Meet The Artist: In-Conversation with Charlie Is Ready

*Photography by @kerwayne.obrien & Aisha Coleman*

Charlie Is Ready is an artist from Brockley, London who began releasing music in 2020. Her early single “Labels” marked her debut and penchant for social and politically conscious writing. In 2020, she signed to Dancing Family Records and released her single “BUN THE CITY” which uses the element of fire as a metaphor to represent the destructive impact gentrification poses upon London’s landscape and its inner-city communities. To perfect her writing and artistic persona, the up-and-coming musician has been playing around the London gig circuit at venues like Peckham Audio, Avalon Café, POW and Next Door Records; to spread her messages and draw more attention to her name…

Her brand new EP ‘CYCLE 1’ is an introspective project, where Charlie addresses self-assurance, overcoming self-doubt and her hometown - London. Furthermore, the South-East London artist shows us her musical interpretation of the five elements: AIR, WATER, FIRE, EARTH & SPIRIT. We had the pleasure of talking to Charlie Is Ready to discuss her latest EP, early musical memories, and the importance of her current record label ‘Dancing Family Records’ amongst many other topics! Here’s what came of our insightful catch up:

Introduce yourself to those that don’t know?

Charlie: “Hey! I’m CHARLIE (aka CHARLIE IS READY) a Neo Soul, Jazz & experimental singer/guitarist who makes music to connect with the cosmos”!

How and why did you get into music?

Charlie: “Music has always had a massive presence in my life. School choirs and talent showcases is really how I got into music, but when it comes to why, it really wasn’t a conscious decision… Music just has that gravitational effect”.

What’s your earliest musical memory?

Charlie: “Singing Beyonce in the car on the way to school haha”!

What is the key inspiration behind the lead single “DIVE”?

Charlie: “DIVE” is based on water: its differing states, as well as its role physically and emotionally. Just as we need water to survive, water is deeply important for reflective and emotional wellness. Often times we turn to water to relax, contemplate or gain clarity, and so DIVE really centres on that introspective quality, allowing yourself to mirror the fluidity of water. Rather than remaining in a cycle of being overwhelmed, the lyrics are a gentle reminder to simply accept & let go”.

What did the recording process entail for CYCLE 1 EP?

Charlie: “Most of the songs began as voice notes, longed out streams of thoughts or chord patterns before developing them to what you hear now. In terms of recording, I recorded 4 out of 5 of the songs at Likkle Jay’s studio, (who is a long time collaborator). She’s an amazing producer and sound engineer, who really understands me and the sound I’m trying to achieve”…
“I’d also say a lot of the recording process was learning how to record. I’d been to different studios a few years prior to this moment, but vocal and microphone techniques, as well as learning how to communicate what I want in mixing sessions is all relatively new to me”.

What’s your personal favourite from the EP?

Charlie: “At the moment, it’s DIVE, my latest single off the EP”.

How important have DFR been to your growth?

Charlie: “DFR has really helped me to grow into a more collaborative artist. I’m quite a hermit when it comes to creating music, so it can be hard for me to open up and receive new ideas/directions. I’d also say that they’ve nurtured the communication aspect of being an artist. Knowing what you want, how to put that into words, and how to achieve your goals can be very daunting, especially if you have a ton of ideas & aspirations. But it’s definitely becoming an area I’m more confident in”.

What’s your advice for anyone looking to get into music?

Charlie: “Experiment loads to learn what your sound is. Don’t get hung up on trying to be palatable. Work with the resources you’ve got to create with. Lastly, put your heart into everything you do”.

Top 5 vocalists of all time?

Charlie: “Lalah Hathaway, Mariah Carey, Betty Davis, Prince, & Bobby McFerrin”.

If you could collab with any UK artist, who would it be?

Charlie: “Very tough question. I’d love to collaborate with Nubya Garcia”!

Can we expect to see future collaborations with fellow artists on the DFR roster such as Haroun & Tatiyana?

Charlie: “Absolutely. They’re both incredible artists, and both of their music definitely brings out my creative side”.

What does the future look like for ‘Charlie Is Ready’?

Charlie: “We’ve got DIVE visuals coming soon after the song drops and more importantly, look out for my EP, CYCLE 1 out on May 13th”.

Musically speaking, where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Charlie: “Doing guitar solo’s like it’s nothing lol. But really, I aim to improve my guitar skills a lot in that time period. Also, I still see myself drinking Earl Grey in deep concentration mode while creating these tunes, but creating bolder compositions… One’s that stretch to the 7/8 minute mark with hundreds of vocal stems and plenty of string instruments”.

Where can people find you (socials etc…)?

Charlie: “@charlie.is.ready on IG, and all other streaming/social platforms”.

Be sure to follow ‘Charlie Is Ready’ on her social pages (linked below):

Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp | Soundcloud

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