Charlotte Lawrence captures the spirit of Harley Quinn in remarkable fashion in her track ‘Joke’s On You’, the latest to be released from the soundtrack Birds of Prey: The Album.

Given how the Birds Of Prey album features a wonderfully diverse array of female artists, one might not expect the nineteen-year-old to make as much of an impression yet she can stand tall with her terrific work on this tune. Her silky, magnetic voice flows through the verses, latching onto each and every lyric with honest reflection. The old-school, jazz-infused tones serve as a callback to the classic, soulful stylings associated with the comic book character of Harley Quinn. Just as the character herself, the melodies around her display dashes of elegance, rebelliousness, danger and a hint of madness. 

Lawrence’s most notable attribute is her ability to transform her seemingly innocent, light voice into something deeper, more intense for the purpose of the themes. The chorus also dives into some macabre sound effects, as Lawrence thrives on maneuvering through these unexpected vocal shifts, from humming in one moment to screaming the next. The lyrics also point to the significance of girl-power, something that is kept subtle but powerful, in line with the message of the upcoming film. 

Lawrence did not always set out to be a singer, which makes her effort all the more exciting. She signed on as a model for IMG Models and was featured in some illustrious magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Teen Vogue. Her foray into music began in 2014 with ‘The Finish Line’ and was further bolstered with the release of her debut album Young, released by Human Re Sources, and since then she has been consistently delivering her songs through streaming platforms. She has expressed interest in releasing a full-length album in 2020. Revealing how she seeks inspiration, she says;

I get inspiration from everything around me, everything in my head. When I write a song, whether I’m in the studio with other people, or at home alone with a guitar, I write about what I’m feeling in that exact moment.”

  Singer-songwriter 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.