The Road To Stardom: A Conversation With R&B’s Emerging Sensation

Charlie Stardom is a name to keep on your radar! In February the Midwest native released his debut project Love By Night. A deep, sexy, sultry LP full of a soft-tempered, soulful tunes dedicated to love. New to the music scene as a solo artist, Charlie is no stranger to making music. He already holds years of experience under his belt as a songwriter alone. And he has a lot more in store for us! I caught up with Charlie after his album release to discuss the album, his career, musical background, inspirations and more. 

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How did you get the stage name Charlie Stardom being that your name is really Charles Johnson?

Charlie: In high school my homie AJ gave me the name Charlie Stardom because I was really into different music like Pharrell, N.E.R.D and I liked BAPE. Nobody else where I was from was into that except me, him and another homie named Steve. So he was like “Man, you’re a star bro, imma just call you Charlie for short and Stardom is your last name.” And it stuck. Everybody started calling me that so I just decided it would be my stage name.

Were you pursuing music in high school too?

Just a little bit. Everyone knew I could sing. I knew I could sing but I didn’t really jump in the singing wave. I wanted to rap and make beats, but eventually it changed into more singing. (Laughs).

When did it change?

It changed when I was in a group. We wrote and produced a whole album and I just caught the bug from there. I was like ‘Yeah, I want to do this all the time.’ So, I switched from doing rap to rapping and singing and then to just singing full on and writing heavily.

How did you tap into your writing skills? And when did you realize that you had a knack for it?

Second grade. Really early. I was a huge Usher fan. I would look the lyrics up from his album booklet, write it, change words around and remake it. Eventually it changed from doing that from really learning how to write my own lyrics and put my own messages into the music.

Are you from LA?

No. I’m from Indianapolis, Indiana.

When did you move to LA?

I moved to LA around 2014, the summer.

Did you move for music or you wanted a Cali vibe?

I visited prior to moving, twice. Each time I came it was an amazing experience. I met cool people and had dope sessions. So it only made sense to actually move here and make some waves. So, I just jumped out on faith and came.

Yea, sometimes you gotta make that jump.

Foreal, foreal. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I just knew it was the move for me. So I had to do my thing.

Absolutely! Ok, let’s jump into the project. I noticed this your debut LP but this isn’t the first project you’ve put together. What’s different about Love By Night from your other projects?

The difference between all the other projects and Love By Night is that it’s more of a cohesive project. It’s more themed. The other songs were just records that I had made where I was like ‘Yo, let’s just put these out and see what happens type thing.’ Verses this one, I just really went in and said ‘ok, this is what I want to talk about, this is how I want to talk about it (the theme).’  I think that’s the difference. The vibes are still similar but on a bigger level. It just made way more sense this time.

How did the album name come about? 

I got started, just recording. I got with Biz and Th3ory, we were just making records. We got to like the third one and I was like ‘Ok we got something, its a wave.’ And this was actually before I really sat with the songs and made points that I wanted to hit. I felt all the songs and then decided this is the theme I want to go for… ‘Love By Night’. Imagine if you were out with your significant other and y’all were cruising or doing whatever. This would be the soundtrack to your time together.

That vibe definitely comes through. If you were in that scenario with your lady what three songs would you press play on?

“For You” that’s one I would play for sure. “For Too Long” and “Pillow.” Those would be my three to play.

How did you, Bizness Boi & Th3ory link up to get to the point of collectively Executive Producing Love By Night?

I linked up with Biz around 2011. I reached out to him on Twitter. I was looking for producers to write and work with and he was one of the producers that responded back to me. He gave me his email and I sent him a few of my records that I had already finished. He liked them and sent an email back with like 20 beats. I wrote to all of them and sent them back. And we’ve been working ever since then.

How many of those 20 beats have seen the light of day?

Half of them were split up between my two EPs I put out. The first one Cloud IX and then Pure Vibez. I used them for different things. I linked with Th3ory through my homie Travis. Travis is fellow writer. He also engineers, mixes and does all kinds of stuff. He’s apart of the project as well. I linked with Th3ory when they were together. We wrote together one time and after that we’ve just been working ever since. That was when I first moved to LA.

On “Stay Awhile” & “My Love” you have Daniel Church and Maurice Moore, who are also fellow writers. How did those collaborations come about?

For Maurice, we worked together on his single that he put out last year called “Something About You.” I co-wrote on that and did background vocals. In that session we just got real cool. After, he was like ‘Anything you need, anything you’re doing I want to help out and be apart of, so let me know.’ I was like cool. I hit him the next day like ‘I got a song for you.’ He responded ‘Yo, thank you for letting me be apart.’ He came right over, we recorded it and that’s how we got “My Love.”

For Daniel Church, I had been working with him for awhile. We’ve been in sessions and being a fan of what he does I just asked him if he wanted to be apart of my project. He had already been on my Pure Vibes EP. It wasn’t credited because he didn’t have his official artist name yet, but I definitely put online that it was him. So that’s how we got that going.

Just a bit more on your collaborations. As we’ve pointed out here on HGR you’ve worked with a handful of artists and continue to add more to your roster. We’ve noted: Rich Boy, MIMS, Murphy Lee, Mistah Fab, Ye Ali, and most recently Justine Skye. Is there anyone else we don’t know about that you’ve worked with?

There’s a lot of different ones but they haven’t even seen the light of day yet. So those are the ones that I actually can’t wait to come out. So I can be like ‘Yea, I worked with this person too.’ But all the other ones are official, those are it.

Ok, so there’s some in the vault that we should keep our ears open for.

Absolutely! Definitely a lot more coming this year or the top of next year, depending on when everybody’s releasing.

Ye Ali’s from Indiana as well. How’d you two link?

Yea, he’s from Hammond, Indiana. I met him, once again, through Travis at IU Bloomington. I was going up there to record with them. We just linked, had a few convos and we eventually worked together. It started, circa 2012/2013. He came out here (LA) a few months after me. As soon as he touched down we really locked in making songs together. Which eventually turned out to be his first project, Traphouse Jodeci. 

After releasing your album are you taking a breather or already back in the studio working on new music for yourself or for other people?

I’m definitely back in the studio working on music, but at this point I’m just cooking for everybody. I’ll get to a checkpoint and then decide, ok its time to go back into album mode. Most times I’ll just feel it and I’ll know it, without even knowing it. (Laughs). Right now I’m cataloging a lot of records while leaving myself open for others. You know, getting ideas out is very therapeutic. So everyday I’m trying to cook up something. An idea, whether its just a verse or a hook or a melody. I’m working everyday on something new.

Speaking of new, you delivered the first official remix “Heaven” from the album with DCMBR. You guys have actually worked together before. How did that relationship turn into a remix?

DCMBR is a cool dude. Every time I work with him he’s nothing but genuine. I like people like that. He’s dope, and every time he brings it. So it makes me sharp up and we just bounce off each other. It’s a great thing. I think that’s what makes music better. Artists are supposed to inspire each other and help each other.

We actually linked up through Bizness Boi. I heard a song and didn’t even know that he (DCMBR) had made the beat until I looked the credits up. I was like damn I like this song. After that, I reached out to tell him I liked what he had going on. He in turn told me he liked what I had going too and that we should work.

We had a session and did about 5 records that night. After that it was a lot of ‘pull up to the studio’ and we just kept working. For the remix: I knew I wanted to put someone dope on it and I thought who else but DCMBR because I knew he would dig it. And he did.

Charlie Stardom Gives “Heaven” The Remix Treatment

So far, “For Too Long” is the first video from the album, can we expect any more visuals soon?

Absolutely. There’s a few more videos we’re working on right now. We just wrote some treatments. I think in a few weeks we’re going to be shooting the “Heaven” Remix video. We also did treatments for “Pillow” & “For U” so both of those are in the works too.

Were there any songs that didn’t make the album?

There’s a bunch. Originally Love By Night was just another project I started because I had a whole other one. Same Cloud was the name of the album that I was going to do first. But after not being satisfied with it, I just stopped the whole album and started over from scratch.

That’s how we got Love By Night. There’s a bunch of records that didn’t get to come through on the album, but we have them ready to go. Either to get them placed with other artists or I’ll release them as another EP or use them for my next album. They’ll find a home somewhere, for sure. (Laughs).

What’s your favorite song?

Oooh. My absolute favorite song….MAN that’s so tough!

Okay, let’s try to make it easier. What’s your favorite song to perform from the album?

Well so far “For Too Long.” Every time I perform it, it’s crazy. Everybody’s heads are moving. I didn’t expect that. I knew it was a good song, but I didn’t think that the response I got every time would be the way it is. That’s the one so far. I haven’t performed any of the other songs yet but for my set list most of them are ready to go. So now I’m gearing up from more songs.

We’re definitely looking forward to a performance. Let’s backtrack a bit. How did you get into music and when did you decide to pursue it as a career?

To be honest, I knew I wanted to do this and I knew that it was possible to do. But I didn’t think that anybody from where I’m from could. I never saw anyone, except for Babyface or Keke Wyatt and a few others that made it to a certain level. I knew when I got in that group. When we started performing I would catch my voice or hear the songs I had written. I just knew I had a special talent and this is what I’m supposed to do. That was when I was about 17.

How old are you now?

I’m 28. I’ll be 29 in July.

What’s one gem that you wish you would’ve known earlier in your career, that now has helped your journey?

That’s a good one. I knew that you had to work, but I didn’t know to what extent. So that’s one thing I learned being out here and doing it everyday. You gotta put the work in and grind. That’s the most important, making sure that your grind is solid. People don’t see the grind stages, they just see the end when you’re already blown up.

They don’t see the nights where you’re not sleeping, trying to figure everything out or when you’re frustrated because you can’t get the melodies together or other small things like that and the details. But that’s what makes the journey worth it when you go through all of that.

Speaking of putting together melodies and details, what song from Love By Night took the longest to complete?

“Stay Awhile” was the one that took a little minute to complete. Before we had the beginning part on there it was just the regular verse and hook. I was feeling that it needed something else. So I went to Th3ory and said ‘Bro, I think this needs an intro and a little reworking.’ So we dissected the track and put it all together to what we have today. Which is an amazing song. I love it!

Who are some artists, songwriters or producers that inspire you?

Aw man. Stevie Wonder definitely. He’s for sure one of the biggest influences to my music style. I’m honestly inspired by a lot of people. Joe, he’s one of my favorite singers and an artist who inspires me. R. Kelly, Michael Jackson of course. Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross.

There’s so many, especially those guys because I remember being a kid hearing their voices all the time. A lot of my singing style comes from them alone. Missy Elliott is another songwriter that inspires me heavily. We share the same birthday too. I always thought that was kinda crazy.

What I admire about your project is that it’s left from the norm. Your style enlarges the platform for love songs that really make you feel.

Yes. That’s definitely what’s missing. The content and concept of love is distorted. Normally it’s the same shit. Music should be different, so I’m always going to keep that wave going because love is universal. Everyone experiences it in some way. So it’s always relatable.

Your lyrics are very deep and heartfelt. There’s love, bliss, gratitude for a significant other as well as intimacy without needing to be touched. How did you draw on these emotions?

A few of those records like “Night” were drawn from an experience missing this young lady’s company. And I just thought ‘I never think about this shit’ all during the day. But as soon as it gets dark and night comes it’s like ‘Damn, I wonder what she’s doing or I wish she was here.’ You know, those thoughts.

I knew that if I’m feeling this way, then everybody can feel this way. I knew it was a dope concept so I held on to that and eventually I got with the guys and we did that song. I was going through my notebook like ‘Damn this vibe really fits this concept.’ Then I elaborated on it more and got more in depth about the whole situation.

It’s beautiful when artists allow themselves to be vulnerable with us. So thank you for sharing.

Thank you! I’m glad you accept it. That was the whole thing — I was like ‘Somebody’s going to feel this.’ At least one person (laughs) and that’s the whole goal!

What’s Charlie Stardom’s dream collaboration?

I definitely want to work with H.E.R. I think we’d do a fire duet together. Have you ever heard of the jazz group BadBadNotGood?

No, actually. But I’ll check them out.

You definitely should, they’re really good. I’d love to work with them and produce a whole project. Frank Ocean, I’d love to work with him. Also, Diddy. His catalog has inspired me throughout my whole life. That would be crazy to work with him and get his ear for what I’m doing. I respect him a lot. Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder of course. There’s a lot of legends that are still alive I’d love to work with. Timbaland. Nas, a verse from him. So many people.

You create a dream track so fire it sets you up for life. It’s yourself and then you need a producer, songwriter and artist to collab with, singing or rapping. Who’s on it?

That’s fire. Ok. Well, I like a lot of bass so I’d work with Bizness Boi and Raphael Saadiq to do some bass on my track. Yea man. The song I’d love to do would have Raphael Saadiq play on it, Biz produce it and then SZA sings on it. I think that would be mighty fire. 

It definitely would. I can here Saadiq on the bass, you and SZA going while Biz orchestrates. You know, I was listening to some of your previous tracks, specifically “All That I Need” is fire. I love the jazz melody and instruments. 

Yea, it’s for sure one of my favorites. It was actually supposed to be on the Same Cloud album and the first single. Actually, it was. I put it out and I shot a video for it. But I ended up getting on a whole other wave, but I’m tapping back into it. The jazz and R&B sound I want to dig more into.

Yes! If I can, that’s a fan request. Personally, I have a bias for live music and instruments. Like you, a lot of my music inspirations are older artists as well: Luther, Marvin, Stevie, Gladys, Patti. Because I grew up on it.

Same! I grew up on a lot of that music too. It’s always played in the background to my life. Actually, the soundtrack to my life. So I had no choice but to fall into that wave. I wanted to create something that made me feel good. That made me feel happy every time I hear it. That’s my thought process when I’m recording. I always think of my grandma. Like this is something she’d like and play on her speakers. (Laughs).

I’ve peeped your socials and you post a lot of good music. What else is in your music library other than ‘Love By Night’ and your genre?

So much. Classical. I love Jazz. Of course R&B, which is second nature to me. But lately I’ve been into electro and afro vibes. There’s so much music out there that I didn’t even know existed. So I’m just trying to discover more sounds and display that through my artistry too. Because I’m constantly inspired. Everyday I listen to something different. I’ve also gotten into Odie. He’s dope.

When Charlie Stardom wants to get pumped up, what song does he go to?

Marvin, “Got To Give It Up”. That song, every time I hear it, it’s a ball of energy and turns me up. I be like ‘Ok, I’m back in the game, let’s go.’

An old soul.

Oh yea. Marvin’s definitely that guy for me. If he was still alive that would definitely be a collab I’d love to make happen.

If you had a collaboration with Marvin, who would write and produce it?

Michael Jackson and Prince. Gerald Levert would definitely be another one. He’s my moms all time favorite singer. Growing up he was most of what I heard. I would’ve loved to make something happen with him too because that man was the truth.

Yep, and his daddy too.

Oh definitely! Man, the O’Jays!

(We digress to some O’Jays history talk and their longevity in the industry)

So you know music pretty well. Is anyone else in your family musically inclined?

Yea. My mom used to sing a little bit when she was younger in the church choir. And she used to play instruments in school. My dad, he used to dance. Pop locking, break dancing, all that. My grandma used to play music all the time. I used to go to her house and I knew it was going to be a good time. She was going to be playing something as soon as I walked in the door.

That’s just how it was at her house. She also sung when she was younger in the early 60s. But no one else really caught the bug except for her and I. Me and my grandmother used to really jam to some music and she’d be like ‘harmonize this’.  Having me harmonize the D’Angelo Brown Sugar album — All. The. Time. That was her favorite album to play. So D’Angelo is another one of those guys who’s special. Every time I hear his album, it takes me to reminiscing on when I was a kid.

Do you play any instruments?

I used to play the drums when I was younger. I’m not really good playing piano but I can find my way on it and the keyboard. I can hear it in my head and find the notes. I went to a performing arts school in high school and they trained us on how to do music theory and I learned everything about the voice.

During band I mostly did vocals. I got vocal lessons and training. So I guess you could say I have somewhat of a musical background, but not officially. I am learning to play the guitar though. We can put that out there (Laughs).

That would be dope live.

Definitely. That’s one of my goals, to play a set or full show with just a guitar and singing. Yeah, I got plans!

How long was the process to complete Love By Night ?

Good question. Processes are always different. It took me almost a year or maybe two altogether to have this top to bottom solid project. There was a lot of trial and error. Fixing stuff and getting the art out there for everybody to fuck with. It’s not always like that, but like I said it’s different processes.

And it’s about timing. It has to be when it was right for you, not everyone else.

Right! So who knows, the next one could be awhile but I don’t think it’ll take that long. Then again you never know (laughs). Because every day is different and you go through different emotions and experiences, so it’ll always be different.

What were two stand out moments creating your album?

The making of  “For Too Long.” Biz was making the beat right on the spot. I was next to him and the lyrics just started coming to me. I started recording in my voice memos, free-styling melodies. Then next thing you know, I had the song written within 15 minutes. We went through it and then Th3ory came behind and added more to it which made it even bigger.

After that, I knew we were onto something. We already had three other records done before “For Too Long” even came about. So once it was finished I knew the four songs I had were going to set the album tone. We just kept cooking and that’s how it happened. That was my first “moment” in the journey. Knowing I was onto an album. A cohesive project. That moment that made me super happy because before I had hella songs and I wasn’t really being moved by them.

The other moment for me was when it was completely done. Finally finished and ready to be released. I was super excited to know it was all happening. Like we did this, we put in the work. Now it’s time to let the people gravitate towards it.

How did you celebrate the completion of Love By Night?

I took a trip. (Laughs) I left LA. I was like ‘Ok, I’ve stressed myself out enough. I need to regroup and comeback with a fresh start, new mindset and go after everything that I want.’ So it was definitely a relief. Two days after I got on a plane went to Chicago and then back home to Indianapolis. Kicked it with family and saw people I hadn’t seen in awhile. Being back home charged me up a lot. It was a breath of fresh air.

Independent or singed?

I’m independent right now, not signed. Just doing everything with my people, making moves.

As time goes on will going to a label be something you’d consider or do you want to stay with your current course?

That’s always a tough question and one I’ve gotten a lot. Everyone’s telling me I’ll have to make a decision. I’d like to do it but most importantly, it has to make sense. When you get with labels and certain entities they already have a vision for you and it’s not always what you see.

So your vision has to take seat to the back burner. I’m not for that. I want to have full creative control to play my art. I don’t want to sacrifice what I want to do for numbers. I don’t like the numbers games. So, I think I’d prefer to be independent unless I got a distribution deal with a label or something like that. I’m in no rush as of yet. Like I said, it has to all make sense or I just can’t do it.

Ok. Very last question and it may be the hardest. After singing, writing and producing, if you had to choose only one to do for the rest of your career, which would it be?

Damn, deal breaker! (Laughs) Sheesh. That’s tough because I feel equally 100% about them all.

I said it’d be tough!

I’d have to go with what makes me the happiest. And I think that’s when I’m writing. When I’m writing for another artist and they’re vibing to it, actually bringing it to life, it’s a really crazy feeling initself. It’s the same when I perform. Performing, your exchanging energy with the crowd, the people who love your music. So that’s a feeling on a whole other level as well.

Your dancing around it. (We laugh).

BUT SINGING. That’d be the one to be honest. Singing, no matter what mood I’m in,  I’m super happy to be able to do it. I’m always smiling when I’m singing. So THAT is my answer.

You survived the question!

BARELY! I had to give you answers to all of them. But I chose up (Laughs).

Photo Credits: Bexxxer , Alec Faught, Chlochella,

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Listen to Love By Night available on all platforms: Apple Music.  Spotify.  Tidal.

ALSO catch Charlie performing songs from the album THIS FRIDAY at Night Walkers LA: Showcase and Cypher.  PULL UP!