Charlotte Lawrence is creating a pop career out of viral fame
Even though Charlotte Lawrence just turned 17, she’s already written a song reminiscing about what it was like to be that age, a song which she wrote while she was still 16.
“Seventeen” is Charlotte’s first single after grabbing the world’s attention when her sultry, slowed-down cover of everybody’s favorite song from the musical Grease “You’re the One That I Want” landed on Spotify’s Viral 50 Global Chart in the US and eight different countries.
Now she has 75,500 followers on Instagram and a bright future ahead of her.
We talked to Charlotte a few weeks ago about her music, how not all negative stereotypes about being a teenager are actually bad, and how to get your parents to chill out about your bikini pics already.
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So you’re 16 years old but you wrote a song about being 17…
Yeah, all my friends who heard the song always ask like, “Wait, you’re 16…” and I’m like “Yeah, I know!” I should have a deeper meaning as to why I wrote the song about being seventeen but if I’m to be completely truthful, singing “you and I were seventeen” sounds way better than “you and I were sixteen.”
The whole song in general is about reminiscing on something that used to be. Like, you and I were seventeen and this is what we used to be. But it’s kind of a contradiction because I’m trying to look back on something that I wanted so it’s kind of like a whole dreamy song, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
So how did you find out that your Grease cover had gone viral?
Actually, weirdly enough it was one of my old friend’s older brother. I was about to go to sleep and he texted me like, “Hey, I work at this place and I get all the top 50 charts and your song popped up, congrats!” I haven’t spoken to him in like two years so I was like, “what the heck?” and started freaking out. Then I immediately texted my manager Tony. It was just incredible. It stayed on there for a while and kept growing. It was really exciting. Really fun!
What’s it like to be Instagram famous while you’re still in high school?
Umm, I wouldn’t consider myself Instagram famous in a way. I know I do have a big following and I’m very grateful for that. But I don’t know, I do what I love and I post what I like. Like nobody really tells me what to post and what I can and cannot do. So it feels nice to have people that enjoy a little part of me, because in a way my Instagram reflects who I am as a person. You know?
Well out of curiosity then, what do you consider to be Instagram famous?
Honestly, I’d say like a million followers is Instagram famous. I know it’s a little ridiculous but I’ll consider myself Instagram famous once I hit a mill.
What are some of your tips on how teens can get their parents to chill out about what they’re posting on social media and how much they’re on it?
OMG, I used to have such a big problem with my parents about social media. They were always like no bikini pictures! No this, no that! And I understand it now because I was like fifteen and I wanted to take all these bikini pictures and show myself off to the world. I was like, “Mom! If you got it flaunt it!” and my mom thought it was ridiculous. But I would always tell them that I’m responsible and I wouldn’t post anything deemed as unclassy. Then they kind of just relaxed on that and they trust me enough to not monitor what I post.
Well I know your mom has social media but does your dad?
Yeah he does. He has a really funny Instagram. He’s really not an Instagram guy, like he’s more of a Twitter guy but his Instagram consists only of him drinking tequila and selfies. That’s it.
Are they at all jealous of the fact that you have more followers than them?
It’s a constant joke in the family, but they both have a lot of followers on Twitter so whenever I’m like “hahaha, I have more followers than you!” they’ll like scream at me that they have triple the size on twitter or something. It’s a joke, like they’re not actually jealous, and neither am I obviously, but it’s just funny.
What are the biggest stereotypes as a teen you think people have about you?
Definitely the number one stereotype that I always hear from all ages, like even teenagers, is that we’re all addicted to our phones. In a way it’s true. Like we do have a problem with technology and being stuck to our phones, but in my mind it’s not really our fault because we kind of grew up on this technology. Like our generation grew up on cell phones and everything so we learned how to live like that. So yeah, we can be on our phones too much but we’re making great stuff out of it. Like our world is run by technology, you know?
Totally. I think it gives teenagers a leg up, actually. Like nobody has to explain to you how to use new technology or why you should care about it.
No, exactly. I don’t think it’s that big of an issue.
And did you go to prom this year?
Yeah.
What are some of your tips?
This year I took one of my best friends to prom. She’s a girl, we went together. And we kind of did an all navy theme… Like she wore navy blue dress and I had navy blue shoes. I pulled it together really quick. I went dress shopping at 4:30 and we had to like all meet up at 5:30. So it was very difficult.
Oh my gosh.
I know, it’s ridiculous. And I did my own makeup and everything. But, it ended up turning out really well. It was really fun because I got to go with someone that I loved and we all met up together and we were all so happy. It was a lot of pressure on you to get ready and do your hair and buy all this makeup and stuff but I think it’s best to be relaxed about prom because it will all turn out okay of you’re with good people. I don’t know, I’m really bad with planning. I’m always very messy and unorganized. But my tip is just to be relaxed about everything because what’s the point. Its only one dance and you’re going to look beautiful anyways.
Totally. Well I guess my last question is, what do you have coming up next?
Well, I have been working in the studio, writing, and meeting with different producers for so long now. I would say I have like over 20 songs finished and ready. I’m just going to keep on working, writing, and experiencing different things. I don’t know, I’m still young, I’m still trying to find my sound you know? It’s like it’s hard to be completely sure of what you want to do and what you want to be when you’re just 16. So I’m just going to keep on doing that and release more music in the future. I’m excited.
Photography: Catie Laffoon
