Indie Music Women’s Artist of the Day is…
Charlie Raphael-Campbell (@charlescantbreathe)
Charlie Raphael-Campbell is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter from North London. She started gaining popularity on the internet by posting covers and original songs on a Nirvana fan account which she ran. She played her first gig at age 14, not long after recovering from a spinal operation, and has gone on to perform with her band The Big Boys at venues such as The Elgar Room in The Royal Albert Hall and the iconic Hope & Anchor.
Charlie released her debut single “Lemon Moon” in early 2018, which was closely followed by her EP “Julian,” which was compared to the likes of Courtney Barnett. Charlie’s music is a mix of indie and punk rock, intertwined with Jeff Buckley-esque vocals and a 90’s grunge vibe. Charlie is currently recording an album with her band, The Big Boys, and a solo bedroom project, both due early this year. You can hear Charlie’s debut EP on all major streaming platforms now.
Charlie shared with me what it means to her personally to be an indie music woman artist:
“To me, something slightly different. I am not only a woman in music, but I am also a queer, mixed-race woman who channels her chronic pain into her music. There is a certain power that comes from being a woman, not just in life, but in music. When you’re up on that stage, you transcend the patriarchy, you transcend the oppression and sexism you face in your everyday life. You become a goddess, a rockstar, everything you want to be. You are free, and freedom is such an important part of being an artist.”
You can hear Charlie’s single, “Lemon Moon” on the Indie Music Women’s Spotify playlist.