Charlotte OC

Charlotte O'Connor is a British singer-songwriter known for her evocative blend of soul, gospel, and electronic influences. Born to a half-Malawian, half-Indian mother and an Irish father, she grew up in Blackburn, Lancashire, and attended Westholme School. O'Connor began playing the guitar at the age of 15 and honed her musical skills through weekend classes at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

At 16, she became a global ambassador for the surfwear brand Quiksilver, gaining international exposure. Her music soon caught the attention of agent Sam Bush, who signed her and arranged performances in the United States. In late 2008, at just 18, she secured a four-album recording deal with Columbia Records. Her debut single, Treasure Island, was released in September 2011, followed by her first album, For Kenny, in November of the same year, produced by Mario Caldato Jr. However, after parting ways with Columbia, she briefly worked in her mother’s hairdressing salon before returning to music.

In 2013, O'Connor re-emerged under the stage name Charlotte OC, signing with Stranger Records. That November, she released her debut EP, Colour My Heart, which garnered critical attention. Her follow-up EP, Strange, was released via Polydor Records in September 2014. Both EPs were recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tim Anderson. In March 2015, she released her third EP, Burning, featuring the single If My House Was Burning.

O’Connor’s debut album under the Charlotte OC moniker, Careless People, was released on 31 March 2017, again produced by Anderson. The album spawned four singles: Darkest Hour, Blackout, Shell, and Medicine Man.

On 15 May 2020, she released the EP Oh the Agony, Oh the Ecstasy, featuring the previously released tracks This Pain, Freedom, and Falling for You, alongside two new songs. Her second studio album, Here Comes Trouble, was released on 15 October 2021, following a series of singles and EPs leading up to its launch.

Artistry

Charlotte OC’s music is deeply influenced by gospel, soul, and house, as well as the electronic sounds she encountered at Berlin’s iconic nightclub, Berghain. Raised in a household steeped in folk and soul music, she cites Alicia Keys, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Marvin Gaye as key inspirations.

Her sound has been described as a fusion of Bat for Lashes' ethereal mysticism, Stevie Nicks’ raw vulnerability, and the vocal prowess to rival Adele. Noisey praised her ability to blend these elements seamlessly, while Hunger magazine remarked that her music "feels spiritual and almost occultist."

With a career marked by reinvention and resilience, Charlotte OC continues to carve out a unique space in contemporary music, captivating audiences with her haunting melodies and emotionally charged performances.