Charlotte Sands
Nashville-based artist Charlotte Sands has just released her new single/video “Keep Me Up All Night”.
"'Keep Me Up All Night' is a song about getting over someone and the physical and emotional toll it takes on you. It’s the story of losing someone you love to somebody else and having to go on without them knowing that they’re not suffering in the same ways as you. I played this song live on Sad Summer Fest when it was a just demo, and the reaction from the crowd and the way it translated on stage made me fall even deeper in love with it, and I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world,” she explains.
The smash single will be featured on Sand’s new EP, out on January 21st.
She will be be touring with Yungblund on his Life on Mars Tour next year. Click here to grab your tickets.
“Keep Me Up All Night” is now available worldwide :)
Photo credit: Nick Stafford
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hi! My name is Charlotte Sands and I’m an artist & songwriter from Massachusetts. I grew up outside of Boston and moved to Nashville when I was 18 to make music and I have been here doing that ever since.
"Keep Me Up All Night" is your new single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
This song is so special to me because it feels more vulnerable and emotional than a lot of the other songs I’ve released. I love to be optimistic in my music and have some sense of hope or humor so it doesn’t feel so serious, but this song is definitely far from that. This song is about wanting someone who is no longer available or able to want you back. It’s about feeling isolated and alone while watching someone you love feel the opposite.
When did you start working on "Keep Me Up All Night"? Could you describe the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create it?
I started writing this song in May with friend Danen Reed. We were actually writing a completely different song and were having a hard time with some of the lyrics so one of us picked up a guitar and started humming different melodies. We recorded the ideas and didn’t really think about it again until a few weeks later when we listened to the recording and decided to actually write the song.
What did you feel when writing this song?
It was a very cathartic experience for me. It felt like the more I wrote and put into this song the less I physically was still holding onto those actual emotions.
What made you want to release "Keep Me Up All Night"?
I decided to release this song because I felt like it was something different that people wouldn’t expect from me, but also a really important part of who I am that I’m proud to show the world.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
Creating this artwork was an adventure. I had the idea in my head of what I wanted it to look like, but was so busy that I didn’t have a lot of time to make it happen. While my boyfriend and I were driving back from Texas one day, we pulled over on the side of the road at a lake in a random town, set up a blow up mattress, and took the picture that is now the single artwork!
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
For me, the hardest part is the fear of making a mistake or messing up. We live in a society where any mistake is global knowledge and it is so easy for people to form opinions of you without even knowing you. Social media is scary and beautiful and definitely the hardest part for me. The best part is performing and interacting with people at shows. I love being able to sing with everyone and enjoy those moments together and share the experience.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think the music industry has come a long way, but there is definitely still a lot that needs to get done. I think songwriters need to get paid more and deserve more recognition since they are responsible for the songs that everyone listens to. I think there needs to be more representation in the business and creative side of the industry as well as more opportunity for smaller artists without having to forfeit the ownership and rights to their art.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry?
It’s definitely interesting! I’ve had very positive experiences as well as very negative. I’ve learned where and when I have to assert myself to prove that I do in fact know what I’m doing, and how to do it, without coming off too “bossy” or “controlling”. I am lucky to have a team of men and women who respect me and stand up for me in situations where a lot of people wouldn’t. I think knowing I have a strong line of defense helps me a lot when it comes to feeling undermined or disrespected in any way, and finding those people is extremely important.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I think the proudest moment of my career so far would be performing in my hometown in front of 8,000 people. I was lucky enough to open for my favorite bands and my entire family and friends came which was a really wonderful experience.
What advice would you give to artists?
My number 1 piece of advice for all artists and everyone overall is to surround yourself with people who make you feel valid and have a similar vision as you. Finding good people to grow with should be the ultimate goal. I am where I am because of the people around me and without them I wouldn’t feel as proud of this project or as understood and seen in every aspect of my life.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I think the world would be a better place if everyone was accepted as they are, for who they are. I think the more different or colorful the person is, the brighter our communities become. Our differences are our strengths and I think complete acceptance of that in every form would make our world a much better place.
What biggest lessons have you learned this year?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year is to be patient and trust the process. There were so many times where I truly felt like I was going to have to find something else to do with my life, or I was not going to be able to play a show ever again, but I kept pushing and I put in the work. Every time I would feel so overwhelmed and about to give up, I would work a little bit harder and longer, and next thing I knew, I’d be getting opportunities I could’ve never imagined. This year taught me so much, but the biggest lesson was definitely to trust the work you’ve put in and to trust the work that got you to where you are.
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