UK Artist Joelle Charan Talks Acceptance, Music, and Culture
photos courtesy of Joelle Charan and Sonnet Music
written by Alysa S.
Meet Joelle Charan. Daughter, singer, artist, Indo-Caribbean, and European. Joelle is an up and coming artist of Surinamese descent who was raised in Amsterdam and resides in the United Kingdom. Charan’s 2020 EP "Ashira" blends modern pop with classical Indian influences from her Indo-Caribbean heritage.
Coming from a family with an affinity for music and with a rather unique background, Joelle is the daughter of a Catholic mother and a Hindu father. Growing up wasn’t easy for an Indo-Caribbean girl in Amerstdam. Joelle faced frequent bullying from her classmates. Her skin was darker than theirs and she didn’t eat beef like her Hindu father. Music became the young artist’s therapy and outlet.
Joelle’s father was a talented pianist who played Chopin and was always at his piano in his free time. She was encouraged to sing from an early age by her parents, as well as school choir instructors. Joelle’s music education did not stop there. She continued with piano and singing lessons from classic jazz instructors throughout her youth. After graduating high school, she was accepted into the Conservatory of Amsterdam where she continued to study jazz. Joelle went on to attend the New School School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City and found inspiration from the melting pot.
Indian musicians across New York blended their sounds with cultures from across the world and introduced Joelle to new forms of genre blending. Some of her favorites were Latin Caribbean music from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic blended with Surinamese music. Elements of classical Indian music found their way into Joelle’s music and helped ground her in her Surinamese roots.
Joelle's experiences with racism also help fuel her commitment to sharing her heritage with the world through music in hopes of inspiring others. Joelle recounts on a stop at Denver International Airport, she was required to go through more security than her white counterparts, making the artist feel singled-out.
“You can’t tell me that it was any other reason than the fact that I have a last name which seems a bit Arabic.”
Despite discrimination she uses her music to share stories from one generation to the next, much like the stories handed down to her from her parents and theirs. Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Punjab to Suriname as indentured laborers. Like many Indo-Caribbeans, after years of coerced servitude, her grandparents left the Caribbean. Upon arriving in Amsterdam from Paramaribo, Suriname, her family’s original last name, “'Goercharan,” was misspelled by an official as “Goercharn.” Joelle has reclaimed the surname “Charan,” which means feet of the Lord. She celebrates the name as part of her heritage and music. The stories of hardship and perseverance that followed Joelle’s family to Amerstadam, as well as through the generations, have found themselves being shared today in her music.
Her EP “Ashira” is a testament to Joelle's storytelling, as Joelle shares moments of her life from her upbringing to her travels through her songs. “Man In A Towncar,” is inspired by an experience many immigrant children can relate to. It’s the story about a workaholic man who does everything to provide for his family. Some of the lyrics read:
“You’re out on the road, with no destination or desire. At the end of the line, in the city of blinding lights.”
She continues to find inspiration from her day to day experiences with the world around her, and from the past that continues to be a part of her. By sharing her experiences and heritage in music, Joelle has empowered herself as a Caribbean womxn in the music industry.
In a highly competitive industry, setting herself apart from the rest by staying true to her heritage and beliefs is something that is a part of Joelle’s core values. While the music industry today markets young female artists women as oversexualized sex symbols in an effort to be desirable to listeners, Joelle refuses to compromise her morals and beliefs in order to conform to such standards. Whether it is embracing her Indo-Caribbean beauty, female-empowering stance, or unique West Indian heritage or cross-genre sound, Joelle is an artist dedicated to celebrating self-love and culture. This is something that she credits her parents for.
Despite coming from different backgrounds, both her mother and father continue to come together in support of Joelle’s musical career. This has been true from her school days to now. Joelle continues to acknowledge that her supportive parents have given her confidence to stick to her values, despite the pressures of the music industry. Three generations of Joelle’s family have committed to preserving their culture and she finds herself hoping to keep the same spirit alive in her work.
In 2021, Joelle is looking forward to releasing new music that pushes her creativity while living through a pandemic. COVID-19 has forced everyone to adapt to change and artists are no exception. The budding artist is looking forward to collaborating with other artists in new ways that are COVID-safe. She’s inspired by the unique ways in which various artists have connected with one another virtually. Despite such a year of change for both Joelle and the world at large, she has maintained true to her core belief of self love and acceptance.
For musicians that want to follow in Joelle’s footsteps, she hopes that they can take away three rules from her as a fellow artist.
“Never give up.”
“Never feel less than.
“Don’t compare yourself.”
To learn more about Joelle’s music visit her website here.
