Singer-songwriter Charlotte O’Conner has been busy touring with Newton Faulkner and has supported The Script in concert recently. Most of her songs on Myspace allow you to have a preview listen, but for 24 hours you can listen to the complete track ‘Lotta Love.’ Check it out on her Myspace

She’s destined for big things. Read the exclusive interview with newly signed singer/songwriter Charlotte O’Conner.

Duffy, Adele, Wino, step aside : Charlotte O’Conner has arrived.

Currrently touted as the next big British success, the half-English-half-Malawian 17-year old from Blackburn has recently signed a record deal with Columbia Records ( home to artists such as Aerosmith, Beyoncé, and Newtown Faulkner).

Although she only started playing the guitar and writing music several years back, it was almost a decade ago the singer/songwriter realised she had a talent for music as she recalls,”When I was about 6, I watched Wayne’s World with my sisters and there is a bit when they are all in the car and Bohemian Rhapsody comes on, and as soon as I heard that song I was obsessed, so I watched that bit over and over again until I learnt the song. Then one day – when I had my routine polished after hours of rehearsing – I mimed the whole song infront of my mum and dad, and I think that’s when I realized, I liked performing.”

It should come as no surprise then, that the she cites Queen as one of her musical influences alongside John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Lauryn Hill, Alicia and Willy Mason. On her varied list of musical influences she says,”From since I can remember there has always been music playing in the house ranging from blues, classical, soul, country…and from having that drummed into me, think that has affected the way I write.”

Similar to her musical heroes, Charlotte has created a sound like no other. Her voice is richly soulful and sweet. Listens to her uptempo songs reveal the lilting vibrancy and youthful vigour of her vocals, whilst her ballads demonstrate a musical maturity beyond her years. Her lyrics are poignant and in each performance the singer gives, her conveyed and heartfelt emotion (you can almost feel the heartache of regretfully losing a lover in ‘Just Like You Love Me Again’) is guaranteed to draw each listener in, a remarkable thing really, when you consider most of her songs haven’t actually been based on her own experiences. “I used to write my songs on my older sisters heartaches and break ups – which they weren’t impressed with at all – because I’m too young to write songs about love and stuff, but as I’m getting older my songs are coming from my own experiences, my friends’ sticky situations and childhood memories.”

As for now Charlotte is working on her debut album alongside noted luminaries such as Sasha Skarbek ( co-wrote James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful”, Jason Mraz) and Dan Gautreau (Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, George Michael). Of the recording experience she says,” I’m writing a lot and working with different faces and still learning so much, but it’s all piecing together and I’m absoltuly loving it.”

When asked what the rest of the year holds for her, Charlotte is enthusiastic.”Hopefully a reaaaaaaaallllly good time.”

One can’t help but imagine things are about to get a lot more exciting for her.

www.myspace.com/charlottesoul

www.twitter.com/charlotteoc