We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Georgia Long a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Georgia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Growing up, we had a pet prairie dog named Petie. My mom, Riki, always told me and my family of how she wanted to create a children’s book about our little prairie pup. So after having experienced one of the worst events in my life, my mom’s passing, me and my brother-in-law, William Boreing, co-wrote a children’s book in her honor on our five hour drive back home. Some time later, I was able to illustrate The Adventures of Petie the Prairie Dog: Petie Goes to Paris, using her colored pencils and was able to draw her into the story. Now, I am working to partner up with a specific organization in order to donate half of the proceeds to help others, again, in her honor. My hope is that her memory will positively affect others with this children’s book and its future iterations.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As an artist, I wear many hats, the biggest being an electro-pop artist under the name fiveoclockcharlie. I grew up singing in the group The Long Girlz, aka LG3, with my sisters, Lindsay Boreing and Stephanie Long, so it’s pretty much all I’ve ever known. We started out touring around Texas when I was eight years old singing country music, that eventually transitioned into rock as The Shock. I eventually got into the jazz and R&B band Georgia and the Alchemists, then eventually, when I really leaned into making my own music, landed in the electro-pop scene as fiveoclockcharlie. In whole, I’ve performed at over 3,000 live shows.

Although fiveoclockcharlie is my solo project, I’ve worked with my brother-in-law William Boreing, Steven Solomon and my sister Lindsay, to make my sound what it is, and have been fortunate enough to release two EPs, four singles and two remixes, but who’s counting? I have also been signed with FBP Music Publishing for about six years now, and with them, have partnered up with H&M as they spin my tunes in all of their stores throughout Europe.

Music has also given me a different outlet to express my creativity in that with each time I put new music out, I’m given the opportunity to produce music videos and visuals for each song potentially giving my listeners a different perspective. I believe that my passion for all aspects of the production of art, has guided me to one of my newer creative outlets; filmmaking.

I have already written two full feature scripts and a short film script, which are in pre-production. I have also started a production company with long-time friend, Ruthellen Cheney, where we are in post-production for our first short film, Darling It’s Better, and have just wrapped on our first segment of feature film, The Horror Digest. We’ve partnered with Rashaad Santiago Studios, KassFXStudio, Cavid Studios, I Am Zain Studios to create this horror anthology. I wrote one of the segments and will get to star in a couple of them, stretching out my legs as an actress as well. On top of that, I am editing all of the film, so I am especially excited for when it comes out to represent the other productions who we’ve partnered with to make it. The film already has a first option deal with MPX Films for international distribution.

As I mentioned before, I illustrated the children’s book I wrote in honor of my Mum, but it’s definitely not the first thing I’ve drawn before. I am a digital and Sharpie artist and sell my work under the company GeorgiaLongArt. I tend to draw different fictional characters or things on the more macabre side, but on the flip side, was commissioned to draw player cards for the Westfield baseball team in New Jersey.

With all of my wonderful creative endeavors on the horizon, my heart’s greatest passion is still with Pete the Prairie Dog. As I mentioned before, I illustrated the children’s book that me and my brother-in-law, William and I wrote, and am about to start drawing the second one in the series.

Later this year, I am launching the business Til Death Do Us Art where couples will be able to send me photos from either their engagement, wedding or anniversary and have it transformed into stylized art.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think for me there are several aspects of being an artist that are so rewarding for me. To begin I love coming up with ideas that no one has had before and seeing how that translates into its physical form. It is a funny thing- sometimes, like with my Sharpie drawings for instance, I’ll look down at the piece and think, “Huh, who did that?” Or, on occasion, I will watch one of my music videos and will reflect on how it’s a snapshot of where I was in life and who I got to work on it with.

Completing these different projects gives me one of the best feelings on Earth- a sense of pride and accomplishment. Then, when other people either want to be involved in one of my projects, come to my shows, buy a piece of art, etc., I feel a sense of community and that people understand me and what makes me tick. I think everyone wants to be seen and understood and art definitely brings that to me. I don’t think I could see myself without art in my life or who I would be without it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I actually have a picture set as my backdrop on my phone, computer and iPad of a Grammy with “fiveoclockcharlie” written on it. To me, it acts as a constant reminder to be great, do great things with your eye on the prize and good things will follow.

I just want to be successful in all avenues of art that I pursue. Is that so much to ask? I know it sounds rather obvious, but with how many artists there are now, not to mention AI being a newish factor, it’s definitely not so easily attainable.

Another interesting aspect that drives me is one that has developed over time. There have been several projects that I’ve worked on in the past where I’ve put all of my love, energy, money, etc., into, that, for some reason or another, were never completed. They just sit in the ether as a figment of my memory, never to be seen again. So now, I am very focused on not just creating a project, but making sure that it is seen all the way through to the end, ensuring that it will never happen again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fiveoclockcharlie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiveoclockcharlie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Voclockcharlie/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiveoclockcharlie
• Twitter: https://x.com/voclockcharlie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fiveoclockcharlie
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/fiveoclockcharlie
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeorgiaLongArt

Image Credits

Lindsay Boreing
Stephanie Long
Steve Escarcega