The Leicester Life: Charlotte Carpenter

Image: Charlotte Carpenter

Charlotte Carpenter is born from a rare pool of musicians with an intangible ability to extract purely from the heart and assemble songs with superlative craft. 

The guitarist and singer/songwriter's latest EP The Fault Line was released Friday 13th November via her own imprint Let It Go. It's a record that's distinctly bold in its deliverance, plugging ambient numbers influenced by the blues, country and rock. 

What strikes most is the complexities of the captivating melodies that enrapture the heartfelt song-writing penned on Charlotte's notepad (listen to 'Mean Time' from the EP below).

Her swaggering outlay extends beyond the genres in which her music is pinned, and that's why she's outed as a supreme talent and already toured with Maricka Hackman and played alongside George Ezra. 

The EPs four sprawling tracks speak entirely for themselves, which is why we enlisted Charlotte for our city life feature to list some musically informed gems from her nearest city Leicester. 

Where to party in Leicester? 

My favourite place to dance is at The Cookie on last Friday of every month, where it's a northern soul night. The music is amazing, all spun from vinyl and people bring talc for the dance floor to twist too. 

Favourite music venue? 

The Cookie. I sound obsessed with the place, but I’ve spent so many years playing this venue. I had a residency there for two years and got to play with some great people in their early careers.

There’s nowhere I’ve played that’s more passionate about putting on live music. It’s really unique and it’s a venue that makes you feel a part of something special. 

Where do you buy your records? 

I’ve been to Rockaboom over the years, I bought some of my first vinyl here. I believe it was a Kate Nash single when I was 16 -'Foundations'. 

Favourite hangout? 

I’ve always enjoyed The Orange Tree for a nicely lit garden or the really cool Belgian beer bar, Cafe Bruxelles, on the high street. Both offer incredible beer. 

Best memory of Leicester?

This is hard. I have two: I’ve played one of my biggest shows in Leicester at Bishop St Church last year, which was a beautiful building but I think playing De Montfort Hall this summer for Simon Says Festival might be my current favourite. It was a dream to play a stage so many of my heroes have, and the atmosphere was electric.

I had no idea if anyone would come in to watch, because it was so sunny outside, but I was so shocked and humbled by the end of the set. It was the first time I felt as though my music could carry through far bigger venues than I ever imagined. It’s an incredible festival, happens every year, supporting local and touring musicians with a really cool emphasis on country music too!

Thanks Charlotte. We love the EP! (Stream it via Spotify here)

UK tour dates below: 

Manchester - The Castle , Monday 16th November 

Norwich - The Owl Sanctuary, Friday 20th November 

Brighton - The Hope, Sunday 22nd November 

London - Servant Jazz Quarters, Monday 23rd November 

Birmingham - Sunflower Lounge, Tuesday 24th November 

Leicester - The Cookie, Friday 27th November 

Try The London Life: Venice Trip