"Entertainer" Charli LaToven Interview
www.CharliLaToven.com
Interview by Roger Zee (09/25/21)
Roger Zee: Who inspired you to sing and dance?
Charli LaToven: First and foremost, thank you so much Roger for the invite and for giving us working musicians a platform to tell our story. I guess I'll start by saying that I'm a proud Bronxite of Italian and Latin American ancestry from "Da Real" Little Italy. Yes folks, the one on Arthur Avenue, not Manhattan LOL! I fortunately grew up in a diverse, rich culture with music of all genres.
No matter what craziness went on in the neighborhood, I never fell short of finding the perfect soundtrack for my mood. Whether Hip-Hop, Rock, R'n'B, Soul, Pop, EDM, Latin, or Italian, music consistently saturated my eardrums. That exposure turned me into the versatile singer and entertainer of today.
Although I come from a family with impeccable musical taste, they're not musicians themselves. Yet, my parents exposed me to Rock and Soul at a tender age. I always performed and put on shows at home. Not a shy child at all, I took it upon my sassy four-year-old self to make my debut in my apartment building hallway!
I remember sneaking my little wooden piano out into the hallway and singing at the top of my lungs. Hearing my voice echo throughout the building made such a huge impact on me, that to this day I can still recall how my heart raced with excitement as I belted Tina Turner. Yes, I belted at four, LOL!
I'm that kid who loved listening to old-school music. My favorites obviously include Tina, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Etta James, and even Doo-wop. Eventually, the people came out from their apartments. My mother apologized to the neighbors, but they acted so sweet and supportive. Pretty sure the big curly hair and dimples won them over! That day I earned my first performance applause. And just like that, we knew that music would become a major part of our family.
As the years went on, my family believed in my talent so much that they made music a family business. Incredibly, everyone used their skills in a different way. My wonderful, dedicated father took up two jobs to buy equipment and quickly taught himself how to work a PA system.
Exhausted from work, he would head out and set up these truly amazing live shows for just a kid. He brought me to perform in restaurants and parties all over NY. I fully appreciated and understood what it took for him to do all that work and always offered to help him set up and break down. But as a true daddy's girl, that never happened.
My humble upbringing did not afford my parents to buy me expensive show clothes. So my sweet and crazy talented mother would design and sew them. We're both crazy about fashion and together we would come up with the most amazing outfits. She would literally stitch everything by hand! I mean the woman possesses hands of gold!
People always left blown away by the amount of confidence I exuded on stage as a kid. Greatly in part because I considered everything my mom created for me as a good luck charm. Which later on in life proved so very true.
Finally, my sister, the genius of our family, taught herself how to work the light console and sound. She's the only person who's always quick to tell me if she did not like the way something sounded, haha! Her gift allows her to hear everything on a different level. I honestly believe that if she didn't become such a Rock star attorney, she could've ended up one of music's top sound engineers. So yeah, to answer your question, my family not only inspired me to sing, but facilitated every opportunity for me to hone my skills from a very early age.
RZ: Tell me about some of the musicians and groups you've gigged and recorded with.
CL: We're gonna sit here a long time, LOL! One of the highlights of my career came when I won first place at The United Palace in NY for SonyBMG's first bilingual singing competition. I Rocked my mom's "good luck charm" designs for all of my performances.
The prize awarded me the opportunity to record a single, the first time I wrote and co-produced my own song. I felt super excited but also very nervous to share it! I recorded the song at Sony studios in Manhattan with Grammy Award winning recording engineer/mixer Jim Caruana. As he'd won multiple Grammys for Beyonce's album, you can imagine I really wanted to make a great impression. When I arrived at the studio, I ran into Lenny Kravitz and Kanye West minutes apart from each other.
By the time I entered the vocal booth, I felt so starstruck that I literally forgot my own song, haha! Caruana helped calm my nerves with some chamomile tea and I quickly got in the zone. As my first time ever in a studio, let me tell you I found it a lot to take in. It blew me away to watch him work the most intimidating console I had ever seen.
Unfortunately, a big layoff came right after we finished the single. And the newcomers did not follow through with a distribution deal. At the time, I came with no legal team to back me up. My family possessed no music industry knowledge, capital, or connections to help move it forward. By the time I met with John Doelp, the VP for Colombia records as well as Virgin Records, I got locked into a five-year independent managerial contract that the labels did not not want to deal with. Everything fell pretty much out of my hands at that point. So that ended it. But I do feel lucky to have experienced that. So yeah guys, I almost became famous, haha.
RZ: How did you put the LaToven band together? Tell me about your elaborate stage show.
CL: The LaToven Band came together as a result of me wanting to expand my one-woman show. I felt so excited that The LaToven Show so quickly became popular on the local music scene. Especially after all the detailed work we put into it. I thought up a very specific vision of what I wanted my audience to experience along with how I wanted the production to look.
Growing up, I worked mostly as a freelance singer but always felt nostalgic about my family shows. I remembered how much people recognized and appreciated the hard work that we put into creating this unique experience for them. The term "concert-style" became analogous with The LaToven Show.
It took me two months to meticulously produce the customized visuals that synced with the rhythms and massive cue words on the screen for people to shout. I created thousands upon thousands of still, multi-color images within the actual video to mimic actual strobe lights! I can honestly admit the borderline OCD that went into the detail, LOL! But absolutely worth it. The end result, high-end visuals one sees at professional concerts. Mission accomplished!
Once we wrapped up the visuals, I went back to the drawing board and laid out the setup and elements that became the staple at my shows. The aesthetics, or as I like to call it, "eye candy," needed to appear on par with the exciting visuals I already worked so hard on.
We wound up with massive disco balls, wash lights, beam lights, laser light, pyrotechnic effects, projectors, projector screens, banners, haze, low-lying fog machines, CO2 blasts, geysers, and a crap ton of cables. We pre-programmed the light show as well. It became a major undertaking for just two people. But my incredible husband Zach, after his initial panic dissipated, threw himself 1000% into this musical journey!
He helped bring it all to life exactly as I envisioned it, if not even better, He's literally the muscle behind the show as well as my sound man. He took it upon himself to study a sound engineering book and became the sole reason the show sounds that incredible.
We debuted at Sixty5 on Main in Nyack and quickly became a staple there. You couldn't miss the only one-woman, full-on production show with a Uhaul truck parked out front, LOL! As you can imagine, word spread quickly about just how "Extra" special we were, the whole point, haha! I mean, we blew people away. They genuinely appreciated all the work and effort that went into this. The show became so successful that after six months in, we decided to give the fans a full band experience.
I wanted outrageously talented musicians with the ability to vibe and share natural and effortless musical chemistry. Players willing to take on a challenging and versatile setlist but who also could perform. Do you know how hard it is to find talent that checks off all those boxes? Luckily, I gathered together some of the hardest working, dedicated, and talented players.
I'll start with the incomparable guitar player Steve Massa, or "Monster Massa," as I like to call him, LOL! It's not unusual for me to get star struck watching him shred during a show, and then force myself to shift my focus back to my singing. I mean once he locks you in with his masterpiece solos -- he's usually on his knees on the floor at this point -- it's a real struggle to focus your attention on anything else. I trust him with every song he plays and expect him to add his own flair. I will go on record with full confidence and state that every single song he has played at my shows, along with his level of skill, feeling, and creativity, has absolutely elevated the original. Don't believe me? Come to a show. Just a consummate pro on every level.
My two insanely talented drummers, Mike Pieski and Lee Nelson, regularly rotate based on availability. Both so extremely sought after and absolute forces to reckon with. They simply bring their A-game all the time. These guys must lose like ten pounds at each gig! Because we pre-program the show to visuals, they must play straight through without breaks. The level of skill and stamina required for the performance proves nothing short of painful, haha! But they're real pros.
Austin Day's a phenomenal sax player and performer. The moment I invited him to do a show I knew I found the missing link -- a game-changer for sure. He easily matches my energy on stage and that's not an easy feat when we play such a high-energy show.
Just four months prior to the Pandemic, I launched a full-on production for my tribute to Pop Rock icon Pink, called "So Pink." Incredibly gifted keyboard player Thomas DeMicco, super bass player Matthew Roccio, and the talented Mike Pieski Junior joined the LaToven family. We felt so excited to headline Yonkers Riverfest sponsored by Domino Sugar and Saint Joseph's Hospital.
The tribute followed The LaToven Band blueprint and, humble brag, resulted in the best production I ever put together. Even on-duty NYPD sang along and danced. We really pushed the bar with the So Pink light show featuring massive pink balloons that our awesome dancer Rachel sent out into the crowd. Our confetti, grand finale with pink smoke bombs made people scream with excitement.
At the end of January 2020, right before things hit the fan, we Rocked a fun launch party at The Hudson Room. We played to a full house of Pink fans dancing and shouting out lyrics. Sound tech and incredible jazz musician Greg Rapaport, along with Zach, provided a perfect mix. Everyone that ever played one of my shows has always given 100 percent. So grateful to share the stage with such talented and awesome humans.
RZ: What PA and vocal mics do you currently use? Please give details.
CL: So I think I'm just gonna chill for a minute and let Zach take over because he's your guy to answer this question.
Zach: Hi everyone! Our PA system consists of a Macke Mixer DL1608 along with two Turbosounds Inspire IP 1000s for their incredible clarity, and two Electro-Voice ETX-35P 15" Three-Way Powered Loudspeakers for their incredible punch and power. We use Mackie Thump15s for floor monitors. Charli's favorite microphone for live shows -- a Sennheiser EW500G4-935AW+. Her in-ears of choice -- the Westone 3-Driver Bal Ambient Earphones. She's an interactive performer who engages her audience constantly. These in-ears allow her to hear the ambience around her without having to pull one side off. I'd like to take a quick moment to thank everyone for their continuous support at all our shows.
RZ: Do you teach music privately?
CL: In the past, I would help vocally prep friends for auditions. But I never really focused on turning it into a lucrative business. It's definitely something many of my musical colleagues hint that I'd be great at. I can definitely see it as something I could enjoy doing in the future, especially with kids.
RZ: How has the Pandemic affected you? What's on the horizon?
CL: Singing's my full time job so the Pandemic changed my life completely. I never take for granted just how blessed I am to do what I love for a living. So when everything shut down, it truly turned into the scariest time of my life. I mean complete and utter panic set in!
So hard to cope with the heartbreak of seeing friends pass away. Then not seeing my family for over a year. We're such a close-knit group and it became an incredibly devastating time for us -- not sharing dinners, celebrating birthdays, holidays, or quality time together. Luckily we're all still alive and healthy despite the madness going on in the world.
For the first time in my life, I needed to explore other income avenues. Thankfully, I landed the first non-musical job I ever applied for in the corporate world. This company took a chance on me, even with my unconventional musical employment history. I'm pretty sure I might have bribed them with free entertainment throughout the interview, haha!
Just kidding, but yes, the Pandemic had many of us doing jobs we never imagined before. So fortunate as well for the support of our families to help us throughout this time.
Another big challenge came from Zach's work on the front lines of the Pandemic in the medical field. We needed to develop a strict cleaning routine at home. We also consistently quarantined for two weeks away from each other every time he faced exposure to a patient. I made the best of the down time by revamping the show and setlist to prepare for when things would get back to normal. Definitely our morale fell pretty low as I'm sure it did for so many.
RZ: Describe your most special and/or unusual gig.
CL: I've performed in so many venues for so many clients of all backgrounds. But personally the most rewarding gigs I do come from playing in nursing homes. You literally see the happiness music brings to the residents in their eyes. I absolutely love singing for them. They're so grateful and appreciative when I come down to visit them. It melts my heart.
Rebekha Rehab and Extended Care in the Bronx hold a special place in my heart because I've sung so many years for their people. I can tell you that they dance and sing along to everything from Motown to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars -- many of them upwards of 100 years old! Music makes us nostalgic and brings memories back to life. I so love to perform for them. Living proof that music keeps us all young.
Another memorable event occurred when I sang the "Star Spangled Banner" and "God bless America for" our Marines on Memorial Day. Saying "Thank you for your service" through music uplifted me. And seeing so many brave women seated in the front row made me feel such pride. These women continue to make strides in the world and set the bar higher than ever before. So inspiring.
RZ: How do you see the future of the music business?
CL: We live in a world where we don't necessarily need to rely on a big label to become a successful artist any more. We can use social media like Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitch, and Twitter. Macklemore's a prime example of an artist who established his own independent label and made it to the big leagues.
Big labels threw Mac Miller seven figure offers and he turned them all down. He then went number one on the Billboard charts with two singles. Something that could never happen back in the day.
Superstar Billie Eilish and her insanely talented brother Finneas produced the best album of the year right out of their bedroom. Anyone can build their own home studio. Everything's readily accessible at your fingertips. So it's an exciting time to create music. It's refreshing to know that talent that may have never gotten a chance before can now upload and distribute their music on so many platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, and so many more.
RZ: What advice do you give up-and-coming musicians?
CL: Ok kiddos, listen up! Aside from the obvious -- always work diligently on your craft and never give up on your dream -- I will give you some of the best advice you can get. One of my absolute proudest moments as a singer came when honored with the Exemplary Citizen Award by the 49th precinct in the Bronx where I performed for their "Night Out Against Crime." I recall how surprised and humbled I felt by this award.
I've always stayed involved in my community and this recognition reminded me of how we can all make a difference and do our part. I believe that local working musicians can make an even bigger impact than famous people, in the sense that we actually live in our neighborhood. While we're not able to make the same monetary donations famous people can, we get to impact our community on a daily basis. We know what goes on, we know what changes we want to see, and what programs we'd like created.
Nothing brings people together for a great cause like music. I urge all of you up and coming musicians to use your talents whenever and wherever you can in your community, because it really does make a difference. Go to your schools, after school programs, nursing homes, local precincts, firehouses and offer your services. It will surprise you with the impact you can make with your talent and music. This goes especially for these kids growing up in the Bronx like I did. Not only will volunteering help people get to know you and respect your talent, but may also help keep trouble away.
RZ: Do you live with any animals?
CL: My husband, haha! Sorry I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I mean I would actually disappoint him if I did. Three months into the Pandemic, we luckily adopted two adorable puppies of Sheltie and Dachshund mix who needed homes. Since we didn't want to separate the brothers, we took them both and named them Messi and Bear.
After just three weeks, Messi contracted Parvo. We felt so confused when we received the diagnosis because Parvo usually affects unvaccinated puppies and both our pups received all their shots. The vet told us that because Messi's the runt of the litter, he developed the least amount of antibodies from his mama. This also explained why Bear grew much bigger.
We spent thousands of dollars on multiple trips to the ER and many sleepless nights tending to him. We constantly wiped everything down with bleach as well as cleaning up after him and wiping him down with bath cloths. Those who unfortunately experienced caring for a dog with Parvo can fully relate to our situation and understand the nightmare. This included constantly cleaning up blood, his vomiting, and seeing and hearing the pain he went through.
We did everything we could to keep Messi alive. I remember literally crying with happiness when he went over on his own to his bowl of water. It seemed like he would get better, but the virus caused irreversible damage to his organs. Sadly, Messi lost his battle to Parvo. He passed away in my arms on our way back to the ER the next morning. That shattered our hearts. But we still needed to prepare ourselves for the possibility that Bear could start developing symptoms too.
Fortunately, today Bear's a happy and healthy year and a half puppy! He's such a blessing in our lives and has brought us so much joy during these dark times. We look forward to many years of his waggy tail sass. On that note, here's some fun facts about Bear!
Favorite treat: Peanut butter ice cream.
Favorite food: Pizza.
Favorite clothing: Tuxedo.
Favorite toy: Dad's socks - the stinkier the better, LOL!
Favorite sleeping position: Belly up and right in between mom and dad.
Biggest pet peeve: My cell phone. He will paw at my hand until I get rid of it - just like my husband. Ha!
IG: MessiNBear - Bear loves to dress up and pose for the camera. Feel free to check out some of his cute pictures!
YouTube - "So Pink" - Launch Party
YouTube - "Respect" - LaToven band
©2021 Roger Zee
