Escapism through music
We are turning, evolving, and meeting a different version of ourselves with each new day. Charlotte Cardin is one of those rare souls who embarked on this journey at a young age, holding onto her dreams tightly. Starting her career in modeling, she decided that her greatest passion was music and wholeheartedly surrendered herself to it. Today, with her heartwarming voice and lyrics that unite listeners on a common ground, she opens the doors to her inner world. As part of the ’99 Nights Tour,’ we become a part of this small adventure where our paths intersect with Charlotte at Zorlu PSM.
Do you use music as an escape or facing with the truths?
Charlotte Cardin: I, definitely, use music as a therapy; indeed, a way of escaping from a lot of things in a very healthy way. Music has always been my way of experiencing things through imaginary worlds. It’s always been a way of adding detail and texture and healing images to to my imagination. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination and writing music has always been a way to use that in a in a really therapeutical way. Especially for this album, writing music was definitely my way of escaping the reality. I was in during the creative process because I was going through a lot on a personal level. So, being in the studio and just focusing on the present moment and writing music that that came intuitively was a very healthy therapy for me.
In what ways has music shaped you and your life?
Charlotte Cardin: Music has always been a huge part of my life. It’s always been a very important part of me and my identity. I grew up in a family that was very musical who always listened to a lot of music and I always felt like music, even as a little kid, was something that I personally was passionate about that I could work on. It was something that belonged to me and it was something that made me feel good about myself. It was something that I knew I could harvest in my entire life, and I still see music in that way. I still see it as something that I work on, something that I’m passionate about, something that will be like an endless project for me because music is infinite. You can always make new music, you can always get better at being a musician, at singing, at working on your craft, at songwriting and I love that approach because it makes me feel like it’s an endless playground for me.
Your journey as a singer must have had its challenges. How have you overcome these obstacles and used them to shape your artistry?
Charlotte Cardin: It has definitely come with challenges. I think the main challenge for me is to tied to the lifestyle that goes with touring because I’m someone who loves being with my friends and family. I need some quality time with my loved ones in order to feel like myself. So, being away from the people I love has been a challenge that I’ve been facing in the last almost 10 years ever since I’ve been touring. But, you get used to. I personally found ways to keep a lifestyle that’s still balanced throughout all of the touring. However, it’s still something I’m working on. What I do is whenever I’m in my hometown in Montreal, I just spend as much time with my family and my friends. I prioritize that over anything because I know that that it’s something that I miss the rest of the year.
What does ‘self-expression’ means to you?
Charlotte Cardin: To me, self-expression means a lot of different things. I think self-expression comes in all shapes and forms. For me, it mainly comes through my songwriting and through my voice. It’s always been my way of feeling hurt and feeling like I could communicate something that I wasn’t able to do through normal conversation. So, music has always been my way of revealing parts of me that I don’t know how to identify. Some people express themselves through sports, dance or poetry or even things that aren’t necessarily artistic. Everyone has a different way of doing that, but my favorite one has always been through singing
A dream come true moment?
Charlotte Cardin: I have a lot of dream come true moments. When I think of dream come true moments, I immediately think of incredible live shows that I’ve had the opportunity of playing. Last summer, I played in Quebec city in Canada, at a festival, and there was 75, 000 people. It was a festival that I grew up wanting to play because my idol Celine Dion had done an amazing show at that festival that I had watched on DVD my entire life. So, that was crazy. But even when I think of playing in Istanbul, the last time I came and there was like three or four thousand people that came to me is a dream come true moment. Going to a new city where I’ve never been before, and having a fan base that sings with me and to experience such a connection with a crowd. Those are all dream come true moments. These are the moments where I am absolutely stunned at what I’m experiencing, but I always go back talking about that show because it was truly magical. It was very much of a surprise for all of us that so many people showed up. They’re the moments that I work for like experiencing amazing live moments with my fans is all that matters to me. So, those moments are priceless.
Maintaining authenticity is crucial to me, and I achieve that by preserving a bit of privacy around certain aspects of my life.
Charlotte Cardin
Recently, what have you done or accomplished that made you feel especially proud and positive about yourself and your growth as an artist?
Charlotte Cardin: A lot of things but I think I mean I wrote a song called Jim Carrey himself called me on my phone telling me that he loved the song and he especially loved the message behind the song and that is just like it was it was just so special because that’s not how I evaluate like the relevance or the success of the things that I do, but for sure getting a phone call from one of your heroes telling you that they enjoy a song that is about them is very special. It’s definitely a once in a lifetime thing and that really made me proud of the song. Just the music itself on this next album I’m very proud of it and I’m very excited to share with everyone.
As a young and inspiring artist, what advice would you offer to fellow aspiring singers who are struggling to discover their unique voice, artistic expression and identity?
Charlotte Cardin: I think my best advice would be to take the time to find yourself as an artist. I’ve taken the time. I feel like I’m still figuring out parts of who I am artistically. I’m constantly reshaping certain parts of me. You’re forever changing and that’s okay. Embrace the change and take your time to figure out what you want to do. The biggest mistake is to rush into things, to try to surf some kind of wave and to realize that you should have taken a little bit more time to really know what you want and what you want to say and I think that’s the best advice that I’ve gotten and the best advice that I can give myself.
During one of your interviews, you mentioned that you always consider the live performance in the back of your mind while songwriting. Can you elaborate on this creative process and how it shapes the way you craft your songs?
Charlotte Cardin: When I’m composing music, I always have the live performance in mind because it’s a crucial aspect of both creating and sharing music. Occasionally, when a producer provides me with a beat and I add vocals and melody without considering the live rendition, I can feel somewhat trapped when trying to reverse-engineer it. Personally, music resonates most with me when it’s experienced live. For this album, I took a more collaborative approach, jamming with my fellow musicians and incorporating more live elements into the creative process. In the past, I have worked the other way around, but it’s not my preferred method. Once you arrive at the moment where you have to prepare for the live show, I would rather work on a song that feels live and that feels a little bit more organic in the studio. Getting an idea of how I can do an acoustic version of it, how I can do a live version of it, then, during post-production, we can get creative and add various elements, knowing that the core songwriting is strong, regardless of the arrangement.
Identity is not only about individuality but also about belonging. How do you balance the need for self-expression with the desire to connect with a community or group in your songs?
Charlotte Cardin: Whenever I write music, one thing that I’ve realized is that my songs that have connected with other people the most are the songs that I’ve written from the most vulnerable or honest place. So, whenever I write a song and in my mind I’m like ‘I think people will like this.’ It’s not necessarily the song that connects them up most. Whereas when I write a song that feels like I’m touching a very sensitive inside myself, that’s the time where connection happens. When I’m in the process of creating music, I try not to think of other people’s expectations. That’s how the connection with my fan base happens the most in the most authentic way. To be the most honest with myself and with my fan base and therefore establishing those really important connections is to be as vulnerable as I can be in the studio and to be as honest as I can be and playful and open and willing to try new things. Putting myself in a vulnerable position when writing music is a really good way to eventually connect with people because I think you can feel that when you listen to. When I listen to music myself as someone who loves music you feel it when the artist is being really honest and vulnerable and that’s when I’m touched and that’s when I want to dig deeper and connect deeply with this particular artist. That’s why, I try to do the same thing.
Are there specific rituals or practices you engage in to reconnect with yourself and your sense of belonging, which ultimately inspire your songwriting?
Charlotte Cardin: Spending a lot of time with my family and my friends is a really important for me. It’s what makes me feel grounded. I’m very lucky that I have a small circle, but it’s a circle of people I can rely on and I can count on and they give me really good advice. Spending time near those people is what fuels my creativity. But also when I feel like I need like some outside I guess like creative input to fuel my creativity, going to see live concerts for me is a huge thing.And I don’t see enough, like I know I should. Going to the concerts more often because I find them so inspiring. Seeing live music to me is a huge part of that listening to other artists music, and going to the movies. I love watching movies to fuel my imaginary world as I mentioned I feel like that part of my life that’s imaginary is a huge part of my songwriting and I need to harvest it and I need to cultivate the things that blossom in my mind and consuming other forms of art for me is a big part of that too.
At what moments or under what circumstances do you feel most connected to your authentic self as an artist and an individual?
Charlotte Cardin: Definitely, when I write music with my close friends. I have a few people, especially my little crew in Montreal that I’ve gotten. To know very well and that I can be fully honest with I can dare to express a really bad idea and then we just laugh and move on. I feel like I can be completely vulnerable with these people is what makes me feel very connected to my music and to songwriting. I can try things and it doesn’t matter if they’re not good because knowing that I’m in a safe space and I can try a bunch of different angles to a song or to a project and to feel like it’s just once again, fueling that creativity and that imaginary world, and maybe the song that I’m working on that’s not good will give me an idea for a song that’s eventually really good.
As you have gained more life experience and followed your chosen path, how do you feel your overall approach to life and your artistic journey has evolved and matured?
Charlotte Cardin: I’m gaining confidence in my songwriting and artistry,, gradually shedding the imposter syndrome that comes with constant learning. This record, to me, is like a personal diary, preserving the raw, creative impulses from the studio. It’s important to me that my fans feel that same initial magic when they listen.
Experience has brought me more confidence, flexibility, and openness to different genres. I’m growing more connected to my project, making instinctive decisions I believe in, but it’s still a learning process. I’m improving daily, and I believe my next albums will be even better, as I continue to evolve as an artist. Sharing this journey is something I value.
Is there a song that, upon listening it, you felt an immediate connection to, as if it perfectly represents who you are as a person?
Charlotte Cardin: There’s a song that I deeply connect with and find incredibly beautiful – ‘Helplessly Hoping’ by Crosby, Stills and Nash. The harmonies, the softness, the poetic lyrics transport me to another world whenever I listen to it. I often think, ‘I wish I had written this song.’ It’s like a perfect poem with perfect music, and I listen to it almost every day.
In today’s interconnected world, social media and digital platforms play a significant role in connecting artists with their communities. How do you navigate these platforms while preserving your sense of authenticity?
Charlotte Cardin: It’s truly incredible how social media allows for such direct interaction with my fans, and that’s what I absolutely adore about it. In the past, we had to rely on labels and marketing teams to connect with our audience, but now, it’s all about that direct link. When I share something, my fans see it, they respond, and there’s this beautiful, open line of communication.
Maintaining authenticity is crucial to me, and I achieve that by preserving a bit of privacy around certain aspects of my life. While I love sharing parts of my journey, there are moments I prefer to keep to myself. I don’t feel the need to document every single thing I do on social media or in my stories. I cherish having a slice of my life that’s just for me, something I can share glimpses of in specific projects or at special times.
This approach helps me strike that balance and ensures I can be my best self with my fans. Besides, I believe I reveal a lot about myself through my music as well. Keeping a little bit of a privacy is important to me while remaining as authentic as possible as spontaneous and true to who I am through social media. It’s all about finding that balance to stay true to who I am.
What is the next step for Charlotte Cardin?
Charlotte Cardin: Next step is touring with this album. We’re going to be touring a lot with this album and I’m just really looking forward to it. Looking forward to sharing those moments with fans and sharing that music and myself. Learning how to communicate those songs live is also super fun because I haven’t really played them yet. So everything about this feels new to me because it’s a new project, new chapter. It’s just always very special.
An activity that brings you daily joy and satisfaction?
Charlotte Cardin: I love reading, especially when I travel. Having a book with me helps create beautiful mental images, which is super inspiring for writing songs. It’s also a way to quiet my mind; I put my phone away and focus on reading. I used to read a lot but stopped during the pandemic, and I really missed that. So, I’m slowly getting back into it. It’s like I’m retraining a muscle. I used to read so much that I could immediately shut off my thoughts and dive into a book. Now, I need a few minutes of focus before I’m fully engaged. I’m working on building that reading muscle again to get back to where I was.
From Based Istanbul N°42 – me, myself & I Issue. “Talk to yourself like someone you love. Perhaps then, the balance might change. This time ask yourself: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” Buy your copy now!