Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Mae.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My real name is Chelsea, but since before I can remember, my favorite grandpa, “Papaw,” has called me ‘Charlie.’ He was also the person who took me to see my first Broadway production at Fair Park in Dallas. I remember, at around seven years old, turning to him during the intermission of “Annie,” pointing to the stage, and saying, “I am going to do that!” So, when I finally began taking the steps to letting my music be heard, taking on the pseudonym “Charlie” was nothing but natural. Using the nickname that my grandfather gave me is to pay homage to the man that ignited my passion for performance.
I was also born into a very musical family. My father was, and still is, a fantastic classically trained pianist, and a Ph.D. mathematician, and my mother, to this day, has a beautiful mezzo voice. Therefore, it was not a surprise when I gravitated toward music, but besides having a passion and drive to be successful as a vocalist, I was also born with considerable natural talent. By age 6, I had a fully developed vibrato, and by the time I was in high school, I was performing in opera’s with the University of North Texas, and appearing in the musicals put on by my school. I was even able to play Cosette in ‘Les Miserables’ my junior year. I continued performing and studying throughout college, and I eventually graduated with a degree with a concentration in vocal performance.
Since completing my studies, I have begun arranging, recording, and mixing my own professional quality vocal covers, which I upload to my Facebook Music profile, Charlie Mae Music. I strive to produce covers of popular music that are vastly different than the original tracks, usually by incorporating a classical twist. I most enjoy composing, arranging, and recording my own backing vocals, and have incorporated as many as seven individual vocal parts into a single cover.
Please tell us about your art.
While I’m in the process of writing my own original music, which is also very classically driven, I spend my free time arranging, recording, and mixing my own professional quality vocal covers in my home studio. As stated earlier, my goal is to produce a piece that is very different than the original song. Typically I do this by composing and arranging my own backing vocals, and/or harmonies to accompany the main melody line. Having grown up as a classically trained opera singer, my covers tend to possess a classical twist. I absolutely love being able to make a popular song neigh unrecognizable by transforming it into a piece meant to incorporate multiple voice parts or a choir. For example, one of my favorite covers that I’ve produced is a cover of Camila Cabello’s “I Have Questions,” in which includes seven total voice parts and is meant to be performed as a solo melody line with two 3-part backing ensembles. You can find my cover of “I Have Questions” at www.facebook.com/charliemaemusic.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
The element of art that I struggle with the most is the notion that there is no such thing as ‘originality,’ because, as Stanely Kubrick has said, “everything has already been done.” Due to this thought process, it is less important to produce art that is wholly original in all facets, and more important to be able to take an idea that has, maybe, already been done, and make it your own. It is my opinion that people gravitate towards music that is emotionally vulnerable and truthful. In that vein, the priority is gaining the ability to bare your soul through the music, not necessarily obsessing over if each sequence of notes, or lyrics, have ever been penned before.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find full tracks of my work on Facebook at www.facebook.com/charliemaemusic, and shorter clips of my work on Instagram. My username on Instagram is @the.real.charlie.mae.
As for supporting my work, at this point, I am working to make my name and voice heard by increasing my audience. Please visit the Charlie Mae facebook page (www.facebook.com/charliemaemusic), and give the page a like! Please also visit @the.real.charlie.mae on Instagram, and follow to see live performance videos, trailers for upcoming cover tracks, and videos from inside my home studio.
Contact Info:
- Email: therealcharliemae@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.real.charlie.mae
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/charliemaemusic
Image Credit:
Photographers: Bob Brooks; Clint Chastain; Nerd Truckin Photography
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