Photo courtesy of Shervin Lainez
Mustang Daily Staff Report
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When Jessica Charlotte Poland was just a teen, she was diagnosed with condylar resorption, a disease affecting jaw joints. Since then she has been named a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist and has been featured on season two of NBC’s “The Voice.”
Today, she is in the middle of a tour that includes a stop at San Luis Obispo’s own Linnaea’s Café on Sept. 20.
Known by her stage name of “Charlotte Sometimes” — taken from Penelope Farmers’ 1969 children book by the same name — the self-proclaimed “alternative pop-rock” singer released a studio album and three EPs all within four years.
“I guess I’ve always been into music,” she said. “I was always singing and I guess when I was 13 or 14 I just started writing songs. I think that like being an artist isn’t really a choice, I think it’s just who you are.”
Sometimes’ voice echoes the style of folk-alternative singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, with the sass and originality of singer-songwriter Kate Voegle.
One characteristic that sets her apart from others is her apparent confidence, despite her diagnosis.
“It was pretty scary when I was diagnosed,” Sometimes said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was scared I wasn’t going to be attractive. It was scary but it made me a stronger person.”
Despite this, the 25-year-old remains upbeat — a sentiment that readily translates into her music and has helped her to continue to pursue what she loves.
In 2011, she was a contestant in season two of “The Voice.”
“It was so much fun,” she said. “It was kind of overwhelming. The coaches were really cool.”
Ultimately, Sometimes chose country singer Blake Shelton as her coach on the show.
“I chose Blake because I thought that he was the most easy going and fun,” she said.
If she wasn’t going to get very far, she wanted to have fun, she said.
As far as life after “The Voice,” Sometimes doesn’t feel as though her life as changed much.
“I think it’s another chapter in a very long book,” she said.
Sometimes’ music, including her latest EP “Circus Head,” is available on iTunes and Spotify. Her show at Linnaea’s is free and is set to begin at 7 p.m.