ABOUT CHARLOTTE JOHANSEN

Music for the heart and soul

Charlotte Johansen grew up in Taranaki under the shadow of the mountain. Her music is best described as acoustic pop, her lyrics capture the ebb and flow of our collective lives. Her music is catchy with rhythmic and melodic hooks that are unforgettable, and lyrics that seamlessly blend a keen sense of satire with everyday emotional truth.

A compelling and genuine performer, Charlotte alone on stage can command a busy bar to awed silence. In concert with her spirited band, Charlotte's infectious enthusiasm and expert arrangements offer a full assortment of layered sound that complete her strong, well-crafted songs. Charlotte's catalogue of work is full grown and enhances the moment, reassuring the listener with a sense of optimism and natural grace.

Watching Charlotte is a treat -- her contagious energy compliments the collision of beautiful notes and fresh pulsating rhythms to inspire devotion in her fans.
Never saccharine, she plays with both tenderness and tenacity to chart the ebb and flow of feeling and the development of our collective soul. Charlotte asks us to be brave by being honest, be joyful by expressing ourselves and being true by staying connected with each other and doing what we love.

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MUSIC BY CHARLOTTE JOHANSEN

Enjoy listening to some of my sounds

Thanks for joining me on my website. I look forward to hearing from you. Drop me a line , let me know what you are up to. What is inspiring you , what is making you laugh or cry. I will share songs that I am working on , projects I am involved in and my latest news and gigs. x x

BEHIND THE MUSIC OF CHARLOTTE JOHANSEN

The Full Story

Charlotte Johansen grew up in Ngamotu/ New Plymouth and writes pop music with an alternative twist. Inspired by vivacious singer/songwriters like Michelle Shocked, Sinead O’Connor, Ani Difranco, and P J Harvey.

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 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 that kind of projection in my voice before and I knew in that moment that singing was what I wanted to be doing with my life."

She spent the next couple of years hitch-hiking around the south island, writing, working seasonal jobs and playing music 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 in hospitality and performing in local theatre.

Realising she needed a change of scene Charlotte made her way to Auckland and spent time training 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.

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 continued to play gigs and write, organising music nights for other West Auckland musicians and developing her her third album “Upon waking…dream.“

I wrote the title about 15 years ago, but I didn’t actually write the song until 2012. I knew what it was about but perhaps I needed to grow up 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.”

In 2015 Charlotte returned to Ngamotu/ New Plymouth with her two children and husband. She continues to perform as a soloist, is a member of the Ladies 80s Choir and has also developed another live performance persona called Char Char Gabor.