Charlotte Rose Benjamin

Photo by, Jared Kocka

Meet Charlotte Rose Benjamin

Charlotte Rose Benjamin what a cool name. Something about those three parters just completely wins me over. Neat names aside this singer-songwriter boasts serious chops. Whether it’s with the backing of a whole band or a performance CRB shines right through to the core with introspective lyrics, and an earnest sound. Their latest release “Party City - Solo” is a perfect example of just that. Pull up a chair and get to know this fantastic musician in our latest interview.

“FIRE FIGHTERS” A fill in the blank by Charlotte Rose Benjamin

When I was ten years old, my PRETTY ambition in life was to be a firefighter -- but here I am, nothing but a SASSY PARTY. If I were a firefighter, I'd get to wear a huge, red OCEAN. And I could ride on the fire engines that carry 80-foot BUNNIES and travel 2.miles an hour. When fire engines blow their PILLOWS, all cars have to pull over to the side of the MICROWAVE. Fire departments have hook and BUCKET wagons as well as pump trucks that carry CLOUDY hoses that pump CHAMPAGNE into burning PINECONES. Firefighters have to go into SAD buildings and fight their way through smoke and JUUL POD to rescue any TEETH who may be trapped inside. We should all be thankful that our firefighters are on the job twenty-four hours a POOL NOODLE.

Would You Rather

have an enormous set of antlers or seven-foot-tall stilts for legs?

Seven-foot-tall stilts- I’ve always wished my legs were longer

Some Questions with Charlotte Rose Benjamin

Do you miss performing live? What do you miss most about it?

I miss it so much! I miss carefully planning and putting an outfit together, taking the whole day to get ready for a show. I miss seeing my friends, sipping a beer watching the other bands play, mingling with the audience after… Luckily I’ve been able to play with my band a lot this summer in the studio, but being on stage is a cozy place for me, and most of all I miss and transcending into that space where everyone in the room is sharing a feeling. Livestream shows are not the same.

What was the process like recording acoustic tracks from your February EP for “Party City- Solo”?

I’ve been playing the songs stripped down like that long before they were we arranged them with a full band. The process was really easy. I recorded them at my parent’s house on Martha’s Vineyard where I grew up. Nothing is comped, it’s all live one takes so they’re all a bit imperfect and vulnerable. Living With Ghosts by Patty Griffin was a really important record for me that I revisited during quarantine- every song is just her a guitar. Also, Hours Were the Birds by Adrianne Lenker. I’ve always wanted to make a record like that.

Do you feel like the solo acoustic versions of the songs take on a new meaning/feeling?

Yes! There is an element of loneliness in everything I write and those feelings are definitely more at the forefront on the Solo EP. Cursed, for example, can really be heard two ways. The studio version is bubbly and sarcastic it’s about throwing your hands up in the air embracing being young and making mistakes and the solo version is wistful and romantic.

What was your favorite subject in school? Why was it your favorite?

I loved English and Creative Writing. I also spent a lot of time in the art room in high school. I just like writing and making stuff.

What kinds of narratives do you gravitate towards in your writing?

I think I use songwriting as a tool to try to understand whatever I’m working through at the moment. It’s usually kind of a patchwork quilt of images feelings or thoughts from a specific time and not necessarily a cohesive story. I used to write more about relationships and friendships because other people are so confusing and interesting to me. But lately, it’s more like long confessional stream-of-consciousness prose poems about my own cynicisms and insecurities. I don’t ever want to take myself too seriously. Songs feel so much more personal and honest to me when they’re sprinkled with a bit of humor.

What is your favorite childhood book?

Before I could speak I memorized the book Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. I have a tattoo on the inside of my wrist of Madeline. She was a 7-year-old Catholic boarding school student in Paris and she was absolutely fearless. I also love Ferdinand the Bull and Eloise.

What advice do you have for musicians looking to make their start in NYC?

Normally I’d say just go out and play as many shows as possible, but sadly that’s not an option right now. I would say try to capitalize off of social media and youtube, which is weird advice because I don’t really know how to do that. Make friends with other musicians in your city, help each other. Watch movies, take walks, write everything down.