Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A) My name is Charissa, pronounced (Ka-ris-a). The H in my name is silent and sometimes confusing for people to pronounce but I love it because I was named after my grandmother and the Greek roots it represents. When I was five years old I had the movie Grease on repeat. I don’t exactly remember all these moments but apparently I would watch the movie over and over again and sing along. It was my favourite and definitely still is! I was really shy, and used to sing in my room or at the top of the stairs so I wouldn’t have to face anyone. When my family first heard me sing, they were shocked and thought it was a song on the radio. They were all so excited and encouraged me to sing whenever and wherever I could! My grandfather even bought me my first guitar and I slowly built up the confidence I would need to get myself up on stage.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Charissa in three words?
A) I like to say my style is a blend of singer/songwriter, Americana and soul.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A) I stay connected with my fans by being on my socials as much as I can and always reach out to them to come to a show and see me perform live so we can connect in person. I feel so much love and encouragement from my fans. I’m grateful for all the support and motivation they give me to continue to release music independently.
Q: You have just released your new single, “Lonely Lately”. Is there a story behind it?
A) There is kind of a story behind the song but not my typical one. I wrote “Lonely Lately” with my friend Chelsea McWilliams and I remember before we had started writing she said to me “you need a song that really lets you sing”. At the time Maren Morris had released “My Church” and we wanted to write something similar where it had that hint of a gospel touch. With that in mind, Chelsea had this beautiful chorus idea and we ended up writing and finishing the song that day. It is probably still one of my favourite writing sessions. I remember feeling so proud of what we had written and walked away with!
Q: What is your favourite verse from the song and why?
A) I’d say the second verse of “Lonely Lately” is my favourite. I start to really dig into the lyrics when I’m singing it as it’s an emotional and real part of the song. “I swear I hear your voice each time it rains and every moment I dream of you, it hurts a little more and I don’t know what I’m gonna do”. It’s a reflective moment in the song that reveals the pain and its authenticity.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the song, “Lonely Lately”?
A) Recording “Lonely Lately” was an amazing experience with my co-writer, Chelsea McWilliams and her bandmate, Tim Allard. We wanted to make this song everything we always dreamed it to be, so with that in mind, we spent a lot of time really focusing on the vocals, the phrasing and emotion. My favourite part of the whole process was when we created a choir like effect in the chorus breakdown. It was such a fun experience, especially when we introduced the hand claps and sang the harmonies together. They put so much time and heart into the production.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Charissa so far?
A) I was performing at the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville at a songwriters night, and a lot of my fans, friends and family were there in the audience. I asked them what song they wanted me to perform next, leaving it up to them to decide. Someone shouted out “Starlit Sky”, a song from my debut EP “Love and Be Loved”. I was so happy to hear that song be requested because it wasn’t a “released” single off that EP, but such a special song in my heart. It just made me think “wow, people really connect with this song too” and to top it off, my friend and co-writer Carrie DeMaeyer was in the audience as well and she was also really happy to hear it!
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A) I have a song called “People Like You”. It’s probably one of my most universal songs I’ve written. I wrote this song with Chrystal Leigh and Emma-Lee in honour of my friend that had recently passed away. It was really difficult writing the song but I wanted to capture his brightness and kindness I felt every time I was in his presence. It’s a song of mine that people often ask me to perform and a song they say has helped them in some way and that just means everything to me.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into your unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A) It sometimes starts with an idea in mind and then a voice note on my phone of me humming a melody or a few lines. I’ll then sit down with my guitar and figure out some chords I think would fit well. I’ll then spend some time working on it and hopefully have a song created!
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for yourself, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A) My goal is to sing and share my songs with my heart on my sleeve on stages all
over the world!
