Folk-pop starlet Charlotte Carpenter is the certainly one to watch following the success of her last EP, Let It Go which stormed through the iTunes chart. Samantha Foley caught up with Charlotte to talk, festivals, Nashville, YouTube and more…

CHARLOTTE ON HER JOURNEY

I started with open mic nights and acoustic nights, I slowly started to meet other musicians from different cities. I recorded music with friends and then eventually met the producer I have now. I’m lucky to have met some lovely people who believe in what I do. Its taken me around 5 years to get to this point, where I feel like it could be something. I’m coming up to my 5th tour which is crazy but I can’t get enough of playing live.

CARPENTER ON AVRIL LAVIGNE

I’ve always enjoyed music but I wanted to become a musician after seeing Avril Lavigne when I was 14. She’s the reason why I wanted to learn the guitar.

CARPENTER ON FESTIVALS

I’m playing 2000 Trees festival and the other two I can’t announce yet but they’re special. One of them is a complete dream come true.

CARPENTER ON DUETS

I’d love to duet with Brandon Flowers from The Killers. I love his songs, they’re massive stadium songs and his energy on stage is amazing.

CARPENTER ON STAGE NAMES

I’m proud of my name, I would never want to take away my family name, not even if I was to get married! I think there’s already a weird stage name ring to it.

CARPENTER ON GIGS

Laura Marling and Friends, September 2009, was a really special gig, at the South bank Centre in London. Laura, Johnny Flynn, Mumford, Pete Roe, Alessi Ark, Ethan Johns. It was like the best of British folk all in one evening.

CARPENTER ON MUSICIANS/YOUTUBE

I am not a fan of YouTube artists, its all about getting out in the world and playing your songs live, but everyone has their own way of doing things and I respect that.

CARPENTER ON HER BAND

It used to be me and my guitar, but this year I have started a band and I love it. I do the odd show on my own now but I want to really make a stamp on things with the sound of the band.

CARPENTER ON NASHVILLE

Right now, I can’t stop listening to the Nashville Soundtrack. I should stop but I enjoy it too much. It’s opened my mind to country music and I’m totally in love!

CHARPENTER ON HER EP

This EP has a more positive outlook to it, a lot happens and changes when you’re 21 so I’m just writing about that. Every song is from a personal experience, they are the most sincere that way. I find it difficult to write about things not related to me personally, which is a skill on its own.

CARPENTER ON BEING A MUSICIAN

I think the full package is simply how talented you are and how hard you work. It shouldn’t have anything to do with the way you look.

CARPENTER ON THE FUTURE

I’m currently recording my third EP, on tour with the band and hoping for a headline tour by the end of the year!

Samantha Foley

@geekinthepinkk

www.geekinthepink.co.uk