Rising Stars: Meet Cherise Carver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherise Carver.

Hi Cherise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Anne Murray’s “Snowbird” was blaring from the turntable when the nine-year-old version of me made a decision. I was going to be a singer. I won’t lie. Those first few notes probably resembled a cat with a cold, as the first thing my momma said was, “you’re singing through your nose.” I toned down the nasally sound pretty quickly while keeping my natural country twang from rural southern Arkansas. Nashville is the name, and it’s not the one in Tennessee. My love for singing took me to the stage around age 12 with talent shows and (try not to laugh) beauty pageants. When you live in a small rural town, pageants and fairs are the only choices to perform (outside of church). Country and Christian music were my genres of choice. I sang more in church than anywhere. We had an old (out of tune) upright piano when I was 12, so it began. I didn’t care for lessons because that wasn’t much fun. I decided to play by ear and started writing my songs around age 16. My influences were Reba, Martina, Patsy, and Trisha, to name a few. When people accuse me of sounding like a 90s Country Album, I smile and say, “thank you very much.”

It’s 1998, and I’m heading into Southern Gospel full throttle.  I had a Gospel group called Marvelous Grace, and looking back, I think that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. We cut our first CD and performed in churches and festivals in several southern states. I was the lead singer, writer, and keyboard player. I stepped back from performing in 2000 when my son was born.

In 2009, I decided to record a solo album in Nashville, TN, with Zion Music within the Southern Gospel genre. I was fortunate to get some radio play with a few songs. I had a full-time corporate job and a son to raise, so I took another step back for a while. Although I wasn’t actively performing or recording, I never stopped playing piano or writing. It’s therapy, if nothing else.

Fast forward to 2017, and I meet Chris Collins (musician and producer). In 2018 we recorded an album together. It’s a mix of Gospel and Adult Contemporary. We had no idea that it would be what we now call PRACTICE. I needed to find my genre. I wasn’t writing Country music and felt like it was because I didn’t play guitar. I wanted to write Country music because I am country. I bleed it. How did I solve that problem? I picked up the guitar (in 2021). I took some lessons. My fingers hurt to the bone, but I am determined. I started writing with a fever, and then we discovered that we both fit in the Red Dirt Country genre. I primarily write and sing while Chris plays and produces in our studio, Crimson Road Studio.

In April 2022, we released our first Red Dirt Country song, “Get Back Home.” It went to radio in June and stayed on the Top 100 Texas Country Music Chart for 13 weeks! We were shocked, to say the least, and very excited. We released our second single in October 2022, “Guitars Guns & Bibles,” and as of 12/06/22, it has been on the chart for 8 weeks. Our music video for that one launched on Youtube on 11/11/22. We’ve been thrilled to see over four thousand views in three weeks. We just returned from the Texas Country Music Awards show in Fort Worth, TX, where we met many wonderful artists and radio personalities. It just feels like home.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I always felt like I was born to do this, but when it didn’t happen at 20 or 30 or 40, you start to think it won’t ever happen.  I finally decided to walk away from a corporate career to do this thing. If not now, when? The chorus of my first single, “Get Back Home,” says, “it’s never too late if I’m breathing.” Those are my lyrics, and that’s my motto. There’s been nothing easy about this, but the cool thing about that is when you finally get to do what you’re meant to do, it’s the most fun you’ll ever have, callouses and all.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
The best compliment I’ve ever received was when I was compared to Bobby Gentry as a songwriter. She is my hero with songs like “Ode to Billie Joe” and “Fancy.” While no one can ever fill her shoes or surpass her writing, the fact that someone can tell she has influenced my writing is enough for me. I love a good story. I like to make up people that never existed and put them in places that only exist in the stories I tell. That being said, there is almost always a glimmer of truth in every song I write. It comes from somewhere. I’ve been told that I have a unique, soulful singing voice. If that’s true, the hard knocks made it that way. Like everyone, I’ve been through some “stuff.” I’ve lost loved ones. I’ve had personal struggles that almost got the best of me, but I’m still standing, guitar in hand, ready to sing you a good ole’ Country song.

What quality or characteristic is most important to your success?
Determination trumps talent, but you better have both.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cherisecarver.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cherisecarvermusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherisecarvermusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhCqR5KUkRMFaaq1Mu72Dw