For Charlotte Morris music has always been more than just a passion but a way to connect with others. The emotional connection to songwriting is what drives her as an artist, and it's something she continues to bring to her music, especially in her latest single, "Villain." Through her music, which blends Americana, folk, and jazz, Morris aims to create an authentic expression that resonates with listeners. Beyond the music studio, Morris passionately dedicates her time to volunteering in various communities. Whether she’s caring for animals in need or engaging in political activism through phone banking, Morris believes in using her voice and actions to create a positive impact. Read on to learn more about Charlotte Morris.

Where are you based?
Philadelphia, PA. I literally JUST moved from Nashville! A lot is happening these days haha.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry?
Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I realized sometime in high school that performing was what I was meant to do. Nothing brought me the same joy and excitement that being on stage did. And to be quite honest, I really did explore a lot of other things because I sort of thought to myself — okay, if I can find something that feels as right to me as performing, then I’ll pursue it — because I knew how hard a career in the arts would be. But, nothing else stuck.

I think the thing that really sealed it, in terms of specifically pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter, is the ability I have to affect people with my songs. Growing up, I didn’t really know how to express myself effectively, and a lot of times, I didn’t even know what I was feeling. Hearing artists describe emotions and experiences to which I so fervently related is what allowed me to come to terms with a lot of things, and also inspired me to start writing myself as a way to process what I was struggling with. As I began to find my own voice through songwriting, I knew that this was what I needed to do for other people as well. I needed to be that voice of clarity when they couldn’t find solace elsewhere. Music itself is so powerful, but then when you hear lyrics that feel as if they were written for you, about you, because of the shared experiences we have as human beings, it has a major impact. By articulating my emotions and struggles, I am able to help others work through their own experiences and serve as that outlet that meant so much to me growing up.

We heard that you are set to release your upcoming single “Villain” on October 4th. Can you tell us more about this song?
Yes! I’m super excited about the release. This song is definitely a bit of a departure, genre-wise, from most of my songs, but I love the grittiness of it, and the unapologetic realness that sits within the storytelling. I wrote this song in 2023, almost as a final chapter to a different part of my life. The song is about a relationship from a while back — like, this relationship hasn’t played a part in my life for a long time — but, I found myself thinking from time to time about how my ex tells the story of the relationship. In my telling of it, he becomes the obvious villain. But in his telling, what am I? That’s where I started with this song, and it snowballed from there. “Villain” is the final cathartic release of what was an extremely toxic and emotionally manipulative relationship. During the writing process, I finally came to a place of apathy and, almost, humor, after running the gamut of emotions while working through the experience. I was finally in a place to fully regain my power after losing pretty much all of it. This song definitely shows a totally different side of me that I don’t usually tap into, but is certainly brewing under the surface when I need her!

What message do you hope to send through your song's upcoming release?
There’s a saying somewhere out there that I thought about a lot when writing this song: “You will always be the villain in someone else’s story.” A lot of times, you have no idea, and more often than not, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it; nor should you feel the need to. You can’t control how people perceive you, or how their own lives, experiences, etc may color their opinions of you and your actions. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person; it doesn’t define you or your worth. Hell, you might be a hero in another person’s story. It just goes to remind us that there are different sides to every story, different takeaways for each person in every experience.

“Villain” is my moment to release any expectation beyond that. I can’t control what my ex thinks, what he talks about, whether or not I am the villain in his story and his retelling of the relationship. For a long time, he was the villain in mine. And now, regardless of what I may or may not be in his story, he’s nothing in mine. I hope that “Villain” can empower others to find a similar release.

Your music is a blend of musical genres ranging from Americana, folk, and jazz. How do you weave these genres together?
To be quite honest, I don’t really think about it much. When I’m writing, I very rarely sit down thinking that I want to lean more in a certain genre direction, but instead, I allow the topics to dictate the style; I pull from all of my inspirations to see what resonates with my energy that day, and just let things flow and blend together without force. I think that’s why the blend ends up working (most of the time!) because I don’t think much about what I want to take from each genre and influence, everything is so authentically me and feels innate to the song vs. feeling out of place, if I were to try and cherry pick what I wanted to layer on top of each other.

With your new single set for release on October 4th, how do you feel this song reflects your growth as both an artist and a person since your debut album Songs For My Next Ex?
It’s funny that you bring up that album, because Songs for my Next Ex is actually fully about the relationship that I previously mentioned. The album chronicles the relationship from start to finish, but it ends on a note that kind of leaves the door open, if you will. At that time, fresh out of the relationship, I was still giving my ex a lot of grace. But as I’ve grown and reflected, rediscovered my self-worth, spent time really getting to know & love myself, “Villain” is the ultimate punctuation that ends that part of my story. As an artist, it’s really fun to see how my expression of emotion has shifted, and how differently I use vocabulary, wit, and humor, in a song that could be really dark & angry if written with a different perspective. To me, when I listen to “Villain,” as “heavy” as the instrumentation is, there is a lightness to the song, a smirk behind the eyes, that shows just how much I’ve grown as an artist and as a woman.

Are there any artists or people who serve as your inspiration for your songs?
100%! First and foremost, almost every song of mine is about my life, my friends, and my family. I am constantly taking inspiration from those around me, and my day to day. Even when life is smooth sailing, with no drama or emotional highs & lows, there are always gems that show up in everyday life. It could be the smallest thing, but I think there’s a lot of beauty, and a lot to be inspired by in what some might call the mundane.

In terms of artists I’m inspired by, the list is endless. But some of my biggest inspirations are the folk artists I grew up listening to: Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins… and then there are a lot of current artists who just constantly blow me away with their vulnerability, creativity, and authenticity, including Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Liz Longley, The Chicks, Delta Rae… and on and on and on!

Alongside your single, we heard that you plan on releasing your album “Both Sides” on May 1st, 2025. What can fans anticipate with your upcoming album?
I am really pumped for this album to be out in the world. I think that, especially over the last three years, my writing has grown and matured immensely. This album is composed of all recent songs, and to be able to share this new, more evolved, version of me is really, really exciting. As I’ve grown into my voice, my writing style, and myself, more and more my music is infused with the classic folks artists I grew up with. I like to think that I’ve finally reached their level of wisdom and insight, but I know I still have lots of growing to do! With that, I think that my storytelling style has shaped into a really beautiful blending of nostalgia, articulation, and independence that wasn’t as established in my older songs. I can’t wait to let the world in on this piece of my life.

Despite your busy touring schedule, you have managed to engage in phone banking for Harris/Walz. What motivated you to get involved in political activism, and what have you learned from that experience? What has the response been like?
So I actually got involved this year because someone volunteering for the phone banks called me to make sure I was registered, knew where to vote, and to see if they could count on my vote. There is no question that I will be voting blue up and down the ballot, and so I enthusiastically let her know, at which point she asked if I would consider donating my time as well. I have always been very politically outspoken, and try to get involved as much as I can, but in previous years, it’s honestly been a bit intimidating, living in Tennessee, where I have very strong opinions that don’t necessarily align with those I would be engaging. As someone who grew up in Philadelphia, went to school in Chicago, and then lived in NYC, moving to TN was a much bigger shift than I expected. It’s the first time I haven’t been surrounded by almost exclusively liberal people, or at least people willing to have a conversation, so getting involved more recently has felt harder. But we’re now at a point where it doesn’t matter how uncomfortable I may feel off the bat. Democracy is legitimately at stake; my rights as a woman are being torn apart by men who can’t speak to a single thing they’re so obsessed with derailing; and if I can’t set aside my discomfort to try and get even just 10-15-20 more people out to the polls voting blue, then all of my ranting and raving behind closed doors, with friends & family, is pointless. It’s an echo chamber. The only way to make progress is to have conversations. With all of that said, a lot of the folks I’m calling are people who previously voted blue or are registered democrats but perhaps didn’t vote in the last election, so in general, response is pretty kind and positive, if not slightly annoyed for being cold called. There are definitely hang ups and people asking to be removed from lists, but I do think there’s a lot of momentum and drive, especially from folks like myself who may have been complacent in the last few years, to do everything we can to ensure Kamala Harris is the next President of the United States.

You have also collaborated with the Nashville Humane Association. Could you share more about your experience with this organization?
I have had a really incredible experience with NHA. I think that organizations like NHA have some of the toughest jobs, because there are so many dogs and cats in need, and so many, frankly, irresponsible owners, who don’t neuter & spay their pets, which then leads to more and more animals in need. It’s really heartbreaking to know that these animals are so helpless and reliant on their surroundings, but those surroundings are so often detrimental. I’ve volunteered in-shelter/onsite in various capacities, but my favorite way to work with NHA is fostering. Being able to bring a dog into my home and show them what true safety and comfort is, is an absolute privilege. Gaining their trust, and allowing them the freedom to explore a safe space, bond with my dog, and grow in confidence is so important in the process of ultimately getting them into their furever homes, especially for dogs with high anxiety and fear from previous experiences. The folks over at NHA are true angels, and go above and beyond in a tough state like TN, where there are a lot of hoarding & breeding cases coming through from both TN and KY. Because of the constant influx, they never have enough hands, enough fosters, enough supplies, so I would encourage anyone in the Nashville area to consider getting involved with NHA, or if you don’t have the time, consider donating money, dog food, toys.. Truly anything is helpful!

How do you balance your commitment to activism and volunteering with your music career?
The bottom line is always, I wish I could do more. It’s really hard to balance everything while putting as much time and energy into each thing as possible. Especially with Nashville Humane, I can only volunteer and foster when I’m in Nashville, so this year, spending so much time on the road, it’s been really difficult. I was able to take in one long term foster at the beginning of the year, but once I hit the road in the Spring, it became impossible. It’s really hard to stay involved while on the road, which is why things like phone banking are great, as they can be done from anywhere. Again, there’s always more I wish I could do, like join the canvassing teams, attend the support events, all that. But at the end of the day, I’m glad that I can at least do something. I’m excited to be in Philly now, and hopefully have a bit more time off the road (simply because I’m closer to most of my tour dates) to give to new organizations that I’ll get involved with once I’ve settled. I know a lot of folks out there want to be involved, but it feels overwhelming to commit to multi-hour events, or recurring shifts, but I like to remind myself that the smallest things do help! Even if it’s just remembering to reshare the voter registration link on your social media, or dropping off puppy food that your dog grew out of at the local shelter. There are ways to help that don’t take a lot of time, and if you can build from there? Amazing. But if not, the little things add up!

Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share?
My album, Both Sides, is the next big one! But I am excited to release a few singles leading up to the album. “Villain” is the first of four, and then I’ll have my next single, “Raised by a Woman,” coming out in November. I am very happy to have that song coming out soon, because I’ve had a lot of folks talk to me after shows recently and say that that song was their favorite, or that it reminded them of their mother. With everything going on these days to cut women down, I am excited to have the song serve as a reminder of how strong women have always been, and how strong we will continue to be, no matter what you throw our way.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
Truthfully, it’s been really hard. It’s been very difficult to read the news, go on social media, and not feel just completely dejected and, honestly, disgusted, with a lot of the world. I end up having a lot of guilt that I’m not doing more to help, that I’m not giving all of my time to an organization, or a political campaign vs. to my music. I have to remind myself that the arts can be just as important in times like these, as there needs to be an outlet, a cathartic release, a place of comfort, when everything is failing. I remind myself how lucky I am to have what I have, and to do what I do. It is a privilege to be able to pursue my music; one that not everyone has. I am lucky to have the family and friends that I do, who fully support me in everything that I am, and everything I aspire to accomplish. I am lucky to have people in my life who will listen through the tears, the rants, and the disbelief, and remind me what there is to be hopeful for; I am lucky to have people that keep me grounded. So, it’s hard to stay positive, yes, but I am able to keep on keeping on because of the incredible people that I get to have in my life.

What is your motto in life?
If you don’t ask, you’ll never hear YES. Paired with: The worst thing you can hear is NO. This has really served me well in life so far, because when there’s something I want, whether it’s to open for a certain artist, to book a show at a big venue, to get a pay bump I think I deserve, I ask for it! I do the outreach, and I ask outright for what I want. A lot of times, the answer is no, or not now, or maybe I don’t even get a response. But, sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is yes for something that I thought was a total long shot! So if the worst thing I could hear by asking for what I want is no? Then it’s worth it to sometimes get that yes.

To learn more about Charlottle Morris, please follow the links below
Charlotte Morris Music
Instagram: @charlottemorrismusic
YouTube: @charlottemorrismusic
Facebook: @charlottemorrismusic
TikTok: @charlottemorrismusic
X: @camorrismusic

Charlotte Morris - Heroes or Villains