Charlotte Martin grew up in Charleston and graduated from Eastern, but her career has since taken her to new heights and new experiences well beyond central Illinois.

Martin, 26, now lives in Los Angeles where she is pursuing a career in the music business and finding much success as a singer and songwriter. She returned to her hometown to visit friends and family and enlighten music students who may aspire to follow in her footsteps.

Martin returned to her alma mater Monday to discuss and share her experiences in the music business with Eastern’s Musical Interactions class.

She has worked with producer Tom Rothrock, who has worked with musicians like Beck, The Foo Fighters, Gwen Stefani and Moby, according to her Web site. She also sang “Bring on the Day” in Touchstone’s new movie, Sweet Home Alabama.

“Bruce Flohr, my artist and repertoire, gave my songs to the soundtrack’s music company,” Martin said. “The company liked my voice and asked me to sing ‘Bring on the Day.'”

Martin earned her bachelor of arts degree in vocal performance from Eastern in 1998. During her days at Eastern, she began writing and performing in and around the Charleston area as well as the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of performing and writing, a press release said.

“My education at Eastern has helped me learn to deal with people,” Martin said. “I also learned a lot about different types of music.”

In recent months, Martin has been performing in various clubs and for benefits in and around Los Angeles. But she continues to write, record and produce her own music from her home, she said.

Currently, a press release said, she is working on her debut album for RCA. She hopes to have it finished by next year.

“Then, basically after that, I will live on a bus,” Martin said.

Martin said that her greatest accomplishments so far include owning a studio in her home, writing her own semi-autobiographical comic book titled 766 6th Street and establishing a wonderful relationship with her boyfriend.

In addition, she will have her song “The Girl I Left Behind” on a new CD for Lucky Brand Jean Stores.

Martin said that she felt it was important to come back and speak to Eastern students.

“I came back because every little bit helps,” Martin said. “There are people in Charleston who buy records and there are bands here.”

Martin is the daughter of Joseph and Becky Martin. Joseph Martin is an oboe professor at Eastern, and Becky Martin has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance.

“My parents have always been supportive,” Martin said. “If I fail, they’ll still love me, and I can always come back to Charleston.”

Martin said that once her album is released and she establishes herself as an artist, she would love to come back and perform a concert on campus.