Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charlie Marie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Charlie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
Ever since I was a child all I wanted to do was sing and be like Patsy Cline. In 2021 all of my energy and effort finally came to fruition with the release of my first full length album Ramble On. It felt like I gave birth to something that was growing inside of me for years. The critics loved the record and success was knocking at my door, yet I felt deeply unhappy, something was wrong. It was as if a very insecure part of me had been hiding in the shadows. It suddenly came forth and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t escape it.
Hardships can bring out the best in us, pushing us to become someone we didn’t believe we could be. I had spent my life seeking approval and acceptance, but when I finally got it, it wasn’t enough. I knew I had to make a change, so for six months in 2022 I travelled the country in search of answers. My Toyota Yaris made it up the mountains of Northern California and through the vast desert landscapes of Arizona. I slept in Walmart parking lots, gas stations, strangers’ guest rooms and on the couches of friends and families. I attended retreats, met healers, communed with nature and even got lost in a couple of National Parks until finally my journeying was ending and it was time to face the music.
I halted my career in the hopes of finding a deeper purpose. I spent over half my life savings and did I have anything to show for this adventure? It took me some time to come back to reality, process my experiences and ask myself what have I learned?
I’d have to say all of what we seek is within us. What I was longing for was gained through a deeper connection to my own being and as a result I became fearless in my pursuits. Still the journey continues, but facing the monsters in the basement has become easier, where before it was unthinkable.
Charlie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Charlene; with a grandmother called Marlene and my mother Darlene, my father continued the trend by naming me Charlene. Nowadays I’m known as Charlie, Charlie Marie to my fans and the public. What really led me to becoming a songwriter and recording artist? Well, when I was ten years old fate was delivered via a Christmas karaoke machine and this was precisely when my family discovered I could sing. My grandmother immediately rushed me off for voice lessons with a nearby vocal coach named John Catone.
My first lesson was a rude awakening when singing a Faith Hill song John announced I was imitating someone else’s vocal style and needed to find my own voice. Sent home with the homework assignment to learn “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music I retreated to my room and cried. I didn’t really understand what he meant or wanted from me, so I decided to pray, and practice. I’ll never know if it was the prayers or the practice but something within me shifted before my second lesson.
This time John found my tone similar to popular Country legend Patsy Cline and introduced me to her music, suggesting I consider listening to and learning from her recordings. Greatly encouraged, it wasn’t long before I was firmly in my lane with a pair of red cowboy boots, matching hat and a copy of Patsy Cline’s songbook firmly in hand . Her songs were an inspiration to my soul. I’ve been singing some of her songs over twenty years now, her voice and music taught me to sing from my heart and emote my message with honesty.
Wanting to carve my own niche in the world of Country music, singing brought me to songwriting and finding my true voice and passion. It became a way for me to process life and tell my stories. My performance set lists are predominantly the original songs I have written. My voice has matured as well as my message. I’ve learned to love and accept myself and the voice I’ve been blessed with, even though I haven’t always appreciated it or realized how important having your own voice is. I also took for granted the lessons Patsy and John taught me at such a young age, however gratefully did not forget them. It’s our uniqueness that both sets us apart and brings us together, and it’s perhaps the reason we are all here, to find our own authentic voice.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I was thirteen I made it through a series of try outs for the CBS television show Star Search. My mother and I flew to Hollywood to chase exposure and await success. Society has the belief that these shows can make or break someone. However this is not necessarily the case.
The agenda of these programs is for the show’s ratings and survival. When you think back on the laundry list of winners only a small few have “made it” in the industry. Even after the try out process there is still a competition between which contestants appear on the show. I made it through all of the grueling rounds. However, in order to take the last step, the big stage I had to compromise my authenticity to do so. I was told my Western hat, boots and show attire, which I had chosen with care, was too distracting. I felt my identity being stripped away as they primed and preened me into their version of me.
The experience was taxing and by the time my big moment arrived I felt like I was caught in a bad dream. The pressure of a live audience, cameras, judges, week long try outs and my “repackaging” got to me. Disoriented, I nonetheless pushed on, taking the stage. I felt dazed and uncomfortable singing “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, although it was familiar to me having sung it so many times in the past.
Standing frozen on stage after my performance, judge Naomi Judd critiqued I needed to practice the three P’s – Posture, Pitch and Performance. I don’t know what the other judges said, just Naomi’s words cutting through the chaos. I had looked up to her and valued her opinion and now all I could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights uttering thank you over and over again.
Going to bed late that night in a strange hotel room I wished it would all just go away; just a bad dream. I woke the next morning, the show’s airing was evidence that it had indeed happened. I felt shame and embarrassment from the whole experience and my Mom still has mixed feelings about the music industry almost 20 years later.
When I got home, feeling depressed and ashamed I took time off school. I still had to face my peers despite the shame. Returning to school some students celebrated me while others taunted and bullied. I didn’t want to sing anymore.
A month or so later I faced the fear to perform and sang at a retirement home. The people were so happy to hear me sing. It reminded me of why I applied for Star Search in the first place. The songs I sang brought back memories for these elders, some even tearing up. It made me feel I could make a difference even if for a brief moment. I took pictures with the retirees, signed autographs, sold CD’s and decided then and there that I needed to continue. Star Search can occasionally affect me to this day, but the magic that can happen when I sing is worth the risk. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for Star Search. It taught me to be cautious of the music industry and cling to my own truth versus others. This lesson has still been tested from time to time, but deep down I was shown the truth. It doesn’t really matter what other’s think of you, it’s what your heart tells you that matters most.
To this day people still suggest I audition for The Voice or American Idol and I just smile and continue to follow my own heart.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
There is a place I go when I sing; it feels as if time stands still and a presence emerges. Instead of being caught in the anxiety I feel before taking the stage, there is stillness. It almost feels like coming home. What is most rewarding is sometimes I can also take the listener there. Together we go through an array of emotions, but in the end there we are connected to something greater than ourselves. I share my stories of the up’s and down’s of life and people respond as if they were their own. I don’t feel like I am small and separate anymore, but a part of something greater than myself.
When the show is over and the merch table is waiting, it’s the people lined up to greet me that keep me coming back. My favorite thing about being an artist is witnessing the light and smile I see reflected back at me by the listeners. They put me on a pedestal and say I am someone special, but this isn’t true. It is the connection we feel to the shared story, shared song that reminded us we are not alone. For a moment I have the power to make someone feel seen, feel heard.
Being an artist isn’t easy. There are so many of us out there saying “listen to me.” It’s easy to be consumed by social media and the rat race of fame. None of this is why I am still pursuing this passion. I continue on because of the connection music has brought me. It has taken me so many places and has helped me evolve into a better person. When I finally let go of me, I see that with each performance a community is created. Music is the bridge that brings us together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charliemariemusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliehorsie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlieMarie401/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieMarie
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/charliemarie-music
- Other: https://charliemarie.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Courtney Denelle