Meet Charlie Rauh | Composer, Recording Artist, and Author

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

Hi Charlie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When it comes to creativity and artistic output, for me, the most important element is sharing it. I make a direct comparison between creative output and conversation. If I sit down across from somebody to talk – I want to be genuinely myself, articulate, considerate, and clear. I want to give them room to speak, to think, and to consider. I want to come across as my individual self, but in such a way that they can relate to me and understand what I say – whether they agree or not. So it is with my art. It is a central priority for me to communicate the ideas I have to my audience in such a way that they may not only receive them, but hopefully, relate to them. If I speak to someone, they are the priority. If I am to create art, the receiver is the priority. In speaking or creating art, I will always be uncompromising in my identity – and my identity requires outreach. I made a life for myself as a professional artist because I am compelled to share my ideas through the vehicle of art. I believe I have ideas that are worth people’s time to consider.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work as a composer, studio musician, and author based in NYC – I enjoy the way all three inform, and ultimately improve each other. My professional life began with studio work and sideman work as a guitarist, maintaining a schedule backing various artists and producers across a variety of genres – I can’t imagine a better way to learn and develop as a musician. During this time I shaped my approach to the guitar and developed a sound that I could be proud of. Taking influence from guitarists such as Dominic Miller, Adam Levy, and Don Peris – I have always appreciated spacious, lyrical playing. When I started taking an interest in creating my own music, I adopted that essence as a foundation. A great deal of my music is composed for solo acoustic guitar, seeking to translate intention. I particularly enjoy taking pieces of inspirational literature and attempting to translate the core of the writer’s message into music. Through this process I’ve been fortunate enough to attract the attention of organizations such as The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, The Festival Of Words, Louisiana State University, and The Van Courtland House Museum to be invited as a resident composer and guest lecturer. These wonderful multi-disciplinary experiences have allowed me to use my music in collaboration with some of the finest authors, doctors, scholars, and researchers in the country – and eventually lead to documenting my realizations through writing of my own. My first published pieces came in the form of solo guitar composition lessons – elaborating on how literature can be translated into music by internalizing an author’s message and using music to present that message, rather than using music to react to the message. After enthusiastic reception from readers, many of whom contacted me directly with more questions, I decided to pursue the publication of my first book. I am currently working on a very special project in collaboration with my sister, Christina Rauh Fishburne, called “Simply, Patiently, Quietly” – a book combining prose, Christina’s illustrations, and a volume of my notated solo guitar pieces with a focus on creating purposeful music. In a way, this project is the culmination of my life as an artist to date, while also marking the beginning of a new chapter. I’ve learned that the key to making a life as an artist is to diversify. Living, creating, and working passionately in all that you do will always have results. The only way to fail is to stop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Rachel Carson’s book, The Sense Of Wonder, is a great source of inspiration for me. Her approach to magnifying the value of imagination, awareness, and presentness is something I often reference in my own life – personal as well as professional.

Website: https://charlierauh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlierauh_music/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-rauh-585539256/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Charlierauh/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1M8Gd5KYuh3H5TIFl6inPw

Image Credits
Personal photo – Joseph Ruddleston

“Simply, Patiently, Quietly” title page – Design by Joey Lusterman, illustration by Christina Rauh Fishburne