Charlotte Church – Interview

Call her an angel. Whether she still enjoys that title, only she truly knows, but Charlotte Church isn’t trying to become a saint. Though blessed with a voice that could make a grown man weep, you have to realize there is still a child behind that amazing talent. At fourteen, Charlotte has grown fast under the public eye.

It’s under that eye that Charlotte Church has had one amazing two-year ride through the fledgling career of a shooting star. In those two years she’s done an impressive amount of living. Befriending the likes of Elton John, David Bowie, and the Spice Girls is impressive in the world of entertainment. Even more impressive are her personal invitations to meet and perform for the Clintons in Washington, The Queen and Prince of Wales in London, and his holiness, Pope John at the Vatican. May I remind you again that Charlotte is only fourteen.

We spoke after the release of the everlasting Christmas album, Dream A Dream. Charlotte was lighthearted, sweet, and definitely a teen. As brightly as her star shines, you’ll find that deep down Charlotte is still a kid at heart.

I’ve been trying to hook up with you since last year. I remember when you were saying how you were going to be spending new years at a Manic Street Preachers show. Right before Christmas last year I actually interviewed Nicky (Manic Street Preachers) and we talked about the show.

You talked to Nicky? (excited)

Yeah.

That is fabulous. What did he have to say?

What didn’t he have to say. (we both laugh) But he couldn’t announce anything about the show at the time because it was such a secret.

I had the greatest fun at that show.

So if the world was going to end, you wanted to be there?

Yep!

Do you listen to a lot of artists like the Manic Street Preachers or is your taste for music all over the place?

I listen to loads of music. I love No Doubt, Stereophonics, Travis, and, um, Hanson. I didn’t really like the first album, but I think their second one is much better. I like R&B artists like Jill Scott, Kelis, Destiny’s Child, and TLC.

You know what is funny?

What?

Right before you called I was sitting down to watch Oprah with you on it.

(laughs) Really?

Seriously.

Oh my. Is that on today? That was a pre-taped Christmas show. I did that a while ago, in like September I think.

Are you a big Christmas person?

Yeah. I love decorating my room, buying, and wrapping presents.

So it wasn’t hard to get you to do Dream A Dream, your Christmas album?

Not at all. Everyone was expecting me to do a Christmas album because it’s the natural thing. It was expected so we just did it. I enjoyed doing it, but it was a little difficult to record it in August. We were in Britain, which means British weather, which was like winter, and then we decorated the studio with Christmas decorations. It was really cool.

Are you going home soon for the holidays?

I finish work on the 22nd of December, and then I’m home with all my family and friends after that.

Is it a big family get together?

Yes. My nana and my grandfather, my aunts, cousins, my mom and dad and me.

That sounds great. I bet you can’t wait.

I can’t. I’m so excited.

Now is it weird home going home after working and being around so many adoring fans?

It is sort of, but I think I’m getting more used to it.

Your fans are all different ages. That is really a rarity for an artist.

I know. I’ve got fan mail from like five to twelve year olds, and from teenagers who say that they are into rock or hip-hop and they are into me and they respect my voice. I also get middle-aged fans too.

Is it weird when you have fans telling you how much they adore you when they are the same age as your parents or older?

That is sometimes a little weird. But it’s really different, depending on the country. In Britain there are young fans like five to twelve, but not as many teens because I think they are a bit more open in America.

I was on the website today and there are a lot of people proclaiming their love for you. I can see that getting a little uncomfortable.

(laughs) I know.

I always wondered what it would be like to be on your end of that. I mean, it must be great on one hand, but scary on the other.

It is. Sometimes you get really weird ones. I don’t fancy that. It is cool that people look up to me, but some are just too much and I get a little worried.

Especially because I know you dress up differently when you go out in public to have a little bit of a life, yet people still recognize you. That has to be a little worrisome.

Yeah. When I go shopping with my mates, you know my hair is like my trademark because I have long hair, so I put my hair back and put a bandana on. I put on these little reading glasses. I don’t often get spotted, but sometimes I do.

You just gave away your outfit.

(laughs) I think I did. Now I’ll have to do something different. (she laughs again)

You aren’t really able to have a normal life anymore. What about school?

I have two private tutors who come on the road with me.

So not only are you working but studying as well.

Yeah, if I’m not studying, I’m interviewing, doing a show or something. But I always try to find at least an hour to power shop. I’m a big shop-aholic. (laughs)

Are there times where you wish you could have a normal life again?

There are times like that. I do sometimes think ‘I wish I could have a day off’ or ‘I wish I could go home.’ But I love this. I mean, I get to wear cool clothes, get my hair done all the time, do concerts, meet all kinds of cool people. There is so much cool stuff that there is almost no time to think about having a normal life.

So much is placed on your age. Do you feel a lot of pressure that has been placed upon you?

I mean, I think anyone my age would. It can be difficult, but I enjoy it. I take everything with a grain of salt. I don’t take it all too seriously. I don’t expect it to last my whole life. I mean, if I do expect to stick around for a while then I have to get rid of the whole angel bit. I mean, I’m getting a bit too old for being cutesy. I have to laugh at myself. If I take myself too seriously like some do then it just won’t be fun anymore and no one will care to see me.

I heard you want to go to college. Is it realistic?

Well, I want to go to college for ancient history or philosophy. Right now I’m trying to finish the complete works of Plato. It’s really hard but I’m pushing through it.

(Charlotte’s cell phone cuts out and we hook up to her laughing at me trying to remember my last question)

Okay, now I have it. A lot of kids seem to be asking whether you are going to ever do a pop album? Do you get asked that a lot?

Oh yeah. The two favorite questions are, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ and ‘Will you do a pop album?’

Cool, then I guess it is really something fans want to know.

They really do. Next year I do want to experiment with my voice and not do classical. Before I had my classical voice, I had a kind of Whitney Houston and Celine Dion type of voice. I do want to see and try out my voice and see what it can do. I don’t really know yet, but I definitely want to try.

What got you into the classical style?

Well, I was with my singing teacher and we were trying out different styles and I said ‘Oh, that one is different, I like that one.’ I like the way my voice is now because that is the way I choose to sing, but I have lots of different voices that I can do.

Okay, here is the question I’ve always wanted to ask. If you are riding around in a car listening to Manic Street Preachers, what do you sound like?

(laughs) Oh my God! Can you imagine that? It sounds pretty odd. In one of my different voices though I don’t know how it would sound. I have a high voice with like three and half a octaves.

Like riding around in a car just singing your head off, do you ever try to mimic voices?

I wouldn’t do it for a career, but I do like in the car or whatever.

A lot of fans asked for advice about being singers too I noticed.

Yeah, that is another big question I get. But honestly I can’t really give out advice because I’m only fourteen and haven’t had much experience myself.

It seems a lot of people on the boards that leave messages are your age. Is it great to have so many peers looking up to you or is that a lot of pressure?

I don’t feel any pressure from anything. If I’m supposed to act a certain way to be a role model then I’m not aware of it. I don’t try to do anything certain. I am who I am and that is how I act. I don’t feel pressure to be a model teenager.

Is it more pressure on everyone around you because you are only fourteen and you have to act a little more mature, but you really are still just a kid.

You do have to be aware of yourself all of the time. I do care what people think of me, but I don’t really sit there and wonder if my hair is okay or if I have makeup on. I think more about being patient with people and I think they’ll be patient with you at the same time.

+ charlie craine