Charissa Nielsen: Getting A Dream Career By Helping Others

09/28/18 • 39 min

Session singer Charissa Nielsen started out as a music therapist, working in a residential care facilities for troubled youth, before breaking into session work. Her passion for helping others continued as she and her producer/engineer husband carved out successful careers in Los Angeles, and now, Charissa sits on the singer’s committee at Sag-Aftra, and is a strong advocate for educating singers on the commercials contract. She gives some very practical and straight-forward tips to young singers, and sprinkles the whole show with nuggets of wisdom.

Bio

Charissa Nielsen is a Los Angeles based Session Singer, Vocal Contractor, Composer, and Actor. Before session singing, she worked as a Music Therapist, eventually becoming a Personal Assistant to Rick Rubin, Cecilia Noel, and Colin Hay. She has shared the studio or stage with Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Michael Buble, Perry Farrell, Colin Hay, and Seth Macfarlane. She is a member of the salsa group Cecilia Noel & the Wild Clams. Her vocals can be heard in the films Star Wars, Sing, The Jungle Book and Planet of the Apes as well as in commercials for Tide, Burger King, UPS, Hanes, Old Navy, JELLO, and Comcast. Charissa Nielsen is also one of three women that direct a gospel choir called Elevate and a kids choir called Captivate. More info at TheCommercialChoir.com.

Episode Links:

Soho House Malibu

Holland Greco

Holland and Clark

Rick Rubin’s Shangri La Studios and Bob Dylan’s Tour Bus

Billy Corgan & Smashing Pumpkins

Dana Nielsen

The secret recordings Carla was working on: Anavitória

The Container Store Pasadena

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Bio

Episode Links:

Soho House Malibu

Holland Greco

Holland and Clark

Rick Rubin’s Shangri La Studios and Bob Dylan’s Tour Bus

Billy Corgan & Smashing Pumpkins

Dana Nielsen

The secret recordings Carla was working on: Anavitória

The Container Store Pasadena

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Previous Episode

Carlos Murguia: Two More Gears

Carlos Murguia can count seven generations of musicians in his lineage. In this episode, he takes us through how he emigrated to the states from Mexico City, and how he got into singing on major tours and sessions. He discusses everything from reading vs singing by ear, the perils of playing 16 sets in a day, diversity in the workplace, and the unpredictability of sessions. Carlos and Carla geek out a bit on studio gear, discuss the advantages of having your own studio, and advancing your production skills, songwriting and the kindness of some vocal producers. He also shares advice to young singers about reaching deeper and further inside to find a more honest delivery from the heart, and the importance of being prepared.

Bio

Has worked with producers David Foster, Humberto Gatíca, Walter Afanasieff,

Ariff Mardin, Patrick Leonard, Jorge Calandrelli, Pat Williams, Jude Cole,

Diane Warren, KC Porter, Gustavo Borner, Aureo Baqueiro, Gustavo Farías.

Artists (studio or live): Billy Preston, Santana, Lady Gaga, Lifehouse, The Manhattan

Transfer, JLo, Don Felder, Fifth Harmony, The Killers, Kenny G, Mary J Blige •

As well as Latín artists Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias, Juan Gabriel, Alexandro Sanz, Aleks Syntek, Thalia, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Camila, Emmanuel and many more •

Credits include singing lead and background vocals on Soundtracks and TV shows

such as The Flintstones Movie • The Emperor's New Groove • Happy Feet • Why do fools fall in love • The Simpsons • George Lopez • Family Guy • Coco • Jimmy Kimmel • The Oscars

Live performances/touring include singing/playing keyboards and Hammond B-3 for:

Ellis Hall of Tower Of Power Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night Blood Sweat & Tears Bobby Kimball of Toto • Rickie Lee Jones • Luis Miguel • Currently a member of Jack Mack & The Heart Attack

Born in México City, México, Carlos Murguía has been around music since day one. Son of both musician parents, "the level of musicality in the house was always very high. Singing and playing an instrument was as normal as going to school for us, Classical, Jazz and Pop/R&B music were playing all the time." •

In 1974 at the age of 15, Carlos hit the road throughout the U.S. playing B-3 organ and exploring all genres of music with a special fondness for Pop R&B & Funk, with his brothers’ band Tabasco who would soon be signed by RCA. After being signed to RCA Records Mexico from '79 to '81, Carlos moved permanently to the U.S. again in 1982. Disneyland and Walt Disney World became “boot camp” leading the

house band for nearly 10 years, which btw this same band is currently Luis Miguel’s full rhythm section and has been for the last 25 years •

In 1992 joined Funk/Jazz recording band “The Art of Sax” performing in numerous Jazz festivals throughout the U.S. making 2 albums before parting ways in '98 to pursue full time touring & recording with major artists.

Songwriting includes placing over 25 songs with Latin artists such as Cristian Castro, Yuri, Flans, Camila and many more on most major record labels • Co-writer for the band Camila's single "De Venus " from their 2014 Grammy awarded album Elipse on Sony Records which hit number one on the charts all over Mexico and Latin America.

Endorsed by Hammond Suzuki USA

. For credit references please go to:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/carlos-murgu%C3%ADa-mn0000174817/credits

The Flintstones Movie

Jack Mack and the Heart Attack

Mary J Blige The Oscars

Luis Miguel

Lady Gaga<...

Next Episode

Felice Hernandez: Singer Friends

As a background singer, Felice Hernandez has toured with Hillary Duff, and sings in Oingo Boingo Dance Party. As a session singer, she has contributed to films, TV shows, albums, and award shoes. In this episode she tells us about how she came out from behind a desk at a label to sing with Cecilia Noel, and how that launched her career as a backup singer. She talks about juggling being a singer and a mom, shares advice for younger singers, and looks into her very popular facebook group Singer Friends LA.

Bio

Felice Hernandez – session singer / studio vocalist / vocal instruction / demo singer

A native of Los Angeles, Felice Hernandez grew up loving the diverse musical opportunities that big city life brings. Inspired by that diversity, she has become a “chameleon” of contemporary music, ranging from r&b, rock, pop, and jazz. There’s no shortage of incredible musicians in Los Angeles, and Felice has been honored to work with many. Her background singer credits include, NEIL YOUNG, HILARY DUFF, members of OINGO BOINGO, KEVIN SPACEY, MICHAEL MCDONALD, JOSH GROBAN, ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ and PETE ESCOVEDO. Television and Film credits include PITCH PERFECT 2, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, 90210, THE LATIN GRAMMYS, AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS, MTV TRL, DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS, Disney Jr.’s ELENA OF AVALOR, just to name a few. Felice is also the signature station i.d. voice of numerous radio stations in Europe and Asia.

In addition to working as a session singer and live vocalist, Felice is also a vocal instructor / voice teacher in the South Bay. Contact Felice for a private voice lesson.

FILM

Power Rangers – Lionsgate (release date, March 2017)

Pitch Perfect 2, Universal

Ghostworld, United Artists

TELEVISION

Elena of Avalor – Disney Channel

Transparent – Amazon Originals

Battlestar Galactica – SCI FI Network

Sarah Connor Chronicles – FOX

American Music Awards – ABC

The Latin Grammys – ABC

90210 – CW Network