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Charlotte Johansen
New album out Monday 21st November 2011,"upon waking...dream"
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- Playing at Eggsentric Cafe in Whitianga on Friday 10th February, 8pm . See you there
- Playing at Bethells Beach
- Weather is going to be awesome for show this Friday night at Bethells Beach, Bethells Cafe, Auckland ,7pm start. Outdoor show!!...Bring blanket, kids, picnic, wine, insect repellent, dancing shoes and/or bare feet. See you there
- Charlotte plays the Funky Fish, Bayly's Beach, dargaville
- Playing the Funky Fish, Bayly's Beach (Dargaville) on Sunday 15th Jan from 2pm, very special guest Wurzel performing, it's our 5 year reunion tour!!! very exciting!!. Come and enjoy the Funky Fish hospitality and great live music x x
- So if you don't have a copy of my new album and you would like one, here is a download link . Enjoy and thank for all your support this year. Merry Xmas x x x http://charlottejohansen.bandcamp.com/
- I'm playing at the Funky Fish in Bayly's Beach ,Dargaville on Sunday 15th January from 2pm see you there
- Charlotte Johansen Release Show in New Plymouth
- She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes..... Doing a live to air on Most FM http://www.mostfm.co.nz/ on Saturday at about 10.45am , I'll be giving away tickets and playing something on my gheetair. x
- See you in New Plymouth at the Matinee Bar on Saturday night, doors open 7.30pm Cheers guys
- Charlotte is joined on stage with her band to play songs off the new album "upon waking...dream". $10 on the door. See you there
- Here are some really cool photos taken at the album release show on Thursday, Thanks Charlie from SnapStar! Beautiful http://www.snapstarlive.com/view-events.aspx?event=13253
- Thanks to everyone for making last night so magical, it rocked , we all had such a great night x x x Cheers Char
- Charlotte Johansen Album release Tour
- What gig?????? Tonight at the Bacco Room , 53 Nelson Street,Auckland, New Zealand. 7.30pm doors, 8pm party time!!!!Whoop whoop
- Okey Dokey, weather good, dress and hair ready, got my special vocal medicine, just waiting for the clock to tick tock to 8 O'clock. See you all at the gig. Happy days!!!Love ya
- See you tomorrow night at The Bacco Room for Album release Party, 53 Nelson street, Auckland 7.30pm Yay !!!!
- Also playing live on 95bFM on Wednesday night at 9pm, tune in people ,cheers
- I am playing live on KiwiFm tonight at 8pm. Check out 102.2 FM on your transistor radio
- http://www.amplifier.co.nz/default,78575.sm Album out today on the download and also available guerrilla styles out the back of my car!!!! Shops are sooooo last season x x x x x
- A music clip from my new album "upon waking...dream",out on Monday 21st November, 2011. Enjoy
- My album is being released into the world on Monday 21st November. Come and celebrate with me in Auckland on Thursday 24th at The Bacco Room, 53 Nelson street or in New Plymouth on Saturday 10th December. Yay it's been a long time so raise your glass!!!!!! Cheers x x x x
- Tickets for album release party (Thursday 24th November) are now on sale at Coffee at Corbans Cafe at Corbans Art Estate in Henderson. A little bird whispered that there might be cds on sale too!!! Check out the event link http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=210844858984352
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Bio
Described as pop music for grown ups, Charlotte Johansen’s music seamlessly blends a keen sense of satire and everyday truth with melodic hooks. Like the stylings of Sarah McLachlan or Beth Orton, her songs are beautiful and sincere.
Although Charlotte had played music at school and learnt several instruments including the flute, drums and the saxophone, she had never thought to write her own songs or compose her own music.
At the age of 21 she was singing a Sinead O’Connor song in her flat in Christchurch, she thought that no-one else was home and suddenly she started singing in a way she never had done before. What makes this moment stick in Charlotte’s mind other than finding her voice, was that her flat mate appeared at the top of the landing asking her to be quiet because she was meditating. “I’d never experience this kind of projection in my voice before and I knew in that moment what I wanted to do with my life, and that was to write and sing.”
She spent the next couple of years hitch-hiking around the south island, writing, labouring in seasonal jobs and playing around campfires. On one rainy night in Golden Bay she hooked up with some other musicians, formed a band called Plum, played one show and then disbanded.
In 1996 she returned to her home town of New Plymouth, met up with some great musicians and friends and spent time jamming, working and performing in local theatre.
Realising she needed a change of scene Charlotte made her way to Auckland and trained to be a teacher but in the end that didn’t really work out for her. “Music was like an itch I had to scratch and if I wasn’t writing or performing I’d have this feeling that something was missing.”
In 2001 she followed her kiwi boyfriend to Toronto, who was off to play in a 2 piece punk band and Charlotte decided she wanted to travel and play music. Charlotte was following her heart-the music and the boy. Her independently released debut album, There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground, was recorded in Canada in 2002 and was her first step in becoming a recording artist
Returning to New Zealand in 2003 Charlotte continued playing and writing. Charlotte won 2nd place at the York Street Studio Acid Test, a national performance and songwriting competition held at the Temple bar in Auckland.
In June 2004 Charlotte was invited back to Canada to play their biggest annual music event; North by North East [NXNE]. Charlotte was the only New Zealand musician out of 400 acts who participated. While there, she recorded another 5 songs that she released in NZ the following year. This offering was Yes Charlotte and she toured the country playing over 18 shows in 3 weeks. Her guitar playing combined with insightful lyrics began to speak directly to her audience and she picked up fans wherever she played.
Charlotte spent the next two years writing more songs, and honing her songwriting craft.
Since 2007 Charlotte has been concentrating on raising her daughter with her husband (that kiwi punk boyfriend) in West Auckland where she has continued to play gigs and write, organising music nights for other West Auckland musicians and developing her latest offering, her third album “Upon waking…dream.
“I wrote the title about 15 years ago, but I didn’t actually write the song until last year. I knew what it was about but perhaps I needed to grow and experience life, to really understand it. To me it means when you wake up to who you are and who you can be, you can make your dreams a reality.”
“Upon waking…dream”-the album
Recording this album has been a journey in itself and all involved have been a part of the heartfelt and the heartache. Charlotte first recorded a demo version with guitar and vocals and then asked friend and musician Michael Day to help her develop her sound with a more electronic bend.
The album was then recorded with fellow musician and friend Richard Ingamells over the next 9 months. Richard lives in the beautiful Waitakere Ranges and this album was recorded in his home under very special circumstances.
When Richard and his pregnant partner Sarah had been holidaying in Samoa in 2009, the island was hit by a devastating Tsunami. As a result their son Tama Toa was born prematurely with serious complications. Both Richard and Sarah believed in this music project with Charlotte and so recording this album took place while looking after Tama at home.
Sometimes recording had to stop if Tama’s suction machine needed to be turned on. And at times Richard would record with a split screen on the monitor, a webcam over Tama‘s cot with what was happening with the recording.
The album was recorded with local musicians, Charlotte Johansen on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboards, Richard Ingamells on piano, acoustic and electric guitar. Yair Katz- drums, Jon Postlethwaite- bass, Jennifer Eirena- backing vocals, Nick Connor-Trumpet, Michael Day - electronic programming, Dave Ward - Banjo, Greg McGarity -Viola and Jonathan Kuttner -Cello.
Produced by Charlotte Johansen, Jon Postlethwaite with additional production by Andre Upston, Richard Ingamells and Michael Day. The songs were mixed by Andre Upston and then mastered by Don Bartley at Benchmark in Sydney.
This album promises to inspire and ignite.
Sadly Tama died at the end of 2010 at 14 months old.This album is dedicated to Tama’s beautiful spirit.
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Photos
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Albums
- 11 tracks (42:43)This album has been at least 3 years in the making and I am proud to announce it is finally time to release it to the world. Enjoy. Dance, sing let me know what you think!! News updates at http://www.charlottejohansen.co.nz Download these songs at
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- 5 tracks (17:10)
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