Gothic Theatre
Charlotte Kendrick
If you truly want to learn about Charlotte Kendrick, I suggest you spend a little time listening to her lyrics. Her personal take on songwriting offers a better insight into the singer than any Internet biography ever could. But since she asked me to help her with her bio, and it’s standard protocol to have one on your Web site, here we go.
Charlotte’s my friend, and I’ve never written a friend’s biography before. The process is a little daunting, because of an overwhelming desire to do justice to someone you care about and respect, both as a person and a musician. After months of procrastination on both our parts, Charlotte finally gave me some historical notes on her life, and I finally sat down and wrote. Hopefully the combination of her facts and my feelings will give you a good overview of the artist.
Charlotte was one of those little girls who would entertain all the adults singing into a fake microphone. One story I like took place in London after her family moved there from New York. It was February of 1982, and her family was staying at a Holiday Inn at the time. Charlotte couldn’t decide between watching Olivia Newton John in “Xanadu” or Nadia Comaneci and the women’s gymnastics team at the Sarajevo Olympics. Because of the dilemma, she informed her parents that she was going to be a “singing gymnast” when she grew up. The next day she tried part of her new career with a Nadia Comaneci-inspired back flip into the hotel pool that didn’t quite clear the edge. Suddenly, singing seemed a more promising option.
Following through on the young decision, she studied classical piano and voice, along with musical theory, and sang in acapella groups throughout high school and college. But to get a clear grasp of Charlotte’s musical background, it’s better to look at all the places she’s been, and how they each have influenced her. Summers spent in Wyoming stirred a love of the mountains and served as the backdrop for learning guitar. After graduating from the University of Vermont, Charlotte then left for the Peace Corp, in Africa, where, after accidentally breaking her Joni Mitchell cassette, she decided to take a stab at writing her own music.
In her own words, “I wasn’t too impressed with my first batch of songs. But eventually, I found a few I felt comfortable playing for other volunteers, and I used their encouragement to go back to my village and keep trying. For those two years, my only entertainment was playing guitar and writing (lyrics, journal entries, and letters home). It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only see the world and offer some help to people who need it, but also a chance to get to know myself without modern day distractions getting in the way.”
After Africa, Charlotte moved to New York City, a place with plenty of modern day distractions, yet as anyone who has lived here will tell you, plenty of inspiration as well. Her old music teacher from high school suggested that she get in touch with his friend and quasi-nephew, producer Daniel Rowe. Isn’t that how everyone finds a producer? Dan collaborated with Charlotte on her debut release, “I Get Stupid.” Since then, Dan’s been playing with Charlotte at her live shows throughout New England and New York at venues like The Bitter End, The Village Underground, Club Passim, and The Acoustic Café, among many others.
New York is where I first met Charlotte and first saw her play live. It’s an awesome experience. Her voice is smooth and velvety. It puts you at ease, yet can also stand opposed to her personal and honest lyrics. The audience shuts up when she plays, they want to hear that voice and what it’s saying. The women in the audience all “get” her, and the guys all want to date her. Most of all, you’ll want to buy her music, play it, and try to recapture that live moment all by yourself.
Charlotte wanted me to list some of her influences like Shawn Colvin, Ryan Adams, Neil Young and Lucinda Williams. You can hear how these artists my have inspired her in her music, but I think you’ll agree, that at the heart of everything, she’s truly an original. And that’s why I like her, both as a musician and a friend.
- Brian Hunt
General Manager, Wondermore Records
