Connie Fletcher

Talented Singer-Songwriter

When did you first get into music?

Well according to my parents, I used to sing along to Little Richard and Mariah Carey in my bedroom from the age of 3! I have always been into music and singing, especially as my parents are huge influences. My dad is the front of a Rock ‘n’ Roll band called the Black Cadillacs, playing classics from the 50’s such as Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. My mum, got me into music such as Gloria Estefan and Michael Jackson and the best of the 80’s!

What genre of music do you perform?

My genre, I would describe as chilled acoustic with a mixture of Indie and Pop. I record all of my music in my home studio, although I am still learning music production and how to get the best sound from the equipment I use.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

I would say that my dad inspired me to pursue a career in music. I have followed his band around the country watching them perform, and seeing the fun that they have and the fan base, really made me realize I want to do that for a living.

How has your music evolved since you first began performing/ songwriting?

I first started writing songs at the age of 16 with an old band that I was in called “Seeing Double”. We were a rock band, covering songs by Whitesnake and Guns ‘N’ Roses; so the songs we worked on that were original, were of the Rock genre. So this gave me the push and realization that with time and patience, you can really put your efforts into writing a decent song. The way that my music has evolved from when I was in that band at such a young age, is through life experiences; loss, heartache, the typical ingredients for catchy songs. I have had to get over my nerves when it comes to performing, I have always been used to being in a band and having people on stage alongside me; to now being by myself with my guitar singing my own songs, which can be quite vulnerable. I was on stage once and I was that nervous, that as i was taking a drink my hand was shaking uncontrollably which made the water spill all over me. I thought it couldn’t get any worse than this and that ended up being one of the best shows I did. The way I write music has also changed, I like to have an idea of what I want the song to be about, I then write the chorus and work the verses around that and then I write the music around the melody that I have in my head.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us?

I was a part of a festival event a while back, alongside a German band called Lord Bishop Rocks who are awesome.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

I would say love, love for what I do, what I create, the people I meet, the situations I get in, the heartbreak I experience. The thing is, in such a tough industry full of people trying to make it, you will have people knock you down, so if you did not love what you do, then you would not bounce back. You will not be everyone’s cup of tea remember that, but do not take it personally. To quote The Beatles “All you need is love”.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas?

A lot of listeners say I have a unique tone to my voice and that every song i sing, be it a sad song or upbeat song, I always put my emotion into it. Not only that, I am not shy about writing how I feel, if you have hurt me I will write about it. I am down to earth and also not willing to change who I am to fit into this industry. You will find a lot of people who make it are moulded into what the label or producer thinks the audience wants, but there is an audience for all types of music; be who you want to be and do not change. One of my songs has the lyrics “I won’t change who I am to fit someone else’s shoe, because that’s not me, and it shouldn’t be you too”. I still stand by that sentence!

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

Nerves! I have always struggled with nerves and yet I come across as the most confident and bubbly person ever! I do doubt myself, but who doesn’t? The way I overcome my nerves is by diving in, by doing this I do not have time to think about my nerves; I move a million miles an hour. Also having my little group of cheerleaders come along with me really helps. My younger cousin, who is only 12, is my number 1 fan. She knows all of my songs, every single word, and she comes to all of my shows. Seeing her in the crowd makes me feel comfortable and let’s face it, if i ever forget my own lyrics she will always be singing along to help me out!

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

Oh definitely! Whether it is being rejected by labels, or harsh comments on your music. Social media plays a huge part in getting your music heard and out there to a larger audience, however it is never a smooth ride. It is also really difficult to get your music heard by labels as a lot do not accept unsolicited music. So you do suffer, putting all your heart and soul into your art for it not to be recognized or not given a chance; I wouldn’t change anything though, I am happy finally making my very own music!

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

There are pros and cons to this question, let’s start with the cons. The internet allows illegal downloads of music, this impacts the music industry massively. Artists of the illegally downloaded content are not recognized correctly, as well as many monetary factors this affects.

However, to me there are plenty of pros to the internet impacting the music business. For example, artists like me are able to post content on social platforms to help build a bigger fan base, be recognized for their talent and meet like minded people who you can learn from. Opportunities such as being a part of this magazine has derived from the internet, a result of me posting my music and covers on social media platforms. Through the internet I was also able to have one of my songs called “Another Minute With Me” played on BBC Radio multiple times, which has been a huge highlight for me during this really strange year.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be? I would love it if there was a clear path to have oneself recognized by a label. Like I said above, it’s very difficult to have your music listened to by labels if the music is unsolicited. Many artists do not have the money to have their music produced professionally in a studio and mixed by a reputable producer. It seems to be a “who you know” not “what you know” industry.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

I have so many albums I want to talk about!! However the 5 artists below have blown my mind recently:

Lennon Stella- “Three. Two. One” Her songs are full of emotion and personal experiences which you can feel just through listening. Weirdly, I feel like I have a connection with Lennon, as from a young age she was also surrounded by musical influences such as her parents.

Mayer Hawthorne- “Where does this door go” I first heard of Mayer Hawthorne when I saw him as a support act at a Bruno Mars concert, and I was blown away! He combines his influences of 60’s soul and 70’s funk and is probably one of the smoothest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. It’s refreshing listening to a modern interpretation of the bands musical influences.

The 1975- “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it.” It’s so hard to choose a favourite album of The 1975 because they are all incredible. They have certainly had an impact on me and the way I write my music; having encouragement to play with different sounds and not being afraid of being different.

Hearts & Colors Now, this band does not yet have a released album, however they have many singles. I have followed them from the very beginning, of them posting covers to YouTube, to creating original content which I have streamed non-stop! Watching them start from scratch, producing their own music and creating their own sound has such a resemblance to my journey. The guys of Hearts & Colors, Philip and Nico have their own side projects too; DREAMDNVR and SoSo Faux.

Teddy Swims Now, you may have seen this guy on Facebook, and all I can say is what a voice!! He certainly has a bit of a Chris Stapleton quality to his sound. Teddy, from what I have seen, again started covering music and posting his videos on the internet and got recognized. He then went onto writing his own music with songs such as Picky and Broke. I feel he is an inspiration for who I am as an artist, Teddy remains humble and aware of where he started and that is something I will always be.

Tell us about your current project?

I am currently working on my first EP, I am a few songs away from finishing it! I am hoping it will be out by the end of the year, the release date will be posted on my social media!

What is the best advice you have received?

“Don’t stop doing what you love”

What’s next for you?

I am working with a band called RF33 who are planning to put on a festival next year in the South Coast of the UK and have asked me to join the list of artists to perform, which will be such an amazing experience for me. They have also secured some air time for me on Radio Respect which is soon to have its FM license in the UK; this will be great opportunity for me and I cannot wait.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

My music is available on all major platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, etc… under Connie Fletcher.

You can also follow my socials: Instagram: ConnieFletcherofficial // Facebook: ConnieFletchermusic Youtube: Connie Fletcher // Soundcloud: Connie Fletcher