The Lowdown - Charlotte Hatherley Interview

Rainbow Warrior

October 17, 2009, 07:02 AM

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by Andy Von Pip [More from this Author]

It was obvious that Charlotte Hatherley was never going to be happy plodding along as merely the rhythm guitarist in a band full of blokes ad infinitum, she seemed to have a bit of what people loosely term ‘star quality’ about her. I don’t mean in the sense of being one of those ruthless careerist musicians who Luke Haines once famously described as “greedy hobgoblins, knocking down small children in their path ... and anyone they perceive as a possible threat to their rise to the top." You just sensed that Charlotte’s ambition lay more in a desire to be her own boss and spread her creative wings. Since leaving Irish rockers Ash her career has been as impressive as it has been varied. She was released two critically acclaimed albums, “Fade To Grey” and “Into The Blue” and is set to unleash her third and without doubt, her finest solo album yet, "New Worlds." It’s an album from a real bona fide musician who doesn’t rely on PR gurus or ludicrous disproportionate hyperbole to bring instant success- Charlotte, does it the old fashioned way, believing that music has always been more important than the image or the hype. Although I’m sure it’s not always been easy, she has reaped the rewards of this approach gaining a loyal fan base and critical acclaim whilst achieving a longevity that last months absurdly puffed up NME ‘band of the decade’ can only dream of. We had a chat with the enigmatic Ms Hatherley to find out what sort of year 2009 had been.


Altsounds: Hello Charlotte, your album ‘New Worlds’ is released on 19th October, the title itself hints at a sense of discovery, renewal and revelation, for example latest single 'Alexander' talks about taking off layers. Would you say this is a theme that runs throughout the album? Peeling away layers to get to some sort of truth?

Charlotte: I was writing about searching for the truth. There’s so much information being thrown at us it’s hard to see through the bullshit. I wanted to strip away the layers and make something simple and honest. I was influenced by painters and colours, and wanted to create a vibrant and visceral world.

Altsounds: The album initially had the title "Cinnabar City" did the decision to change the title happen kind of organically as the album progressed?

Charlotte: I was toying with the idea of making it the third record to have a colour in the title, and I loved the exoticness of ‘Cinnabar’ mixed with the hardness and modernity of ‘city'. But I changed the title after the album was mastered because I thought the title shouldn’t be something that has to be explained, it should be more like the music which is immediate and very direct. "New Worlds" seemed less abstract and more of a statement. Also, I kept getting asked about Cinnabar Island in Pokemon, which I knew nothing about!

Altsounds: Given that you are a member of the touring set up for Bat For Lashes and Client in conjunction with your solo career when do you actually get the time to write songs?!! How long would you say it took from formulating a rough sketch of the new album to actually getting it done, dusted and out there?

Charlotte: I write sketches and ideas on the road, and can only really concentrate on fleshing them out when I’m at home in one place. So, at the moment I’m itching to start writing but won’t be able to until December. Touring makes your brain shrink. I always try to make it a productive time, I take a load of books and DVDs but inevitably don’t manage to get through half of them. For this new album it really didn’t take very long to get it together, I wrote it in a month, and then spent a week recording it mostly live, and then mixed and mastered straight away. Usually I take a lot longer, but I wanted to take a less methodical approach and make the recording much more spontaneous. It took a little longer to release as I put it back 6 months so I could tour with Bat For Lashes.

Altsounds: You also have your own label ‘Little Sister Records’- what with all your other projects you must be a highly organised, well oiled machine, do you ever find it a daunting proposition covering all the bases? Ever feel like you’re spinning too many plates ?

Charlotte: I wish I WAS a well oiled machine! I do my best, and have found a new sobriety the last 2 years as I simply couldn’t tour, record and run the label if I continued to be as fried as I was when I was in Ash. It took me a while to get my shit together and understand the industry and my place in it but now that I’ve hit 30 I know exactly what I’m doing. I don’t find it daunting, it’s incredibly exciting playing with different people and having my own projects as well.

Altsounds: You’ve said in the past you found it hard touring for years in a band full of blokes. Do you feel women in the music industry still have a tough time, are they still pigeonholed and patronised meaning they have to shout a little louder and work a little harder than their male counterparts?

Charlotte: I think this is a good year for innovative and interesting female songwriters. Instead of the incredibly boring staple diet of the Duffy’s and Adele’s, artists like Bat For Lashes, Florence, La Roux, St Vincent, Marnie Stern, Fever Ray etc have taken over and it seems like women are thriving. I do think that we must be careful that it doesn’t seem like a passing ‘fad’, already I’ve heard that labels won’t be signing female artists of that ilk because it’s out of fashion. I think the UK has always produced amazing female songwriters, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey being the most obvious influence for me, but it is true that you have to work much harder for the attention.

Altsounds: There’s only a few months of 2009 left, I’ve seen Christmas decorations and mince pies in the shops already! So how‘s 2009 been for Charlotte Hatherley ?

Charlotte: It’s been incredible really. I’ve been touring non stop with Bat For Lashes whilst doing what I can to tour and promote my own record that comes out in a couple of weeks. It’s been exhausting but really exciting. I also turned 30 which is supposed to be a big deal isn’t it?

Altsounds: What sort of music have you been listening to this year?

Charlotte: Mostly Fever Ray, St Vincent, Yeasayer and Ladyhawke.

Altsounds: Have you paid much heed to the furore over the file sharing debate which Lily Allen waded into recently over reducing file sharers internet access/download speeds? How do you think musicians, fans and labels can find a system which is acceptable to all involved?

Charlotte: I think music is going through a very troubled time. Music has been de-valued and is becoming an outlet for only people who can afford it which is very worrying. It is becoming impossible to make any money, and I largely agree with Lily Allen though I think that restricting people’s broadband access would be unenforceable. Kids need to learn the real value of music, and learn that it’s not just the labels they are screwing, but the musicians too.

Altsounds: And talking of the net, you use Facebook and Myspace, but do you ever feel an uncontrollable urge to “tweet”?

Charlotte: No, Twitter is a step too far for me.

Altsounds: Tell us an amazing fact about yourself that has thus far never been revealed?

Charlotte: I’ve got a scaly back!