The New Voices: Charlotte Lawrence

The model turned musician, whose catchy melodies and powerful messaging call on the Internet-Gen to take charge, prepares for superstardom.

PHOTOGRAPHY INEZ & VINOODH | FASHION PAUL CAVACO | INTERVIEW KAIA GERBER

T-SHIRT AND BELT ALEXANDER WANG | ON HAIR ORIBE | MATTE WAVES TEXTURE LOTION

DRESS BURBERRY

KAIA GERBER You turned 18 this year, that was a big one. How did you celebrate? I know the answer to this but...

CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE I had a “dager.” A day rager.

KG A dager! Okay. Let’s get right into it. What were you like as a kid? Were you the same at home as at school?

CL Definitely. I was a weirdo, always.

KG The one thing I’d say about Charlotte is she’s always fully Charlotte.

CL I’m a wild card. But it’s me!

KG “It’s me!” [imitating Charlotte’s voice] What parts of growing up did you enjoy and what are you glad is over?

CL I think the one thing I could say I missed a little bit was the whole, going to parties and living the high-school life. But I’m also very lucky that I found a passion at such a young age.

KG I forget, because I haven’t seen you in a while; are you still in school?

CL No. I don’t think so. Or maybe I am?

KG Charlotte, what? Did you graduate?

CL Did I graduate? Did you graduate?

KG Yeah, but this isn’t my interview. Well, pending answer on whether Charlotte is still in school. When did you realize you were musically inclined?

CL When I was five. I was always singing, and it’s funny because neither of my parents sing, or play any instruments, or have any musical talent. I taught myself how to play guitar when I was 11. I’d say it switched over from hobby to career when I was 14, 15.

KG Did you enjoy it more or less when it switched from hobby to career? CL I love it more now as a job. It’s rare to be able to make your passion your job, so you have to catch yo’ blessings.

KG Aw. Did your parents have a style when it came to your pursuing a music career? I consider your parents also my parents, but I’ll let you answer.

CL Well, it took them a second to fully conceptualize [it] especially because they [aren’t musical]. I used to think, “It’s so crazy, I’m the only musical one in my family, where does it come from? Blah blah blah.” But no, my dad is such an incredible writer that I think that’s a thousand percent where I get my songwriting [skills]. But they’re both incredible, artistic people, and when they realized this was my dream, they became my number-one fans.

KG Well, number two, ’cause I’m number one. What advice would you give to your younger self?

CL Don’t lie to your parents. They’ll always find out. [long pause] And don’t cut your hair. [laughs]

KG You were pondering for the deepest answer. Okay well, not to answer for you, but since I’ve met you you’ve become a lot more comfortable with who you are, and started caring less about what other people think.

CL Well I was always this awkward string bean with short mushroom-cut hair.

KG Look who you’re talking to. Same.

CL We are the same. We have literally the exact same music taste.

KG First concert? I know mine.

CL Mine was a Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers concert.

KG Mine was Kid Rock.

CL So you’re just cooler than I am. I mean, I was obsessed...I had my Justin Bieber phase, and everybody has their little Taylor Swift phase. Honestly, I still jam out to that.

KG Most-played song of all time?

CL “Love the Way You Lie” by Rihanna. I don’t know why, but that will forever be our song.

KG Because you’re the only other person I know who can recite the entire rap verse. Okay, the largest audience you’ve played in front of?

CL It was at Ultra Festival. Seventy thousand people? I have no idea. I was like, “No, I’m not gonna do it. I’m gonna die.” It was the most scared I’ve ever been. But once I had the microphone in my hand I was like, “Oh, actually…”

KG Any unexpected pros to fame?

CL I hate that word. [laughs] I don’t consider myself famous.

KG I’m just very, very grateful because I feel like when we were younger there weren’t that many platforms for us to embarrass ourselves on.

CL We used AIM or Skype.

KG I was nearly the last person on Instagram out of everyone.

CL Funny story, I had an Instagram when I was 12 or 13 and didn’t tell my parents. I’d get a blow dryer and take selfies. Somebody told my parents that I was the only kid in the grade with a public Instagram and I got in so much trouble. It was really the most embarrassing thing ever.

KG Does social media help or hurt self-esteem?

CL No matter what, you compare yourself to what you see on social media. I catch myself doing that a lot.

KG Do you feel you can authentically express yourself in the public eye?

CL A hundred percent.

KG But that’s why you’re in the public eye; it’s because you’re so authentic.

CL Thank you. I think being a musician is a very [unique] job, obviously, in that you’re supposed to be fully yourself. I never want to release a song that I didn’t write.

KG I’ve seen you sit down and write multiple songs. And it shows when you perform, ’cause you actually…

CL I get in my feels every single time.

KG I feel like some of the best music stems from hurt and feeling pain. When you get hurt, do you feel a sense of, not relief, but do you almost feel like, “Oh, I’m really hurt but I can create something amazing from this?” Is that a thought process you have when you’re hurt?

CL Dude, the number one most special thing to me about creating music is [that] I use it as a therapy. If I feel so sad about a guy, or so hurt by whatever, I write a song about it.

KG The one fight that we’ve been in, the main reason I made up with you is that you wrote me a beautiful song. We hadn’t spoken in a long time.

CL ‘Cause [we] really, truthfully never fight. It was [our] one fight since we’ve been little. So I sent you a song.

KG Don’t become friends with singers; you can’t stay mad at them because they’ll write you a beautiful song.

CL Bottom line: Don’t date musicians.

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