Charlie Lord (b. 2003) is a young contemporary composer and recording artist based in Michigan. He promotes creativity and expressionism in his work by honing his craft as a jazz trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and keeper of a large musical library. While he also works on animated indie films, he strives to express true freedom and creative love in ways that have never been heard before. Born into a family of librarians, teachers, and park rangers, Charlie Lord’s focus on political activism and nature shines through in his music. He was born hard of hearing in both ears, which deeply affects his perspective on music and sound. Mixed with his identity as a disabled, queer artist, he hopes to uplift the voices of other marginalized artists and build beautiful atmospheres with his sound. Currently, Charlie Lord is collaborating with many musicians, earning multiple music festival awards and founding new music groups wherever he travels.
Long Biography
Introduction:
My name is Charlie Lord, and I'm a composer. My 7 word introduction would probably be something like "I Compose Electroacoustic Experimental Music, Spectromorphologizing Emotions." I'm obsessed with the sky, the clouds, the ocean, and the trees. I love cats, ice skating, dry humor, and pasta.
Some of my favorite composers are Kaija Saariaho, Catherine Lamb, Eric Satie, Eve Egoyan, Arvo Pärt, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Jürg Frey, Morton Feldman, John Cage, Steve Reich, Alexandre Desplat, Ben Johnston, Edvard Grieg, Maurice Ravel, Paul Whitty, Alexander Scriabin, Béla Bartók, Charles Wourinen, Clara Iannotta, Sarah Hennies, Michael Torke, Elizabeth Lutyens, Olivier Messiaen, György Ligeti, Brian Mark, and Ballaké Sissoko. Sorry, I got carried away there...
Family History:
Let's talk about me! I'm proud to say I was born into a family of teachers, librarians, and park rangers. My dad is an incredible banjo and guitar player, and has told me many magical stories of his time living with what was essentially a bluegrass band commune. I still have fond memories of finding him in his room at night, playing banjo. I'd climbing up onto the bed to listen. My mom seems to know the lyrics to every song ever, and I got my musical sense of humor from her.
Disability:
I was born hard of hearing in both ears, and remained undiagnosed and untreated until the age of 15. In these first 15 years, I was very musically active, and I believe that the lack of sound information to my brain caused me to hear music in my head very clearly.
My hearing loss also caused a great deal of auditory hallucinations, which did not mix well with the insomnia I suffered from as a kid. These experiences have caused the deepest sense of isolation and loneliness I've ever felt, and they still follow me to this day. Many of these experiences are depicted frequently in my work, likely serving as the source for my focus on human connection.
My hearing loss is still a strong and beautiful part of my identity; I speak American Sign Language and I purposefully stop using my hearing aids when I want to hear the music in my brain grow louder.
Queer Identity:
I'm transgender and genderfluid, and I love to express my queer style through fashion and artistic expression. Needless to say, it's very hard to be transgender in America right now, and I will always be unapologetic about my identity and the space I occupy. A lot of my music works to honor the transgender experience as a sacred, powerful, painful, and beautiful experience. If you are queer or disabled in any way, just know that I love you for existing!
Artistic Purpose:
Third spaces! Library economies! Mutual aid networks! If you look at the tops of the trees as they meet with the sky, my music exists there. I make music to create space for people, space to cry, space to be understood, space to remember trauma and to heal from it. I want to honor and respect the pain that people have been through, and honor those we've lost, and that we've survived. I want to be thankful for life, for nature, for breath, for introspection, and for honest, deep conversations with others. I live for human connection. Anyway, feel free to check out my photo gallery for more fun times!
Chronological Archive of Events Which Have Transpired:
July 20th, 2025 - Work on my first animated feature film begins!
November 22nd, 2024 - "Works For Electric Guitar, Bass, and Looper Pedal" is released on all platforms, CD is available
November 6th, 2024 - "Shared Terror From Us All" is released on all platforms.
October 6th, 2024 - "The Fastest Way Is Through" is released on all platforms
September 2024 - TikTok and YouTube Shorts pages are started, with 7 piano pieces and a concertina video being uploaded.
August 13th, 2024 - "Very Dangerous - Volume 3" is released on all platforms.
2024 - First album, "Very Dangerous - Volume 1", is released on all platforms.
2024 - The following pieces are debuted by the MARS trombone quartet in Chamichian Hall at the Central Michigan University School of Music:
"Lost In Autumn" (prototype)
"For Anyone Too Early"
"Some Old War Machine"
2024 - Central Michigan University's '23-'24 NAfME chapter sight reads "Acrophobia," a high school level piece for large wind ensemble.
2023 - Played piano for the world debut of "Aquarium - Movement 1" by Vegas Pitts in Chamichian Hall at the Central Michigan University School of Music.
2023 - Composed an original soundtrack for a short, animated student film called "Axie and Chad".
2022 - Debut of "Rainwater" is performed in Chamichian Recital Hall at the Central Michigan University School of Music. This is the first piece of mine to be debuted.
2022 - Received admission to the Berklee College of Music, the School of Music, Dance, and Theatre at the University of Michigan, and the School of Music at Central Michigan University.
2021-2022 - Received the following awards:
Overall Outstanding Soloist in Class B - JazzWeekend XLIX - Central Michigan University
Most Outstanding Trombone Soloist - Alma College Jazz Festival
Overall Most Outstanding Soloist - Alma College Jazz Festival
John Philip Sousa Band Award - Alma High School
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award - Alma High School
Woody Herman Jazz Award - Alma High School