Singer-songwriter Liv Charette is a mix of leather and sparkles who is finding her place in country music.
Despite her edgy style, Canada native Charette has a voice that is drawing comparisons to a fresh-faced Trisha Yearwood. Charette’s voice is so powerful that after hearing it, producer Steve Dorff stopped his 8-year search of finding a voice powerful enough to record his ballad “That Kind of Song” — which eventually became Charette’s debut single.
Growing up listening to Pat Benatar and idolizing Shania Twain, Charette’s influences stand out in her newest single “Bulletproof”, describing it as the edgier side of who she is. “My music matches who I am,” Charette said, “I’m not putting anything on”.
Celeb Secrets Country (virtually) sat down with Charette to talk about the song, how she showcases both sides of her personality thorough her music, and more.
Scroll down to read the full interview with Liv, and let us know what you think of her new single “Bulletproof” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @CS_Country.
Celeb Secrets Country: Tell us about your single “Bulletproof” and how does it differ from your debut single?
Liv Charette: “‘Bulletproof’ is my second single-my first single was ‘That Kind of Song’-and ‘That Kind of Song’ was definitely like the big vocal ballad. I’m caught somewhere between leather and sparkles and would say that ‘That Kind of Song’ definitely is the sparkle side of me; the big country ballad, the big voice, the dress, the glam, and all of that stuff. ‘Bulletproof’ is the leather side of me which is more the rockier, edgy side of me as an artist. I’m kind of excited to be able to showcase that to the world; a totally different side of me that’s still totally me. I’d say it’s definitely edgier, but still super country.”
CSC: What was it about ‘Bulletproof’ that made you want to record it?
LC: “The moment that I heard it, it just sounded like me. It wasn’t a song that I wrote but the second that I heard it I could just hear my vocals on it. I grew up loving rock music-getting that more from my mom’s side because she’s always been the rocker of the family-so I’ve always been a fan of Pat Benatar. I heard that song [‘Bulletproof’] and it just has that rockier, edgier vibe. I also love the story and what it has to say; I think that it’s not necessarily talked about. It’s kind of from the perspective of a relationship that you were in with this guy and he thinks he can kind of do whatever and he’s not hurt by what happened. It’s kind of the girl’s perspective on being like, all of this came to ruins and you just don’t seem affected by it. She’s obviously hurt and it affected her and it’s coming from the point of view of like, ‘does this not hurt you, did this not mean anything to you?’. So I think it’s a relatable storyline and I think a lot of people have gone through that.”
CSC: As a female country artist, how important is it to you to record songs written by other women, such as ‘Bulletproof’?
LC: “I think just coming from a female perspective, Victoria Banks, Emily Shackelton, and Amber Carrington just get it as females. From a woman’s perspective, we just get each other on a level as women and an understanding and that perspective, so I think it just made sense. Even as a songwriter and just being in different rooms, I love writing with all women because there’s just an energy in the room that you get. Sometimes it’s great writing with men, too, because you get the other side of the perspective and it makes you think of different things, too. I’m all for female empowerment; women in country just rising up together I think is awesome. Coming from an all female management team-my manager, my publicist-women are just killing it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD96xA3hj_a/
CSC: Tell us about “That Kind of Song“. How did the song fall into your hands to record?
LC: “‘That Kind of Song’ was written 10 years ago by Andrew Dorff and Barry Dean and was a song that Andrew’s dad, Steve Dorff, had heard and loved and wanted to do something with it. They actually cut the track of the song 8 years ago and it was going to be for a movie Steve was working on at the time. It ended up not being in the movie and ended up going to a couple of different artists but just didn’t find its home. I guess with it being such a special song, Steve and the writers really kept it close to their hearts. I’m just really honored getting to know Steve a little bit better, we started working together in October, and he played me that song. For him to trust me with that having only known me for such a small amount of time…I was like, ‘oh my gosh, you’re giving me your song baby kind of’, and I get that as a songwriter; they’re sometimes like your song children and it’s hard to give that away. It really meant so much to me to have his approval, and on behalf of Andrew as well-and to hear from Barry Dean as well and his response to the song. As an artist that just means so much when you cut an outside song that feels like you when you didn’t write it. That song has a story to it that is so different and is written in such a different way with so much imagery in it; it’s such a different way of saying remember what matters most. There’s a lot of noise out there, there’s a lot of things that can distract you so it’s a song that just sums all of that up in a chorus where it’s like, ‘this is a song about my life and you’re my life’. I thought it was a really cool way of saying that and hearing other people’s responses to the song and hearing their take on what it means to them has been really cool to see.”
CSC: You channeled old school glamour for the “That Kind of Song” music video. What was it like filming the video and are there any behind the scenes secrets you can tell us?
LC: “We shot it at the Franklin Theatre and it was directed and produced by Jeff Johnson. Jeff is just so incredible, he just has a vision and he goes for it and I think we both understood what this song needed to come to life and he just captured it perfectly. I got to wear the dress of my dreams, that was super special, and I really felt like Hollywood old glamour. I had the theatre all to myself and just singing to a crowd of nobody, but having that moment to myself on stage was really different and cool. We got to use a microphone from (I think it was) the 30s; a RCA microphone. It really felt like I was thrown back in time filming that video at the historic Franklin Theatre and the dress, the hair, the makeup-I felt like I was being transported back in time. I’m super proud of it and I think it was what ‘That Kind of Song’ needed to tell the story and to be a performance kind of video. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLrJ8JMYxzg
CSC: Do you have any plans for a music video for your new single “Bulletproof”?
LC: “Actually, yes! We have one ready to go so that’s going to come out following the single and I’m super stoked about that one. It gives a little behind the scenes view of recording ‘Bulletproof’ with Steve in the studio and the whole band. I’m really excited because it kind of brings that day to life of cutting that song and the energy in the room.”
CSC: Last but not least, what is one secret fans may not know about you?
LC: “I was a figure skater for 11 years and I’m also fluent in French. I went to a purely French school growing up and needed to actually learn more English because it was so strict in elementary school. I grew up in Canada where French is a prominent language and my mom is fluent in French-pretty much all of my mom’s side-but my dad’s side is not. My mom thought it was really important for me to learn two languages and I’m really grateful for that because now it’s a cool thing. I don’t get to practice it as much as I’d like to in Nashville, I am glad to know it though.”
With reporting by Kassidy Stewart. For more Country news, visit CelebSecretsCountry.com.
