Gothic Theatre
Charlotte Martin
For Charlotte Martin, the most important thing is making a connection.
“Every single part of me is a piece of somebody else,” says the piano-playing chanteuse. From connecting her life’s tales with her powerful lyrics, to her fans that see themselves in her songs, Martin is an extraordinary kind of songwriter that builds close ties with anyone who hears her music.
Evoking influences as diverse as Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Sarah McLachlan, Fiona Apple, early Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell—but still very much her own musician—Martin’s music is a telling snapshot of her life.
A not-so-closet Goth with bleach-blonde hair, Martin has a knack for crafting emotionally-complex songs that continually flirt with pop structures. While her beautiful voice and piano-playing prowess offer an entrée into her music, it’s Martin’s uncompromising lyrics that keep you coming back.
Martin grew up in a small college town and dedicated most of her time to studying opera. She took piano lessons and eventually went to Eastern Illinois University, where her father is a music professor. That’s when it all changed. friends today) and went through several life-changing experiences. Beyond the normal college-age drama and relationship trials, Martin had two friends commit suicide in the same year. One was her then boyfriend’s sister, who was also her best friend. The first song Martin wrote was for her funeral.
“I didn’t really live until I got to college,” she says. “I had all of this stuff happen and found out that I had a lot to express.”
