Description
Wes Charlton breaks onto the scene with his debut release titled American Bittersweet! Wes was a semi-finalist in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition with his song 'Promised Land'! This 21-year old, singer/songwriter from Virginia integrates his Americana roots with a modern interpretation to create a heartfelt and at times haunting vision of relationships, the struggle to find yourself, and the pursuit of the 'Promised Land'. With proficiency on piano, guitar, harmonica and Hammond B-3, Wes blends his musicianship with sophisticated lyrics to paint a profound portrait of growing up in rural America, while maintaining a connection to contemporary youth through driving rhythms, electric guitar and the exploration of found-sounds. ****************** Here's what some people are saying about Wes Charlton and American Bittersweet: 'He has that sound that pop music has been missing: a sincere, young singer with something to say and haunting melodies to match. His confident sound makes it astounding that he's only 21! He's what smart, hip kids have been waiting for and what adults will definitely appreciate. I know I'm hooked!' -- Anna Goodman-Herrick, Producer, MTV, Los Angeles 'One of the best alt-country records I've heard in a long time. Great songs and an amazing production, which perfectly mixes 'modern sounds' and classic Americana to create what should become the road for others to follow.' --Kenneth Higney, Vice President, Arc Music Group, NYC 'Great melodies, creative hooks and some very exciting textures and blends. I really had a great time working on this album, and it sounds amazing!' --Fred Kevorkian, Absolute Audio, NYC 'Wes Charlton is a unique and distinctly American voice whose country & folk soul is drunk with addictive pop melodies. American Bittersweet is his exploration into his own soulful songwriting with the landscape of the South to inspire him and the result is a powerful, far-ranging and emotionally commanding debut album.' --Leah Manners, Station Mgr WCWM 90.7 FM Williamsburg, VA 'Wes is as good a young songwriter as any I have ever worked with.' --Chris Keup, Co-writer/Prod- Johnathan Rice & Jason Mraz, VA 'Wes Charlton is a new singer/songwriter with a depth of maturity and soul rarely heard on a debut record. 'Angels & Air' takes a page from the Joe Henry songbook while the CD as a whole is steeped in Americana. If this is the beginning - I look forward to hearing more from Wes in the future.' --Jules Herbert, Buyer, Barnes & Noble, NYC 'Good songs - great lyrics!' --Marshall Chess, NYC' 'I try to channel my own personal insights and experiences into universal themes that most people can relate to. I've learned this from listening to the greats- Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Townes Van Zandt etc...However, I think a lot of really exciting stuff is happening now in music. Bands like Bright Eyes, The Shins, and Spoon... I feel inspired by the success of these bands and the integrity they've managed to maintain. While the label 'singer-songwriter' does fit and describe me accurately to a certain extent, I believe my music extends far beyond acoustic guitars and coffeehouses. I see my music like painting. It's dense and multi-layered. Colors and visions bleed into and out of themselves.' ---Wes ****************** From Lancaster, Virginia, Wes Charlton grew up in a musical family, constantly absorbing the talent around him; first singing back-up with his brother while his father played guitar, then learning piano from his mother. It wasn't until age 14, when he attended the National Guitar Summer Workshop in Connecticut, that his music broke away from being just a family tradition. Drawn to the acoustic guitar, he began writing songs on his own often demoing them on a 4-track in his bathroom. Within an year Wes was showcasing his talents with his own band and opening for groups like regional favorites Carbon Leaf. After leading a number of bands through high school, he gained notoriety playing the coffeehouse circuit while in college in Williamsburg. He soon caught the attention of the production team of Stewart Myers and Chris Keup, and suddenly found himself in the studio cutting his first EP, Pictures and an Empty Glass. With new inspiration and a clarity of vision, he put together his first serious band, OK Fireworks. They quickly became the most popular band in Williamsburg, filling area coffeehouses and venues to capacity. Opening for bands like Fighting Gravity, Virginia Coalition and Sticky Fingers, OK Fireworks played to enthusiastic audiences up and down the East Coast. After playing together for a few years, some band members started to feel the overwhelming obligations of touring while trying to get through school and the group dissolved. On his own, Wes refocused his attention to writing new songs and went back to the studio to finish the tracks for what would become American Bittersweet. Recognized for his talents, Wes was a semi-finalist in the 2004 International Songwriting Competition. With a new, backing band, Wes continues to tour regionally, building momentum with the album's release while still warming up to intimate audiences at his solo shows. With the help of a dynamic production team, American Bittersweet brings a refreshingly, unique new voice onto the music scene. Fred Kevorkian (Mastering) from Absolute Audio has worked on a multitude of projects for artists such as: White Stripes, Dave Matthews Band, Jesse Malin, Rosanne Cash, Sonic Youth, Lenny Kravitz and Lou Reed. Chris Keup (Co-Producer) co-wrote many songs on the Jason Mraz album, discovered Johnathan Rice and produced his first EP, and co-wrote some tracks on his Warner Bros debut 'Worry is Real'. Stewart Myers (Co-Producer/Engineer) played on the Jason Mraz album, and was signed to RCA Records with Agents of Good Roots while under Red Light Management and touring extensively with The Dave Mathews Band.
