BLACKBURN-born singer-song writer Charlotte O’Connor has been busy working on material for her new album following the release of EP Colour My Heart.

The 23-year-old former Westholme School pupil tells Simone O’Kane what she has been up to...

You’ve just got back from Los Angeles recording your debut album, tell us more...

I spent a few months in LA working on my music. I’ve been collaborating with my producer Tim Anderson, and some other talented musicians, recording and honing my sound.

You also took a break from music what else have you been up to?

I wouldn’t call it a break exactly as I was always making music. During this time, I was just trying to figure out who I was as an artist.

I travelled to London every week and worked with some friends in the studio, wrote songs etc. It wasn’t until I took a trip to Berlin that I had that moment where I realised what music I was destined to create in my career path.

Colour My Heart was a huge hit on the download chart how is this EP different to your previous records?

I made my first records when was I 16 and 18… So the music I made was very happy and very young sounding. I was a very ‘young’ 18 year old, so you can definitely hear that in the music.

When I made ‘Colour My Heart’, I was the beginning stages of my young adult life and spending more time in London. This music reflects the new experiences I had, and the new emotions I felt, so everything was new. All of the music has been made by the same person, it’s just me at different stages of my life.

How would you describe your music now that you have grown up?

My music has definitely become darker. I love electronic music and I’ve grown to love it more as I’ve grown up. It definitely wanted to involve that side of things into my traditional songs.

You were inspired by folk and soul by your parents, does this still reflect in your music?

Yeah I think it does, especially with my writing. I love traditional songs and the structure of them. I think the soul side is conveyed through my vocal.

How do you write your music – do you have a strict regime?

I usually like to make the music first, and then fit the lyrics and lead vocal melody of the top – but it really does depend.

Then again, my method changes all the time. For example, I dreamt about a song recently. When I woke up, I recorded what I could hear on hear in my head onto my phone and then took it into the studio and made the song out of it.

What do you do to relax from a hectic schedule?

I usually head back to Blackburn to spend time with my parents and friends.

So how often do you come back to Blackburn and what do you like about being here?

I come back home as often as possible, especially if I’ve been in LA or anywhere for a long time.

The best things about Blackburn are my family, eating takeout from Asim’s on New Bank Road and taking my dog for walks in Billinge Hill wood and the Wainwright view point on the Yellow Hills.

What do you like best about being on tour?

The best thing about getting to perform is playing every night in a different city. The whole feeling I get on tour is amazing, I learn so much about myself and the music I’ve made.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

I want to have grown into the artist I see myself being.

  • Charlotte OC, 53 Degrees, Preston, Thursday, June 5. Box office: 01772 893000.