Biography
Charlotte Hatherley's first forays into music took shape inside the grunge-inspired group Nightnurse, where she honed her characteristic pop guitar riffs while still a fifteen-year-old balancing daytime studies with nocturnal punk pursuits. Over a two-year stretch she refined her technique and absorbed the rock-and-roll lifestyle through steady club performances. One of those gigs drew the attention of the Irish indie rock trio Ash, who were searching for a fourth member. Surprising herself, Hatherley set aside her A levels, signed on with the band, and prepared for their appearance at the V97 Festival in Chelmsford, England. Initial reactions to her arrival in the previously all-male lineup were divided, yet her blend of approachable warmth and assured stage presence soon won over both audiences and reviewers. Her recorded introduction with Ash arrived via the 1998 sophomore album Nu-Clear Sounds, on which she also began contributing original material. “Taken Out” appeared as the B-side to the “Jesus Says” single, while “Gonna Do It Soon” accompanied the release of “Wildsurf.” Three years afterward she supplied “Grey Will Fade” as the B-side to “There’s a Star” from Ash’s third album, Free All Angels. Ideas for a solo project gradually surfaced, yet the group’s demanding tour schedule kept those plans on hold. While Ash worked on Meltdown in Los Angeles, Hatherley finally committed her ideas to tape, resulting in the solo debut Grey Will Fade, issued in the U.K. during summer 2004. In January 2006 she disclosed her departure from Ash after nine years. Her follow-up album, The Deep Blue, was slated for March 2007.
Albums
Singles
