Blackburn singing sensation Charlotte O’Connor back home writing new album (From This Is Lancashire)

Blackburn singing sensation Charlotte O’Connor back home writing new album

4:00pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Leisure By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

A BLACKBURN singing sensation is taking time out from her busy gig diary to focus on writing a new album.

Charlotte O’Connor, who lives in Meins Road, is back home after a tour last year and is composing material for a new EP.

She has been writing songs with Toby Faulkener, the brother of Brit Award-winning Newton Faulkener, and working in the recording studio with producer Dan Dare, who has worked with artists like Drake and Marina and the Diamonds.

Charlotte said: “It has been really productive and I am just getting my head stuck down and writing.

“I have got a really good feeling about this EP.”

Charlotte said that a break-up with a boyfriend had been the inspiration for five of her new songs, which will feature on the record.

She said: “I have just gone through a massive break-up. He was my first real boyfriend and instead of ringing my friends, I sat in my room and wrote — it was a way of getting it all out.

“The songs aren’t depressing though, they are quite funny — I have even written a song called ‘I Hate You’.

“It was like therapy, I went to bed easy after I had written them.”

Charlotte, now 21, said that the songs on this album felt more grown-up than her first record because of her experiences.

Charlotte had been performing all over the world, with a gig in China last month for the launch of a new car, but the former Westholme School pupil, who attended with X Factor star Diana Vickers, said it was nice to be back in Lancashire.

She said: “It is so nice to be performing locally. A lot of what I do is connecting with the audience. After I have done a gig, it is nice to talk to them and explain what my songs are about and have a giggle.”

Charlotte is signed to Sony Records and is represented by Sam Bush, son of the legendary music promoter Mel Bush, who is credited with discovering megastar David Bowie.

Charlotte has also performed with world-famous musicians like Dizzee Rascal, Ed Sheeran and the Ting Tings.