“My overall personal and professional goal is to become a better human being and to develop an unshakable inner peace. It would also be to become internationally known and travel the world performing my music.” @Carl_T_Music 

Listen to the interview: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2015/09/17/episode-257-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax

GETTING TO KNOW CARL THORNTON
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio

I got into music…
when I actually started out in Musical Theater and segued into the recording industry.

I am most proud of…
Auditioning for the X Factor. There were tens of thousands of people there and it forced me to confront an almost paralyzing fear of putting myself out there, being vunerable and being judged and to just go for it. But, although I only made it to the 3rd round, it was the impetus in me that gained an immense amount of faith, belief and confidence in myself.

My overall personal and professional goal is…
to become a better human being and to develop an unshakable inner peace. It would also be to become internationally known and travel the world performing my music.

I continue to challenge myself by…
always making an attempt to be better than I was before.

I am most afraid of…
growing old alone.

My personal definition of success is…
to never give up or give in.

I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
President Obama since he is the first African American President of the United States. He has made history and has an incredible drive, determination and self-confidence.

I live in Brooklyn, NY…
there is a vibrant music scene happening here. There are tons of live music, open mics events and theatres. There are great venues such as the Village Underground, Cafe Wha?, The Sugar Bar, the Village Vanguard. I love movies, so I like to pick a day, pack some snacks and go movie hopping during my free time!

“Breathless” is…
about meeting someone for the first time and there is this undeniably powerful connection, as if two souls had been reunited after decades apart and being in that person’s presence seems to take your breath away. So, this song is from my own personal experience. It was actually the feeling I got when I met my ex-partner. In the shooting of the video of the song, I tried to have it exemplify that feeling of complete and utter joy you feel when you are in love. On a similar note, with my song “Keep Dancin”, I wanted it to be a song of empowerment and to uplift people and encourage my listeners to face their fears.

This fall…
I am releasing “I Remember”, which is the last single on my Mini-EP. It is about betrayal and heartbreak. This Mini-EP is expressing my own personal journey and evolution. I am hoping that I can inspire and uplift the listening audience to believe that no matter which challenges you face, there is an innate power within you that will help you overcome anything!

I prefer singles over albums…
since releasing singles gives your fans an option when purchasing your music and alternatives are great. I prefer to give people a choice. Fans may prefer one particular song over the other and selling singles makes it easier. I do not want someone to feel forced to purchase the whole album, unless they want to of course!

Creating music is all about the beat and the rythm…
which usually comes into my head first, and then I add lyrics to it. For the videos, I collaborated with my director Nectarios Leonidas to help in the creative process to complete the vision.

The music industry can be very tough…
at times it is like going through a minefield with all the scam artists that prey on the naive, by making promises that they fail to deliver on. However, I just keep moving forward with a persistent determined drive.

I love social media…
and I am absolutely fascinated by it. It is such an incredible way of marketing yourself. My challenge though, is trying to keep up with all the latest technology coming along social media.

Marketing is an essential part of the process…
since it is vital to an artist’s survival. It helps build momentum and develop a following.

Even though there is emphasis on being current and trendy…
I am just gonna stick to being true to who I am as an artist and trust that this is enough to make it and it is the right path for me.

BIO:
Singer, Songwriter, and Actor Carl Thornton was born in North Carolina. At the tender age of three, his parents moved to Long Island, New York and this is where he was raised. Carl began singing at the age of seven in an elementary school chorus. While on stage for his very first performance, he had an epiphany. Singing is what he wanted to do with his life.

His talents have taken him to such places as Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Istanbul, Dubai and Portugal. In 2013, he was contracted to tour and sing in China. From the opening notes of “GET UP!”, Carl’s first single, one hears the melodic drive and irresistible beat that entices you to move with unabashed joy. It has an electrifying and pulsating beat.