IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charles Fauna

Soft and velvety vocals layered on top of electrifying riffs and rhythms constitute Charles Fauna’s distinctive sound. Charles Fauna (aka Charlie Mischer), originally from Los Angeles, California and currently based in Brooklyn, New York, is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Singles, including “Another Good Person”, “Wait to Come Over”, and “Something Human”, led up to the recent release of his much-anticipated debut EP, Eulogy, which came out on August 17, 2018 via Sleep Well Records. Aside from sharing and spreading his sound all over New York City at venues such as Mercury Lounge, SoHo House, and Baby’s All Right, he has performed at SXSW, and has shared the stage with musical names like Glassio, pronoun, and Cape Francis.

Just before taking the stage at his debut EP release show, Charles generously contributed some time to pose for a few portraits and to discuss his beginnings in music, where he likes to go for a bite, and even his astrological sign.

What’s the story behind your talent and passion for music?

I grew up in a show business family; my dad is a TV producer, so I was always around entertainment and big spectacle shows from a very young age. I was super enamored and enthralled by it. My first instrument was the trumpet; I tried it out when I was about 13. I played snare drum in marching band in high school, and eventually made it to a drum set because I realized that was the music I liked playing. It probably wasn’t until I had a studio in my house when I started writing and recording that I realized, “Oh, this is something I really want to do. This is something I feel like I’m good at.” It was less about learning about the theory of music, and more about storytelling. That’s what I wanted to do—reach people with a story, make them feel something, and make them think about things. That was so powerful to me as an idea, and it made my life better when I listened to other people’s; I was enriched by narratives other people created. They broadened my scope and imagination. I never came at it [songwriting] from an explicitly musical place; it was always kind of, “I want to communicate with people, I want to write, and I want to share stories.” Like traveling, it [songwriting] broadens the mind.

What’s the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?

The first serious attempt I made was, as I said, was the trumpet. My high school was really good about the arts, fortunately, and had a great program for music. They encouraged people, lending you instruments. If you wanted to try the trumpet and put in effort, they gave you a trumpet to take home. I tried it; however, it didn’t connect to the music I was listening to. I grew up listening to classic rock, like Zeppelin and Hendrix. It wasn’t until I gravitated towards the drum set when I sort of merged my passion with what I was doing, and all of a sudden, it clicked. Drums were my first (and still are) my instrument, the one I’m really good at. I use guitar and piano as writing tools, but I don’t know them like drums.

Your debut EP, Eulogy, was released on August 17, 2018. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?

It happened over the course of about a year. The songs came from radically different places at first, and then I sort of realized over time that there was a theme—it was happy music, but sad writing. It was pop indie, but was about things that pop songs aren’t usually about, like death and darker things. It was inspired by a hit-and-run I saw in Brooklyn that was really intense, and kind of became this starting point for me to tell about a person or character on the album who sees this really traumatic thing, and tries to throw himself for a loop. Suddenly, everyday life and the things we do don’t make sense, and he’s looking for peace, trying to find how to cope with the way things are. The actual answer is other people, love, and friendships—developing bonds with others.

Musically, it came from all over the place. I was trying to sound different and make all the songs distinct and occupy their own world. I wrote it all by myself, recorded all of it alone, and then I enlisted producers to help me tighten the screws and throw some creative energy back into it. I had a few very talented up-and-coming producers like Steve Vealy, Ariel Loh, and Ben Talmi, who all touched it in various ways and left their marks on it. It was entirely made in my bedroom; I used Logic Pro and speakers, and every day, I just tried to hash it out. I did some mixing at Electric Lady, which is a very famous, awesome, and legendary studio that a friend of mine, Steve, worked at at the time. He offered me a chance to go there; it’s a room that has had David Bowie to Jimi Hendrix (it’s named after the Jimi Hendrix record), and even Frank Ocean was just in there. I got to do a mixing session, which was really special. It was all very DIY; that’s how I work.

Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?

To be honest, it has changed a lot. The one that I am most proud of is a song called “The Boatman”. It’s very dark, and kind of has a heavier electronic R&B sound, which is not typically something I’ve done before. It marries a lot of things that I love, including Greek mythology, but is also about the hit-and-run that I witnessed; it’s very much about that exact moment. It’s very intense, but it’s the one I listen back to and think, “This is good.” Right now, it’s the one I’m most excited about.

What happens before you go onstage? Is there a Charles Fauna pre-show ritual?

It depends. Tonight, I think there will be a little bit of jumping around, and maybe a celebratory band shot because it is the EP release and a special occasion. The crowd is going to be a lot of my friends. I get nervous, so before my shows, I need to be totally alone and just pace, or the pre-show massage and back rubs. I’m lucky that I’m in a band of friends who are all very talented; we’re all close, and I feel comfortable around them. When I get nervous, someone will usually be telling me not to worry.

What are you currently listening to?

I’ve been listening to a lot of weird stuff. The music that inspired me to write is Phoenix and Gorillaz, who are my greatest influences. I find that when I want to go listen to music, it’s usually very peaceful music. I’ve been listening a lot to this composer Gigi Masin’s ambient, piano pieces—things that relax me. I have found that the more I do music for a living, the less energy I have to go discover it. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and have recently been reading more. I’ve been reading a lot of Haruki Murakami, and a lot of the new music I plan to put out is inspired by his writing.

What’s your favorite restaurant and/or food in NYC? Any places back home in LA?

One of my favorite places to go is this place called Jimmy’s Diner; it sounds like this average place, but it’s this incredible place that has Southern food with a vegan spin. You can get scrambled eggs and grits, but they also have friendly vegan options. I love homestyle food/comfort food. I’m pretty out of date with food in LA, but I love In-n-Out Burger.

If there were a drink and pizza with the name “Charles Fauna”, what would they consist of?

I think the drink would be jalapeño tequila sort of cocktail, maybe with some bitters. Something kind of spicy, but fun to drink if you need to get your emotions out. It’s either that, or just a shot of whiskey. That’s the Charles Fauna cocktail.

I think a Charles Fauna pizza would be extra cheese, definitely black olives, and maybe a pepperoni or two.

What can listeners expect in terms of upcoming projects and/or releases?

I’ve been entirely focused on the EP. I’ve started to write a full-length record, which may or may not be out next year. My goal for this year has not only been to release this music, but also to maintain a more sustainable life myself as a professional musician. I’m going to be working on not my own music for a few months to broaden my portfolio as a producer and composer. I have a record, 12 songs actually, that have a bigger story and narrative that I’m really excited to tell. It should be ready to go by this time next year. In terms of shows, there will be more this year.

What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it?

I’ve never been asked what my astrological sign is, which I have always found interesting. I’m really into astrology, which most people don’t want to talk about.

I'm a Leo, and it’s a very Leo thing to be like, “Ask me what my sign is.”

Many thanks to Charles Fauna for taking the time and thought to respond to the questions!

Be sure to check out his amazing sound, and follow him on Twitter (@charlesfauna), Instagram (@charles_fauna), and like him on Facebook (/cfauna)!

UPCOMING SHOWS:
October 13, 2018 | Elsewhere (with Glassio and Sulene)

Check out more shots from the show below!