Over the summer, I was given the opportunity to chat with three-time JUNO award nominee and all around force to be reckoned with, Nuela Charles. If you don’t know her name already, where have you been? The Edmonton-based Swiss-Kenyan-Canadian musician has taken both Canadian and global charts by storm with her distinctly soulful voice and dangerously catchy lyrics. Nuela has released four albums and a number of singles that I guarantee will leave you wanting more.

How did you first get interested in music?

The album art for Nuela’s latest album: Melt (2019) — The album art for Nuela’s latest album: *Melt (2019)*

Music was always something that was played in our house growing up. My dad had an old acoustic guitar that he would use to play the same blues riff on, over and over, and I eventually taught myself guitar with it. So as I got older, it was something that I naturally gravitated towards. In school I was in all of the choirs, I loved MTV and Much Music, and always wanted to be performing for others.

Who were the artists you listened to in high school? Who do you listen to now?

In high school, it was all about the ladies in music - Avril Lavigne, Fefe Dobson, Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, but then throw in Linkin Park, and that’s probably all I listened to 24/7. It was actually pretty fundamental in my growth as an artist, because I saw all of these great women achieving success, and all I could think of was “If they can do it, so can I!”

What inspires you to keep making music today?

The music business is not for the lazy. So I definitely keep doing it because I love it! It is amazing to watch my ideas come from “thin air” and become part of people’s lives, whether it be on the radio, or in TV shows or at concerts.

What are some of the differences between being a smaller artist in Edmonton and being a well known artist in all of Canada and the rest of the world?

I think the biggest difference is that there is more pressure to out do what you did last. But I think if you have a strong work ethic, and make the art that you want to make, without chasing trends, that you’ll have a way longer career than if you were just trying to keep up with the sound that might be popular at the time.

What advice would you give your high school self about a career in the music industry?

Watch Nuela’s latest music video, for her song Space, from her newest EP, Blissful Madness

I always think that if I knew what I know now that I would have started earlier. I was 27 when I put out my first Nuela Charles album. But, then I realized that I would not have had the life experiences that I have now to make songs that actually matter. I would not have experimented with my sound to get what I have now, and I don’t think I would have been ready to commit so much time into the business side. So I think I would tell my high school self to prepare for a lot of hard work, eat better, and take care of your mental and physical health more.

What is your favourite thing about the music scene in Edmonton?

I love the Edmonton scene because everyone here truly does want to see you succeed. The support has been so immense, and I feel like it crosses genre lines too. There are so many amazing artists in Edmonton who choose to stay here for that same reason.