or poetic language, I just tell the story as it was. So its usually pretty obvious what I am referencing. How you apply that to your own feelings and story is the beauty of songwriting.
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Photo credits: Howy White