Meet charlie otto | rocker

We had the good fortune of connecting with charlie otto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi charlie, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
the most difficult decision is something i have to make over and over: to follow my heart even though it looks like financial disaster. i was in college for finance and accounting but right before i graduated, i knew i had to play music, so i had to break it to my parents. years later i was in an outwardly successful tribute band but i knew i had to stop doing that and focus on original music, i had to break it to the band and the fans. tough decisions, and i don’t have any money, but i’m doing what i love

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
i make music just like everyone else, not too much sets me apart. and i hope for a future where needing to be apart from others is not as important, i’d rather focus on the ways in which we are the same, i’d rather be a part of something bigger.

but this is capitalism or whatever you wanna call it, so yes we still need to stand out. my live performance is a little different because i am performing music videos, so i’m able to make visual representations of the songs spontaneously during the performance, and people seem to be really into that.

i got here by following my next impulse, which i consider the genius of children, something that gets beaten out of us in the school system and by parents etc, who have carrots or sticks to get us to do what they want. when i rediscovered that my heart can tell me what’s the next thing, that’s when i started down this path, and i’ll hopefully never go back

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
i’d check the music lineup and bring them to my fave venues, martyrs, empty bottle, chop shop. eating, we’d just walk around and find anything anywhere, you don’t have to look very hard in chicago for stuff like that. the beach seems like a good idea, maybe the parks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
ray quinn – when i told my parents that i wasn’t gonna pursue finance but instead was gonna be a musician, my dad said, you have to find a music venue so you can learn the biz. he was totally right, and i am so thankful that i landed at martyrs in chicago, as a barback. there i learned so much from the owner, the true martyr for music, ray quinn. spends all his time and energy making sure there is a beautiful place for musicians to show their art

Website: charlieotto.com

Instagram: charlie_otto_and_his_gear

Twitter: @charlie__otto

Facebook: charlieottoandhisgear

Youtube: charlieotto

Image Credits
Brittany Harthan