The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter, aka Samantha Andrade, talked about being a ‘germ’ during her in-studio visit for Local Spins on WYCE, which also got Celtic, punky and folky. (Story, podcast, video)
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Charlie Darling wants to let folks know that it’s OK to be different – and she sends that message through her riveting, honest music.
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter whose real name is Samantha Andrade even made that the theme of Charlie Darling’s debut EP, “Quorum Sensing,” which refers to the cell communication process that bacteria use to share information.
“I am referring to how growing up I’ve been viewed as a ‘germ’ in society for having different views and interests that weren’t considered the norm. I was just different,” she says.
“So with quorum sensing, and in my song, I speak about how ‘I hope we cause an epidemic,’ as in if enough of us gather and continue to spread the idea that it’s perfectly OK to be whatever you want to be, maybe the idea will spread to some kid out there that really needs to hear it.”
Indeed, Charlie Darling’s live shows are all about taking a different approach: She recently opened The Lippies’ album-release show at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids alone on stage with a guitar and a kick drum – and completely won over a crowd of punk fans who’d come for an evening of loud, brash, punk-rock bands.
“I never really considered myself a punk or anything but I have punk views – just having that other-than-the-norm mindset in everything,” said Andrade, formerly a member of the band Dirty Sarsaparilla.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Charlie Darling
On Friday, she brought that attitude to Local Spins on WYCE, performing a pair of edgy songs – “Laughing” and “Valentine’s Day” – on the air and talking about her journey as a musician. Listen to that podcast here, with a video of “Laughing” below.
A native of Muskegon, Andrade moved to Grand Rapids in 2013 after graduating from Mona Shores High School to “get a fresh start” and immerse herself in the city’s larger art and music scene. Now, she hopes to tour extensively on her own to “fully experience” those musical travels.
Later this month, she’ll launch a mini-tour of Charlie Darling shows in Kalamazoo, Detroit, Ann Arbor and South Bend, and hopes to release a full-length album later this year – something she’ll record herself as a diehard do-it-yourself artist.
“So much satisfaction I would say from doing all this by myself especially as a female in all of that too,” she offered. “It feels really rewarding and good knowing that I can do all of that myself and I don’t have to depend on anyone else.”
The March 11 edition of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the debut of new tracks by Bet on Rats, The Crane Wives and Lapdogs, as well as songs by Fonn Mor, The Waxies, Lipstick Jodi, The Go Rounds, Dante Cope, Billy Strings & Don Julin and Greensky Bluegrass, which is playing two straight nights at The Intersection this weekend.
VIDEO: Charlie Darling, “Laughing”
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC