Charlotte Hatherley

Charlotte Hatherley

Charlotte Hatherley is a London-born English guitarist and singer-songwriter who works in indie rock, power pop and rock. She is best known as a former guitarist and backing vocalist in Ash, and she also performs under the alias Sylver Tongue.

Early work and Ash

Before joining Ash, Hatherley plays in the punk rock band Nightnurse from the age of 16. The band gains moderate success, and Ash frontman Tim Wheeler sees her perform at one of their gigs. She is later recruited as the fourth and final member of Ash. Her first album with the group is Nu Clear Sounds, where she plays lead guitar on all tracks and writes the song WildSurf. In Ash, she mainly contributes guitar and backing vocals, and she co-writes some songs with Wheeler.

Solo career

The title track from Hatherley’s first solo album, Grey Will Fade, first appears as a B-side to one of Ash’s singles. The band supports her decision to record it separately because they feel it does not fit Ash’s sound. Grey Will Fade is released in 2004, and its singles Bastardo, Kim Wilde and Summer all receive strong critical praise. The videos for Bastardo and Summer are directed by Edgar Wright, her former boyfriend. Her second album, The Deep Blue, is released in 2007 on her own label, Little Sister Records, which she sets up with her manager Ann-Marie Shields. Her third solo album, New Worlds, follows in 2009. In 2006 she announces that she leaves Ash to focus on her solo work.

Other work

Between The Deep Blue and New Worlds, Hatherley tours as a guitarist with Bat for Lashes. She also plays bass with Client from December 2007. Before and alongside her solo recordings, she remains active in other collaborations and live work, and she continues to record and perform under the Sylver Tongue name.