Charlene Soraia
Encyclopedia
Charlene Soraia is a London-based singer-songwriter
. She is known for her cover
of "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling
, which was used in an advert for Twinings
tea in the UK. It was released on iTunes
for Digital download
and reached a peak of number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
. She is due to release her debut studio album, Moonchild
in November 2011, which features "Wherever You Will Go" as a bonus track.
, Lewisham
in London
, Charlene grew up with her parents. She first picked up her dad's guitar at the age of 5. Her father purchased a guitar for her and she taught herself to play. She was inspired by artists such as David Bowie
, The Beatles
, Pink Floyd
and King Crimson
, and was very interested in the prog-rock genre.
While still at school, Charlene used to appear at open mic night at The Studio, Beckenham, Kent around 2004, where her style and songwriting were still developing. She used the time before her performances to do her homework.
She was accepted into the BRIT School
despite not having a GCSE in music, alongside future chart artists Adele
and Kate Nash
. While being there, she formed a rock band called Retrospect, with whom she released an EP entitled Long Hair, Short Memories. She also joined a psychedelic blues band called Electriq Mistress. At the same time she had a solo EP called "Lemonade" which was mainly created to get her gigs. She began performing as a solo artist in 2008, releasing further EPs Daffodils and Other Idylls (March 2008); Postcards from iO later in the year and third in the series, One of the Sun. The former reached the top of the UK Folk Chart on iTunes
. An iTunes Live Sessions EP was also released after she performed at the festival in early 2008.
was used in an advert for Twinings
tea, and received further publicity when Sophie Habibis sang Charlene's version on The X Factor
2011. The song was subsequently released as a digital download
on iTunes and reached number 2 on the UK Download Chart and number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
. The original version of the song also re-entered the top 40 as a result. Her debut album Moonchild
, featuring the song as a bonus track, will be released on 21 November 2011.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She is known for her cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling
The Calling
The Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, best known for their hit single, "Wherever You Will Go." The group formed in 2000 and have released two albums. They have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2005.-Band history:...
, which was used in an advert for Twinings
Twinings
Twinings is a marketer of tea based in Andover, Hampshire, England.- History :The founder of Twinings, Thomas Twining, opened the first known tea room, at 216 Strand, London, in 1706, which is still operating today. The firm's logo, created in 1787, is one of the world's oldest in continuous use...
tea in the UK. It was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
for Digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and reached a peak of number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. She is due to release her debut studio album, Moonchild
Moonchild (album)
Moonchild is the debut studio album and by English solo artist Charlene Soraia, to be released on November 21, 2011 by Peacefrog Records. The album includes the single "Wherever You Will Go".-Singles:...
in November 2011, which features "Wherever You Will Go" as a bonus track.
Early life
Born and raised in SydenhamSydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
, Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Charlene grew up with her parents. She first picked up her dad's guitar at the age of 5. Her father purchased a guitar for her and she taught herself to play. She was inspired by artists such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, and was very interested in the prog-rock genre.
While still at school, Charlene used to appear at open mic night at The Studio, Beckenham, Kent around 2004, where her style and songwriting were still developing. She used the time before her performances to do her homework.
She was accepted into the BRIT School
BRIT School
The London School for Performing Arts & Technology is a British school located in Selhurst, Croydon, in London, England, with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible...
despite not having a GCSE in music, alongside future chart artists Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
and Kate Nash
Kate Nash
Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
. While being there, she formed a rock band called Retrospect, with whom she released an EP entitled Long Hair, Short Memories. She also joined a psychedelic blues band called Electriq Mistress. At the same time she had a solo EP called "Lemonade" which was mainly created to get her gigs. She began performing as a solo artist in 2008, releasing further EPs Daffodils and Other Idylls (March 2008); Postcards from iO later in the year and third in the series, One of the Sun. The former reached the top of the UK Folk Chart on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. An iTunes Live Sessions EP was also released after she performed at the festival in early 2008.
Career
Soraia became noticed by a mainstream audience in 2011 when her cover of "Wherever You Will Go" by The CallingThe Calling
The Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, best known for their hit single, "Wherever You Will Go." The group formed in 2000 and have released two albums. They have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2005.-Band history:...
was used in an advert for Twinings
Twinings
Twinings is a marketer of tea based in Andover, Hampshire, England.- History :The founder of Twinings, Thomas Twining, opened the first known tea room, at 216 Strand, London, in 1706, which is still operating today. The firm's logo, created in 1787, is one of the world's oldest in continuous use...
tea, and received further publicity when Sophie Habibis sang Charlene's version on The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
2011. The song was subsequently released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on iTunes and reached number 2 on the UK Download Chart and number 3 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The original version of the song also re-entered the top 40 as a result. Her debut album Moonchild
Moonchild (album)
Moonchild is the debut studio album and by English solo artist Charlene Soraia, to be released on November 21, 2011 by Peacefrog Records. The album includes the single "Wherever You Will Go".-Singles:...
, featuring the song as a bonus track, will be released on 21 November 2011.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||
| Moonchild Moonchild (album) Moonchild is the debut studio album and by English solo artist Charlene Soraia, to be released on November 21, 2011 by Peacefrog Records. The album includes the single "Wherever You Will Go".-Singles:... |
|
83 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
|||
| 2011 | "Wherever You Will Go" | 3 | 20 | Moonchild |