INTERVIEW
Surrey’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine
On the way up
Charlie Hole is a talented young singer/songwriter with a soulful voice who writes distinctive and haunting lyrics. Sir Rod Stewart hailed Charlie as a new emerging musical talent. Andy Hill, three-time Ivor Novello award singer proclaimed his astonishment at the sheer quality and maturity of Charlie’s music: all of which Charlie takes in his stride.
TV presenter Sienna Myson found out more about this understated musical talent, meeting him in a recording studio at Ingrid Tarrant’s home. Surrey is where Charlie’s career began under the guidance of Jim Cregan, songwriter, guitar legend and member of Rod Stewart’s band.
TV presenter Sienna Myson found out more about this understated musical talent, meeting him in a recording studio at Ingrid Tarrant’s home. Surrey is where Charlie’s career began under the guidance of Jim Cregan, songwriter, guitar legend and member of Rod Stewart’s band.
Charlie Hole
Q So, who exactly is Charlie Hole?
A I’m a singer/songwriter from Bournemouth.
Q In your eyes, what makes a good songwriter?
A I think honesty is important: honesty, integrity and truth. People can see straight through a dishonest songwriter. If you tell the truth through your music, I don’t think you can go far wrong. It’s about making a connection with the listener, making them feel like they can relate, as though you’re singing about their life, and not your own.
Q What’s your inspiration when you are song writing?
A Inspiration comes from all around...people always interest me, I people-watch all the time. I used to play in coffee shops, hotels and restaurants most nights to cover my rent, and I’d observe people the whole time. I’d write songs about them, or make up stories about their lives. All songwriting comes back to people at some point: you’re telling a story and the more personal it is the better.
Q Where did your love of music come from?
A I suppose my Dad always loved music. He wasn’t a musician himself, but he would always have hundreds of CDs around, all in alphabetical order. He took me to my first gig when I was 11 – the Isle of Wight Festival with The Who and David Bowie. It’s hard not to love music after experiencing something like that.
Q Do you ever get writer’s block?
A I think every writer gets a block in some form or another, but most of the time it’s just in your head, or a convenient excuse. Writing flows better when you stop overthinking it. It’s all psychological.
Q When did you first discover you could sing?
A I really don’t know the answer to that, I suppose it’s a bit like discovering you can walk, or that you can speak... at some point I must have learned, but I can’t remember the particular moment.
Q You also play the guitar. Did you have lessons?
A I had a few lessons to begin with, but I was never interested in scales or reading theory... once I had three chords down I just wanted to play songs, so I basically taught myself or learned from playing with friends who were better than me. I remember I wanted to carry on practicing through the night, so I drew out six lines on a piece of paper and practiced changing between chord shapes until 3 or 4am without waking anyone up. This was before YouTube tutorials, so I also used a guitar magazine and learned songs from the tabs.
A I’m a singer/songwriter from Bournemouth.
Q In your eyes, what makes a good songwriter?
A I think honesty is important: honesty, integrity and truth. People can see straight through a dishonest songwriter. If you tell the truth through your music, I don’t think you can go far wrong. It’s about making a connection with the listener, making them feel like they can relate, as though you’re singing about their life, and not your own.
Q What’s your inspiration when you are song writing?
A Inspiration comes from all around...people always interest me, I people-watch all the time. I used to play in coffee shops, hotels and restaurants most nights to cover my rent, and I’d observe people the whole time. I’d write songs about them, or make up stories about their lives. All songwriting comes back to people at some point: you’re telling a story and the more personal it is the better.
Q Where did your love of music come from?
A I suppose my Dad always loved music. He wasn’t a musician himself, but he would always have hundreds of CDs around, all in alphabetical order. He took me to my first gig when I was 11 – the Isle of Wight Festival with The Who and David Bowie. It’s hard not to love music after experiencing something like that.
Q Do you ever get writer’s block?
A I think every writer gets a block in some form or another, but most of the time it’s just in your head, or a convenient excuse. Writing flows better when you stop overthinking it. It’s all psychological.
Q When did you first discover you could sing?
A I really don’t know the answer to that, I suppose it’s a bit like discovering you can walk, or that you can speak... at some point I must have learned, but I can’t remember the particular moment.
Q You also play the guitar. Did you have lessons?
A I had a few lessons to begin with, but I was never interested in scales or reading theory... once I had three chords down I just wanted to play songs, so I basically taught myself or learned from playing with friends who were better than me. I remember I wanted to carry on practicing through the night, so I drew out six lines on a piece of paper and practiced changing between chord shapes until 3 or 4am without waking anyone up. This was before YouTube tutorials, so I also used a guitar magazine and learned songs from the tabs.
Profile: Sienna Myson
Louise Alexander-O’Loughlin decided to find out what it really takes to be a television presenter in the digital age. Spending time with Sienna Myson, TV presenter and double gold medallist for Team GB in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing, Louise found out what sets Sienna apart from many other talents out there.Sienna is best known for winning two gold medals (individual and team) in the equestrian sport of Eventing at the European Championships for Team GB in 2008, selected on the Lottery-funded World Class Programme geared towards the Olympics and being nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Her background of winning two gold medals for Team GB proves that this all rounder and TV presenter can jump any hurdle. Sienna faced the toughest time of her life when she was about to head to Italy to compete in an international event when she was thrown from her horse which landed on her in a rotational fall, breaking her back in three places. She was almost paralysed due to the severity of her injuries, but her determination, positivity and strength made this extraordinary lady tirelessly work hard to get back in the saddle allowing her to achieve her goal of becoming European Champion.
Sienna is a woman of many different facets, a warm, charismatic and spiritual soul who believes life is truly for living. This is reflected in her infectious smile and sunny disposition, both in her home life and working as a TV presenter.
Living a life of tranquillity near the Surrey Hills, she is never concerned about getting her hands dirty, quite literally as she strolls out to pick fresh eggs from her flock of hens roaming around her garden, before taking her horse Tambourine (with whom she won her gold medals) out for an early
morning hack.
Her great sense of humour gives her a natural edge that many presenters work hard to obtain as Sienna takes off her riding hat and morphs gracefully into her role as international TV presenter.
Sienna is well respected in the industry with experience ranging from live studio work to live outside productions hosting to global audiences.
She has interviewed celebrities on the red carpet and in addition has attended and presented high profile charity events around the globe.
Her career has seen her working throughout Europe presenting holiday features and international motor racing events interviewing an extensive list of influential sports personalities such as Sebastian Vettel, David Coulthard and Damon Hill. She has also interviewed stars from the music industry including Carly Rae Jepsen, Aloe Blacc, Calum Scott, Kool and the Gang and The Drifters. As a qualified Cordon Bleu chef, Sienna had the great privilege of interviewing Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood and is one of the few to have conducted exclusive interviews with members of the royal families of the UAE.
During her career, Sienna has worked for production companies such as IMG, Forturian Entertainment, Daytona TV and presented for Tesco. She has also worked with FEI TV and represented them as the ‘face of FEI TV’.
Sienna is available for presenting at corporate events and one of her great passions is working with the Brooke foundation, a charity that reaches over two million working horses, donkeys and mules across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Its staff includes vets, animal welfare experts and advocacy and development specialists.
essence info
Website: www.siennamyson.comEmail: info@siennamyson.com
Q How do you know Rod Stewart?
A Well, the connection came really through Jim Cregan, he introduced us once over lunch – it was during the World Cup so we just spoke about football mainly.
Q What’s his advice been to you? Does he give constructive criticism?
A Rod and Jim have an incredibly honest working relationship: they never hold back with criticism, which I think is really important, and I’m the same with my friends. There have been a few times where he’s heard something and offered some really great advice on a song which I’ve always taken on board. When someone’s had as much success as Rod’s had, and consistently written some of the greatest songs of all time, you’d be a fool not to listen.
Q You were invited to Jim Cregan’s studio in Surrey to record your music. How did that come about?
A Jim was a distant family friend, but he was always in LA, or off on tour, so I’d never met him. One night I found myself at a party and my Dad put us together. I was only 14, but Jim had just been to St. Petersburg to play with Cockney Rebel, supporting The Rolling Stones, and he was telling me all about Ronnie Wood. I sent him some demos and he invited me to his studio.
Q Why is Surrey such a special place for you?
A I’ve spent so much time in Surrey, mainly recording... Jim’s studio was in Cobham, so in the early days I’d stay with my cousin who was in Guildford whilst he was at Uni. We’d hang out at parties with his friends all night, then I’d go and record in the mornings.
Q What role does Jim Cregan play in your life now?
A He’s a great song doctor. I’ll write a song and play it to him and then he’ll offer suggestions for different chord progressions, melodies, lyric tweaks and other things that take the songs to a different level. He helps me finish the songs, or helps to tidy up a mess I’ve made! He also produces the music and plays guitar on most of the tracks. When you consider who he’s played for over the years, it’s incredible to have him play on my albums. I love the fact that he still uses the
same guitar on my songs as he did on all those Rod Stewart songs in the seventies. But, above all, he’s just a great friend; we spend a lot of time talking at the pub, or staying up and playing each other music we’ve found.
Q Have you ever lived in London? If so, why did you go there?
A Yeah, I lived in London for about five years. I loved it! It’s the greatest city in the world in my opinion, and for a musician I think it’s important to spend time there. I met so many amazing people from all over the world, it’s an incredible melting pot and it’s constantly moving and changing. London taught me a lot about the world and I still manage to pop in for gigs, meetings and nights out a couple of times a week.
Q You’ve just released a song called ‘The City’. What’s that about?
A It’s about my time in London: the good, the bad and the ugly. I know many people will be able to relate to it.
Q What do you love most about performing?
A I love being able to make a real connection with people. I try and make eye contact with every single person in the room when I’m playing. There’s something so liberating about getting up on stage with nothing but a guitar and a few songs. You’re completely naked and you just have to lay your soul right out there for people to see. It’s terrifying but strangely therapeutic.
Q How do you deal with set-backs?
A I was fairly lucky early on, and I was a good few years into my career before I experienced any. When they came it seemed they wouldn’t stop, it was a relentless tide. I just couldn’t get a foothold anywhere, I felt lost and I had to ask some pretty serious questions of myself. Set-backs make you realise why you’re doing the work in the first place, and you have to be doing it for yourself because when no-one else cares, you have to keep going regardless. I remember once I was playing to a completely empty room in Dalston: I mean even the sound man had gone outside for a cigarette, it was literally empty. I played my heart out and it was actually incredibly liberating. I realised I was perfectly happy doing this for myself, and if anyone came to listen that would be a bonus. By the end of my set there were about 20 people in the room and it made me appreciate every single person in there, which I continue to do at my shows as I know what it’s like to play to no-one.
Q We all know women love musicians (fact!). Has being a musician ever given you an advantage when dating?
A I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t helped. Once I was at a party and someone brought a guitar out... if you ever want to make every guy in a room hate you, that’s probably the most effective way.
Q Have you ever serenaded a woman?
A Ha! Never for myself, but I’ve serenaded a few women for other men. One was on the London Eye when myself and an eight piece choir surprised an American couple at the top with her favourite song – Something by the Beatles. Her boyfriend proposed, she said yes and we sang all the way back down. Also, I heard a friend of mine serenaded his girlfriend with one of my songs. They got married last year and I sung her down the aisle. That was probably the closest I’ve come to anything like that.
Q Where do you base yourself these days?
A These days I’m back home in Bournemouth by the beach. All my friends and family are there and it’s just the most beautiful place. There’s always someone with a boat or a paddle-board, and loads of music going on, you’d be surprised. In the summer we sing songs round campfires on the beach, and I put on secret gigs around town with Sofar Sounds Bournemouth.
Q What’s your opinion on the X Factor and other reality television shows?
A I’ve actually been scouted a few times for X Factor, but always turned it down. Those things are great for Saturday night TV, but they’re not for musicians. I’ve heard too many horror stories from people who have been on it.
Q Who’s your favourite musician?
A I’ve always been a huge admirer of Damien Rice, and I’d go as far
to say that ‘O’ changed my life. I think most acoustic songwriters of this generation would say the same about that album. It had some intense emotional depth to it that I’ve been searching for ever since
I first heard it.
Q What are your upcoming projects?
A I’m working on all sorts at the moment. I’m just about to release my new single, and an album, and I’m launching an arts and music festival in Bournemouth later in the year called Late For The Sun.
Q Everything you have achieved has been without the support of a record label. How have you managed to do this?
A The way the music industry is nowadays you don’t necessarily need a label for a lot of things. The internet has created a level playing field for the industry and in some cases labels are struggling to keep up with independent artists. We have all the tools we need at our fingertips, from recording, to marketing, to speaking directly to fans. People listen to people nowadays, not to brands or big corporations, and that’s true of most industries. That’s why YouTubers and independent personalities hold so much power. It’s all up for grabs and you can have complete control.
Q Charlie, where do you see yourself in the future?
A Making music, going on tour and having a great time.
A I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t helped. Once I was at a party and someone brought a guitar out... if you ever want to make every guy in a room hate you, that’s probably the most effective way.
Q Have you ever serenaded a woman?
A Ha! Never for myself, but I’ve serenaded a few women for other men. One was on the London Eye when myself and an eight piece choir surprised an American couple at the top with her favourite song – Something by the Beatles. Her boyfriend proposed, she said yes and we sang all the way back down. Also, I heard a friend of mine serenaded his girlfriend with one of my songs. They got married last year and I sung her down the aisle. That was probably the closest I’ve come to anything like that.
Q Where do you base yourself these days?
A These days I’m back home in Bournemouth by the beach. All my friends and family are there and it’s just the most beautiful place. There’s always someone with a boat or a paddle-board, and loads of music going on, you’d be surprised. In the summer we sing songs round campfires on the beach, and I put on secret gigs around town with Sofar Sounds Bournemouth.
Q What’s your opinion on the X Factor and other reality television shows?
A I’ve actually been scouted a few times for X Factor, but always turned it down. Those things are great for Saturday night TV, but they’re not for musicians. I’ve heard too many horror stories from people who have been on it.
Q Who’s your favourite musician?
A I’ve always been a huge admirer of Damien Rice, and I’d go as far
to say that ‘O’ changed my life. I think most acoustic songwriters of this generation would say the same about that album. It had some intense emotional depth to it that I’ve been searching for ever since
I first heard it.
Q What are your upcoming projects?
A I’m working on all sorts at the moment. I’m just about to release my new single, and an album, and I’m launching an arts and music festival in Bournemouth later in the year called Late For The Sun.
Q Everything you have achieved has been without the support of a record label. How have you managed to do this?
A The way the music industry is nowadays you don’t necessarily need a label for a lot of things. The internet has created a level playing field for the industry and in some cases labels are struggling to keep up with independent artists. We have all the tools we need at our fingertips, from recording, to marketing, to speaking directly to fans. People listen to people nowadays, not to brands or big corporations, and that’s true of most industries. That’s why YouTubers and independent personalities hold so much power. It’s all up for grabs and you can have complete control.
Q Charlie, where do you see yourself in the future?
A Making music, going on tour and having a great time.
essence info
Website: www.CharlieHole.comTwitter: twitter.com/charliehole
Facebook: facebook.com/charlieholeuk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/charliehole/
Youtube: youtube.com/charliehole
I’ve actually been scouted a few times for X Factor, but always turned it down. Those things are great for Saturday night TV, but they’re not for musicians. I’ve heard too many horror stories from people who have been on it.
Charlie Hole