Charissa Hoffman, both the first female and the youngest ukulele principal at the Berklee College of Music, has just dropped her debut album, Horizon. As a sixth-generation musician from Nashville, Hoffman’s journey is inherited. Horizon positions the ukulele as a versatile instrument ready for romance, heartbreak, and reinvention. Hoffman sat down with IINAG for a chat about her new album.
IINAG: Can you tell me a bit about your songwriting process and how your deep musical family history has influenced it?
Charissa Hoffman: I went to school for music, and by those standards I’m a pretty bad songwriter because I wait for things to feel inspiring.
IINAG: That’s normal!
Charissa Hoffman: I really admire people who can pop out a song and it’s good. My mom studied songwriting also, and she worked in publishing for a while, and one thing she told me that was really impactful was only to write if you have something to say. That really impacted how I think about my process. Not only with inspiration but also whether I’m just talking to hear my head roar or if it’s something that I really care about.
IINAG: Yes! I feel like there are different types of creative people, and I personally like it when someone does take the time to slowly create something. Your brain is collecting things, and the work that comes out is more thoughtful. You don’t have to be prolific to be incredible.
Charissa Hoffman: Yeah, I was reading the other day about Solange taking ten years to write Cranes in the Sky.
IINAG: Exactly! So how does the sound of the ukulele add to songs about pain and heartbreak?
Charissa Hoffman: At this point, the ukulele and I have gone through a lot together. I see it as an extension of myself. So I wasn’t necessarily like, “And now I’m going to make ukulele songs about pain and heartbreak.” It was just what I was writing about, and that (the ukulele) was my vehicle. I will say that where I’m intentional is trying to write stuff where I’m not just trying to play a baby guitar. The ukulele has a high top string and high bottom string. So I’m thinking about how I can create hypnotic patterns and trancy stuff so I am able to kind of create this vibey feeling.
IINAG: When I heard that you played the ukulele, I thought to myself, “That is so cool.” Do you have a song on this album that you’re especially excited about and why?
Charissa Hoffman: I’m excited about different ones for different reasons. One that is going to come out that I think is going to be a little bit of a showcase is called Parallel Lines. It is the only love song on the album, and it is about how I met my partner and how we fell in love. Whenever I play it live, it seems to really resonate with people, and I’m excited to have it recorded and out there.
IINAG: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself as a musician through Berklee and practicing your instrument for ten hours a day?
Charissa Hoffman: I think that I really went to Berklee wanting to learn how to shred and be this crazy face-melting ukulele player and prove everyone wrong. Then I got there and had these little songs that were coming to me naturally. I think it plays into a lot of things in my personality. I’m a very nervous Nelly, and I think a lot of those aversions to risk make it hard for me to jam or shred, but do help with creating these really intricate arrangements. I wanted to see what I’ve always viewed as a weakness as two sides of a coin. I can sit in a practice room for ten hours, and maybe I’m not shredding, but it still has value.
IINAG: What is next for you?
Charissa Hoffman: I have a tour coming up in November! I hope everyone buys the album and a ticket for this; otherwise I’m just going to give up and become a nurse.
IINAG: Oh, as a writer, I’ve been there!
Charissa Hoffman: I’m easily discouraged. I have a tour going up the east coast of the U.S., so that is going to be really awesome.
Catch Charissa On Tour:
- November 9 – Nashville, TN
- November 14 – Durham, NC
- November 15 – Wilmington, NC
- November 17 – Brooklyn, NY
- November 18 – Salisbury, MD
- November 20 – Troy, NY
- November 21 – Providence, RI
