INTERVIEW WITH CHARLOTTE ERIKSSON / THE GLASS CHILD

Charlotte Eriksson, aka The Glass Child, is an extraordinarily talented singer/songwriter from Sweden who has a remarkable gift for someone so young. She has chosen her own path in hopes of sharing her artistic gift with the masses around the world. To keep her artistic vision intact and uncompromised, this young artist has chosen to do so on her own terms and without the aid of a record label. She created her own label, Broken Glass Records, to help her along the way. Now, with three EPs under her belt and a #2 song on iTunes with “I Will Lead You Home,” she is well on her way of sharing that amazing gift with the world.

Her tale is a very interesting and an inspiring one that almost sounds like the kind of stuff that Cameron Crowe could easily turn into a great movie. How many other kids have the intestinal fortitude to pack a bag and leave home at 18 to go after their dream? As she stood there at the gate to her path, not knowing where it would lead or how exactly to do it, she stepped onto it and never looked back. Her 20,000 devoted Twitter followers, whom Charlotte lovingly calls the “Creature Family” are a small indication that this young lady has something special going on. Her debut album I’d Like to Remain a Mystery has just been released to critical and commercial success, and I had a chance to sit down with this talented young lady to talk about it.

Johnny/Rock Revolt: Hi Charlotte! It’s really nice to get to sit down and talk to you. I know there are going to be people reading about you for the first time, so who exactly is Charlotte Eriksson?

Charlotte Eriksson/The Glass Child: Hi Johnny! Well, I’m Charlotte and I was born in Sweden, but I packed a bag and left when I was 18. I live for music, art, poetry and all things beautiful and no one will ever understand the amount of coffee that my body needs.

Johnny/RR: Wow, leaving home at 18 to chase after your dream is a pretty major thing to take on. How scary was that? What was going through your head when you left?

Charlotte: Oh, I was definitely scared! I was all alone, I had no idea how to get where I wanted to get or become who I wanted to be, but I learned so much and I don’t regret a second. I remember the night I left, when I sat on the plane and I was balancing between being scared like hell to actually feeling free and hopeful for the first time in my life. I remember thinking that this is when it all starts; things will be beautiful from here on.

Johnny/RR: I respect you for going after you dream like that, even if it scares the hell out of you. You seem to know exactly what you want to go after and I am guessing that in part is why you are doing this on your own label as well, to have total creative control. An artist like yourself doesn’t need to be watered down by today’s industry.

Charlotte: Yes, that’s definitely one of the main reasons. I knew right away that I would never be up for compromising my art because it’s everything I have and everything I’ve got. I was also so sure right away about what I wanted my music to be about and how I wanted to build my life around this. I figured that I had two choices: either I spend my time chasing the industry trying to convince them to like me or explain what my music is about or, I simply go out there and make it happen myself. Instead of going out there and explaining what I am all about, I’ll show it by action and simply being me. I either chase the industry or spend that time connecting with real people, real fans and real passionate music lovers.

Johnny/RR: Kudos for you for sticking to your guns and doing it your way. The industry is just so crazy right now, yet it has also created a great opportunity for artists like you to do it your way.

Charlotte: I think it’s an amazing and the best time to be in the music industry because you can create your own story; your own path completely. There’s no right or wrong anymore, it’s all about finding your own way. I don’t think I would have wanted to be in this industry ten years ago, when you had to do it according to the rules with labels and all that crap. I was never interested in the industry, I just want to create my art and connect with people who are touched by it.

Johnny/RR: Now, with that being said, how tough has it been doing it on your own instead of with a label?

Charlotte: I would lie if I said that it’s all been a beautiful and easy dance. It’s been hard and there have been days when I just wanted to quit this whole thing and never ever be involved with this business again. But then the beautiful moments, when I’m completely connected to the music, or when I get these letters from people saying that my music has helped them in any way; it just makes up for every single tear. These moments you just know that this is what I’m here to do and all the struggles happened because I needed to grow my strength and learn lessons to get here. It’s been a beautiful fight. It still is.

Johnny/RR: Now, you are often referred to as The Glass Child. Can you explain to our readers a little more about that?

Charlotte: The Glass Child comes from when I was younger from how people always told me that I was so hard to reach and that no one really knew me at all. That it was as if I was just observing the world from behind this piece of glass. That I could be so strong and independent but at the same I felt so easily broken. The first song I wrote was about this and was called “The Glass Child” and it keeps reminding me of why I turned to music in the first place.

Johnny/RR: So, would you describe yourself as a guarded child?

Charlotte: Yes, very guarded, careful and solitary. I never trusted people because I couldn’t understand them. I wasn’t into music or art or anything creative at all when I was younger. I was very competitive though and was very serious about sports, and I think that’s where my determination and ”business” side of it comes from, but when I discovered music, I just felt at home; like I found myself. Ever since I knew I wanted to spend my life within that belonging.

Listen to “Who I Am”

[embedplusvideo height=”281″ width=”450″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/OeQhEUfgdfg?fs=1&hd=1″ vars=”ytid=OeQhEUfgdfg&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep1484″ /]

Johnny/RR: Do you tap into that when you write? Is there a “method to the madness” when you are creating these emotional pieces of poetry?

Charlotte: It’s different every single time really, and that’s the beauty in it. Sometimes the lyrics comes first and sometimes the melody. Sometimes it starts with a story and sometimes I even write a novel first and then turn it into a song. Some songs just appears from this higher place and takes five minutes to write; other times I work on the lyrics and melody for weeks before I’m happy. If you could”figure out” the magic formula to writing it would lose the magic I think.

Johnny/RR: Your debut full length album was just released. I follow you on Twitter and I could definitely sense the nervousness as well as a sense of being scared in your tweets leading up to its release. How intense were those last few hours leading up to the official release? Did the fans responses help to ease your nerves?

Listen to “I’d Like To Remain A Mystery”

[embedplusvideo height=”281″ width=”450″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/1JJJ0wsz0kY?fs=1&hd=1″ vars=”ytid=1JJJ0wsz0kY&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep4373″ /]

Charlotte: Oh man, I was so scared! This is not just an album, you know, it’s everything I am and grown to be. It’s my heart, my life and my whole existence. It’s not just about writing music and letting people hear it, it’s about proving to all those back home to still don’t believe in me, that I can do this, that I could release an album successfully and that I’m still here. I’m not done yet. And of course I was scared of what people would say. But it was amazing, and I have the best fan base in the whole world. They’re my friends and we’re doing this together. I couldn’t have asked for a better release.

Johnny/RR: Was it tough to choose a lead-off single to showcase your amazing work of art?

Charlotte: No actually it wasn’t. Stay is one of my most important songs personally and it means more than anyone will ever understand. The time and place it represents shaped who I am today, and still does. I also wanted to choose a single that would be a little bit different from the rest of the album, and Stay is one of the more acoustic and stripped songs.

Listen to “Stay”

[embedplusvideo height=”281″ width=”450″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/_W6Hz891tho?fs=1&hd=1″ vars=”ytid=_W6Hz891tho&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep9171″ /]

UPDATE SINCE INTERVIEW: “Stay” was picked to be on Shopcades Official SXSW Playlist

Johnny/RR: You also have a book that you have been working on entitled Empty Roads that will accompany the album in the near future?

Charlotte: My book is divided into two parts: the first one is my story and journey this last year. It’s about discovering yourself, figuring out what art and music really is about and my year on the road. The second part is my journaling, some poetry and other creative writings about everything that is spinning in my head; everything from learning rejections within the music industry, to learning how to love and lose and let it go, and just simply learning how to live with myself.

Johnny/RR: It amazes me how talented you are and have been since a very young age. Who or what inspires and influences you?

Charlotte: I’m inspired by so many different kinds of artists, everything from dancers, painters, writers and songwriters. I love philosophy and literature and obviously my lyrics are very influenced by this. Some of my favorite bands are Brand New, Trevor Hall, Ben Harper and Bright Eyes. I listen to a lot of different genres and bands; everything from acoustic singer-songwriters to punk rock and hip-hop. I’m drawn to the soul in the music, the story and the spirit, no matter what genre it is.

Johnny/RR: I love that because I am a firm believer that diversity is the spice of life. Well, looking at the clock I see that I need to be wrapping it up. Here’s a tough one for you: do you have any printable guilty pleasures that may surprise even your most die-hard fans?

Charlotte: I have incredible and loud conversations with myself; especially while making coffee and not realizing that I’m not alone. I also sing way too loud in the shower, especially old pop-songs from the 90s.

INTERVIEW: JOHN WAITE

Johnny/RR: Last question: do you have any plans to tour here in the U.S.?

Charlotte: That’s a dream I’ve always had and hopefully one day if I work hard enough, then it will happen.

Johnny/RR: Well, that’s a wrap! Thanks again Charlotte for taking the time to talk to me. I highly encourage readers to check out Charlotte’s debut album I’d Like to Remain a Mystery which is available on iTunes as well as her website. It’s a very powerful and emotional collection of songs that will touch your heart and have a lasting and profound effect on you.

By Johnny Price, Senior Journalist – RockRevolt™Magazine

Professional Photograph Credit: Maxime Imbert