carmel charlton
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Music
Press
Carmel Charlton is one of the best entertainers and singers that we have had at the club. - On Deck Magazine, Victoria, Australia
The Kojonup Working Youth Enterprise Project was completed at Springhaven on Wed 13th Dec. with a wonderful performance by nationally recognised folk singer Carmel Charlton.
Carmel treated the audience to a great mix of her own songs including Macca's 'Australia All Over' favourite "Up Down South" as heard on ABC, some well known classics and a bunch of rousing christmas carols that involved both the younger and older member of the audience. - Kojonup News
"Dreaming Still"
The new, locally produced, CD "Dreaming Still" is a reflective and inspiring mixture of songs and poetry with lyrics and spoken word by writer and poet Gwen Atkinson and Music and vocals by singer and songwriter Carmel Charlton.
This finely arranged collection should be appreciated by many people, touching as it does many aspects of the human experience. I am sure that purchasers will find it a wonderful edition to their librariers and one to be returned to again and again.
It shows once again that local artists can produce work of the highest quality, and indeed I hope that it will find an appreciative audience, as it deserves, not just in Western Australia but further afield also.
"I Rode on the Wings of an Angel" has an ethereal quality as Carmel's voice soars alongside the cello and some fine whistle playing by John Ralph.
Thanks must go to Carmel for her input into the folk scene in Western Australia helping to give it a high quality, distinctive and positive voice. - West Australian Folk Federation/Town Crier
Review by Raelene Bruinsma
Carmel Charlton's 'Whispers on the Wind' is a warm collection of songs about people and places, mainly in the artist's home state of Western Australia. The CD opens with a rousing, catchy chorus in the uptempo "Greenhead, Dynamite Bay" before settling into a collection of sweet singable ballads, occasionally returning to more upbeat territory e.g. "Bay of Isles". Carmel's love for her subjects radiates in her clear, smooth voice. A stand out track for me was the clever "Goodbye Beethoven" which tells of Carmel's move from the classical music genre to a more (folk) country style. Those with some theoretical knowledge of Beethoven's style will appreciate the musical jokes which are sometimes subtly incorporated in the arrangement. But even without that knowledge it is an entertaining song.
Like all of the songs, it is well arranged, the instrumentation enhancing the song without overpowering it. A great album for those who enjoy a musical sensitivity and gliding melodies.
- Trad & Now Magazine
Discography
LPs: 'Whispers on the Wind', 'Dreaming Still', 'Christmas in Australia', 'Songs of the West', 'Precious Water'
Photos
Bio
With her rich voice, encouraging messages and catchy originals, Australian singer-songwriter, guitar and piano player Carmel Charlton paints her musical pictures using images of Australia, its people and places. She is a popular performer in her home state of Western Australia and her music is gaining wider recognition as she takes her show to new audiences around Australia.
Carmel has a unique voice, reasonant and clear - sometimes compered to that of Judy Collins, Mary Black, Mary Chapin-Carpenter. Carmel has a fine guitar style with a touch of classical intermingled with folk/country. She is also an accomplished pianist.
2008 has seen Carmel gigging around Western Australia. She has made TV appearances, performed at corporate events, in front of Parliament House for a just cause. She is in the process of recording new material for an album, runs a music club and is organising the annual Gospel Concert to raise funds for 'Cross Roads' a charity to assisting those with drug and alcohol addictions.
Carmel performed at the 2007 Illawarra Folk Festival in NSW and played a number of gigs around Sydney.
She also played alongside her favourite and Australia's best known musical icon - John Williamson at the opening of the Australian Mallee Fowl Centre in Ongerup. Western Australia. She performed 'live' on ABC radio's 'Australia All Over' program.
In Nov 06 Carmel's song 'Spirit of Mokare' reached the finals in the folk category of the MusicOz Awards. It is the largest songwriting competition in Australia for unsigned artists. You can check out some of CarmelÂ’s Award winning and most requested songs at www.carmelcharlton.com
The title track from her 2006 album 'Whispers on the Wind' was written shortly after September 11, 2001. She was reflecting upon the final words from many of the passengers on the hijacked aircraft to their loved ones. It was simply 'I love you'. It is a poignant reminder to make the most of each day.
Band Members
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