Meet Charlotte Lawrence. SBJCT is proud to feature the wildly inspiring visionary, musician, and artist, among her many multi-hyphenates. We spoke with Charlotte about growing as an artist, gathering inspiration, and living and leading with love. Read on below…
BY ERIN WALSH
PHOTO CHRISTIAN HOGSTEDT
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Erin Walsh Hello Charlotte! Thank you so much for taking the time to have some fun with us- we are so excited to feature you and all you have been up to. I would love to start at the beginning- tell us a bit about your background growing up and how you got into music in the first place.
Charlotte Lawrence Thank you so much for even wanting to speak to me/ feature me. It’s so cool and I feel so grateful. To be honest I have been singing since I was a baby. Neither of my parents or grandparents are remotely musical and everyone was kind of shocked when I showed a passion for it at a young age. I begged my mom for piano lessons when I was around 5 years old and she found me the most amazing teacher. She’d spend 40 minutes teaching me how to read music and learn classical music, and then the last 20 minutes of the lesson I’d get to choose a song I wanted to learn how to play and sing along to it. That then turned into me writing songs on the piano with her help. My piano teacher Jamie really helped my passion come to light. She supported me and was my biggest champion, and truly through our lessons made me realize this was what I wanted to do forever.
EW We have featured many actors and musicians who have been at it since a young age- you are still so young, and have already been doing this for so long. I wonder how it feels to gain such recognition at such a young age. What was it that pushed you to get going so early on? Were you born just wanting to get your voice out?
CL Thank you. I truly just love songwriting, singing, performing, entertaining in any way. It’s my comfort zone. It’s the best drug in the world. I also feel so lucky I have supportive parents that allowed me to chase my dreams, as I wouldn’t be here today without them. I’m constantly learning and growing, as I was when I was 15 starting to release music, and even more now as a 23 year old. I feel I find my sound and dive into who I am as an artist more and more with each new experience, collaboration, and just flat out each passing day.
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It’s the best drug in the world.
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EW Any tips for children who want to be working in the arts? Anything you would avoid?
CL Get your 10,000 hours in! I wrote a million shitty songs before I wrote my first good one. Hone into your craft. Find your passion and stick to it. Learn from every experience. Learn from every artist you come across, from every movie you watch, from every song you hear. Focus and practice and learn learn learn. There are a billion beautiful voices, as there are a billion incredible actors/painters/writers etc. What sets you apart is hard work, drive, dedication, and honestly having something to say. Stay vulnerable, stay open, stay honest. I would say avoid making decisions based on what other people think you should do if your gut is telling you not to. Always follow your gut. If you follow your gut and make a choice and you’re wrong, at least you followed your gut. If you make a choice against what your gut is telling you to do and are wrong, it’s much harder to forgive yourself. Also, if you want to be a musician, develop who you are as an artist creatively and sonically the best you can before signing with any major labels. Find your identity and feel proud of it before people try to give you one. AND- nowadays with social media, anyone can be heard. Put yourself and your art out there. Don’t be shy about it. To be proud of your art is an admirable thing.
EW Talk to me about growing with your art, and witnessing your style change and evolve as you do.
CL I think a person’s art should grow alongside them. As I learn more about myself, work on myself, heal my trauma, experience more, love harder hurt harder etc etc. , my art grows alongside me. The more you live the more you have to write about. I’ve always been obsessed with incredible folk/alternative/indie/soft rock singer songwriters. I love a beautiful song with live instruments and incredible writing. Elliott smith, Joni Mitchell, Bon Iver, Jeff Buckley etc. I feel as I grow, I’ve been really leaning into my influences more. Making music that I would want to listen to even if it weren’t me singing.
EW Are you constantly writing and thinking of making music? I am curious about your process, what gets you going, and if you have to set a routine. What do you find to be helpful?
CL I try to grab inspiration from everything around me. I either keep it in my mind or write it in my notes, so that by the time I sit down with a guitar I feel it flows out of me naturally without having to be forced. I definitely prefer starting something alone, even if that means just knowing what feeling I want to lead with. But then, collaborating with incredible producers or songwriters is the most magical gift. I love connecting with someone on that level and making something we both feel proud of.
EW What helps you stay sane and tethered these days?
CL My boyfriend, my dogs, my friends, my family. Love and happiness makes me stay sane and tethered! I prioritize love over everything. To give and receive love is the best gift we as humans have.
EW Do you often get “pinch yourself” moments when huge opportunities come through?
CL All the time. Every time I get any sort of opportunity. I never feel deserving lol. I don’t mind that though. I like feeling overly excited and extremely lucky, even if it translates to nervousness. I’d rather that than be bored by it.
EW Do you consider music or the arts as a vocation or something you were called to do?
CL No, I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be able to make a living off of my passion. I know how rare that is, and I’ll never take it for granted. I do feel a sort of calling. I have an innate desire to share my experiences and voice to the world in hopes of helping even just one person. Music has always affected me in such an astronomical way. I hope my music can one day affect someone the way I am affected by my favorite songs.
EW What inspires you?
CL Everything and everyone. Love and pain. Phoebe Bridgers. An amazing smashburger. All things.
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EW What are your thoughts on purpose- like do you see a greater meaning in your work and what you are called to do? And what else do you feel particularly called to do?
CL Yes I do see a greater meaning in my work honestly. It may sound superficial or just plain vain but music is the universal language of the soul. Music heals and provokes every type of emotion. Music has saved my life in a million different ways! To be able to share my art with people is such a blessing. And I do see it as my purpose. I feel I was given a gift, to express my vulnerability and fears and all sorts of emotions through art. I was born with this passion and I feel I’d be doing a disservice by not sharing it. People are more similar than we think. We all go through mirroring obstacles. I want to share my experience in hopes that someone will relate. I also believe my other purpose in life is to rescue animals. I want to build a sanctuary to rescue and adopt dogs and cats, and all sorts of animals. I also want it to be a safe haven for older dogs to live out their final days in peace and happiness. I love animals so much. I know I’m going to do that one day.
An amazing smashburger.
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EW How do you connect your spirit with your work and your day to day?
CL I feel my most spiritual self when I’m creating. When I’m honest with myself and others about how I feel, and when I can truly speak from my soul, from me to me, I feel calm and at peace. Throughout my day to day I tend to connect spirit through nature. California is so beautiful. I’m so lucky I live here. From the ocean to the trees to the desert, every ounce of nature feels like the most calming, present, spiritual connection.
EW How do you like to spend your days when you aren’t working?
CL Doing absolutely nothing. Hanging with my dogs and my boyfriend, friends and family. Currently addicted to backgammon and Indian food. I like to chill to the MAX.
EW What are some of your favorite ways to pay it forward? Any charities or causes we should know about?
CL I really want to start my own rescue foundation. It feels like my most important most true purpose in life. I am so passionate about animals. I love organizations such as Marley’s mutts and barknbitches, if you can donate, please do. I also am deeply angered by the state of our government right now and what’s been going on against LGBTQ+ youth, trans communities, and women’s rights around our country. All but 6 states have enacted or are in the process of enacting anti-trans legislation this year, and it’s absolutely devastating. The attack on trans youth is immoral and disgusting, and organizations such as The American Civil Liberties Union are fighting against these bills and protecting trans people in any means necessary. I’d start by supporting nonprofits and organizations who are truly taking action.
EW Anything in the way of a motto you subscribe to?
CL So cliche but everything is meant to be as it is. Nothing is an accident. There is no true failure, as all a self-named “failure” is is a life lesson, and means to succeed in the future. Love yourself, forgive yourself, be easy on yourself. All will be okay.
EW Do you keep anything in the way of a 5 or 10 year plan?
CL I have goals and dreams but I honestly am just gonna let it happen. One of my biggest dreams is to sell out the Hollywood bowl on my own. I also want to be a mother and move to a different state eventually.
EW What do you wish people would stop asking you in interviews?
CL I don’t know actually. Probably just basic things that they could look up on the internet. But this interview is great. You’re asking me thought provoking questions and I love it.
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Love yourself, forgive yourself, be easy on yourself. All will be okay.
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EW What do you wish you were asked more often?
CL About my love of dogs or basketball or postmates or friends or just things I love.
EW What are you most proud of?
CL My heart and my kindness.
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EW What makes you excited about the coming year?
CL Releasing an album!
EW Book we should be reading?
CL I just started the Untethered soul by Michael Singer and it’s really insightful and wonderful. It’s helping me a lot with my anxiety. It’s a cool and informative read. Makes you really go inward.
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EW What foods and restaurants should we be trying?
CL Anarbagh in Beverly Hills, Burger She Wrote in Fairfax, Bellwood Bakery in Brentwood, Sushi Park on Sunset if you want to splurge and have the best sushi you’ll ever have, and of course Courage Bagels in Silverlake for ridiculous bagels.
EW WHAT SHOULD WE BE LISTENING TO???
CL Jeff Buckley’s album top to finish. I also have this playlist called heartbroken hoes on my Spotify that’s filled with insanely sad bangers. AND my songs Bodybag, Boys Like You, and Morning – thank you very much.
EW Charlotte, What’s Your SBJCT? What really moves and motivates you?
CL LOVE ❤️
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LOVE ♥️
