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Charlotte Sometimes: 'Hayley and I are sooo different'


Older music fans might know "Charlotte Sometimes" as the name of a single the Cure released in 1981. Bookworms might know the name as the title of a 1969 children's novel by Penelope Farmer (which in turn inspired the name of the Cure's song).

But for the above people and beyond, there's a new Charlotte Sometimes to get introduced to: a rising singer/songwriter who is drawing comparisons to A Fine Frenzy and Kate Nash. Sometimes put out a handful of EPs on her own, as well as a live CD, while going to college, but now she's ready for the big time, having signed to Geffen/Interscope.

Sometimes got her 2008 off to a strong start with an appearance at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, in March. She actually caught up with Buzznet while she was down there, describing her music to us as "Fiona Apple dancing to hip-hop beats."

After having conquered Austin, Sometimes is setting her sights on even more exciting prospects: the release of her debut studio album, 1918: Waves and the Both of Us, on May 6, and an upcoming appearance on this summer's Warped Tour. She also just released a new song, "How I Could Just Kill a Man" (it's streaming right here), that shouldn't be mistaken for a cover of the Cypress Hill tune of the same name.

Sometimes recently opened up to Buzznet about the Warped Tour, her male bandmates, "lame" tattoos, Cypress Hill and the unavoidable comparison to Hayley Williams from Paramore. Her answers, to the latter in particular, will surprise you ...

Buzznet: Tell us a little bit about your band. Any embarrassing stories to share about them? 

Charlotte Sometimes: My band is full of the best boys in the world and I really mean that. They all drive me nuts but they are really warm-hearted boys. They do smell on occasion and give me a hard time (ALL THE TIME), but no embarrassing stories to tell. Unless I can tell them right in front of them so I can see the reaction on their faces! Mwuahaha

Buzznet: What's the biggest misconception about Charlotte Sometimes

Sometimes: That Sometimes is my last name. It's not — though I guess it has a certain charm to it...

Buzznet: You will be playing at Warped Tour this summer. Have you attended Warped Tour in the past as a fan? 

Sometimes: No, actually I haven't. I was more of a coffee house goer in my high school days. I never got the guts to go. My brothers used to go but I was a little too nervous to check it out and now I'm playing it! Please don't hurt me Warped Tour goers!

Buzznet: Are you afraid of being overshadowed by another female newcomer — ahem, Hayley — on Warped?

Sometimes: Not really. I don't try to compete with anyone like that, ya know? I support any female in music and Hayley and I are sooo different. She's more into that pop-punk genre and is a few years younger than me. The girl's got lungs but I've got more of a jazz-pop feel. There are so many guy bands playing the show, so why don't people ever ask them if they feel like they are going to overshadowed by every single band on the bill? Being female is not a genre — it's just a gender.

Buzznet: What's your favorite song that you've written? That someone else has written?

Sometimes: I am not sure if I have a favorite song I've written. I have phases where I like one song more than the other. Right now I am really feeling my song "Losing Sleep." It's about the pressure I put on myself. My favorite song by another artist has always been "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison because my dad used to sing it to me all the time. My song of the moment is "That Teenage Feeling" by Neko Case.

Buzznet: Why did you decide to cover Cypress Hill on your new EP?

Sometimes: It's actually not a cover. My producer and I thought it would be a really cool idea to write a song with the catch phrase, "How could I just kill a man" like Cypress Hill, but make it a completely different song. Being gangsta with someone's heart! Ha!

Buzznet: You have some great shirt designs. How involved are you with your own merchandise?

Sometimes: I am really involved with all the ideas that have to do with the imaging of Charlotte Sometimes. My management and label know all my themes and the imagery I like to use to represent those ideas and usually send me designs based around that.

Buzznet: Give us some insight on your tattoos. What do they say/mean?

Sometimes:
I am going to sound pretty lame right about now. One of my tattoos is "Brand New Colony" for The Postal Service song. I just think the lyrics in that song are so beautiful and remind me about idealistic love and not to settle for some jerk! My other tattoo says Charlotte but it looks more like Charlotter. OOPS!

Buzznet: Dream collaborations?

Sometimes: Probably Ben Gibbard, because frankly — I'm in love with the man. Tegan and Sara, because they are the two coolest chicks in music and I really wish Jeff Buckley would come back from the dead and sing a duet with me and then ask for my hand in marriage.

Check out Charlotte Sometimes' "How I Could Just Kill a Man" — It's streaming right here!



Posted on 04/03/2008 5:00 AM Visits: 777
panicrebels: 04/02/2008 11:52 PM
I'll be seeing Charlotte Sometimes on Friday when I go see We the kings.
The show is going to be bomb :D
AudreyEllen: 04/03/2008 6:25 AM
i think it will be cool to see her in concert.....
lovelustandus: 04/03/2008 7:18 AM
shes cuteeee but I don't know about her music.
AudreyEllen: 04/03/2008 7:31 AM
I also agree with her answer when being compared to Hayley.
Charlee: 04/03/2008 8:15 AM
why do we have to mention paramore in every damn music news
ellicez: 04/03/2008 8:52 AM
i like how she said "Being female is not a genre it's just a gender"
k-elle: 04/03/2008 9:10 AM
why should it matter if there's now another girl on warped ... i didn't like that question "ahem, hayley"
it should be about her music, not about her gender (just like she said)
xtracexxluverx: 04/03/2008 10:17 AM
I met Charlotte Sometimes before at a show about a month ago. She's nice ^_^
ellicez said:
i like how she said "Being female is not a genre it's just a gender"
Yeah, me too.
Bonita Applebum: 04/03/2008 11:06 AM
She seems like a really cool chick.
kathrinerulesatlife: 04/03/2008 11:17 AM
she is really nice!
due to some technical difficulties i saw her play acoustic and she has an amazing voice, i was impressed.
her band mates are great as well. stoked to see them again on the we the kings tour. :]
paige67: 04/03/2008 12:07 PM
Now I know what your tattoos say.
Haha. Good to see you're finally getting
out there. See ya one Warped! ♥
Erica Owens: 04/03/2008 12:45 PM
I love Charlotte Sometimes! I really like her song Losing Sleep, too...but she took it off of her MySpace page! And yeah, I don't think she should be compared to Hayley, only this site would even think to make that comparison. haha.
skintight: 04/03/2008 12:50 PM
why do we have to mention paramore in every damn music news
Seriously, that has to little to do with the article I don't see why something like that even has to be mentioned in the title. Why not make the title something in relation to the music! Theres a breakthrough idea for you!
meaganbilly: 04/03/2008 1:24 PM
I can't wait to see her for Warped :] She seems like a chill person, and her music's pretty legit
emilyyy69: 04/03/2008 1:32 PM
why do we have to mention paramore in every damn music news
exactly what i was thinking...
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