World Folk Music in Many Forms!

Charles has been fortunate to study a wide variety of musical disciplines. He took tap dance for over a decade, while also playing flute for 5 years. Beginning his high school sophomore year, he joined the drum line and continued his study of Marching Percussion on through college. Becoming a member of the World Class Drum & Bugle Corps 'Spirit of Atlanta', solidified this marching percussion skill.

After moving back to Asheville, Charles found great inspiration studying and playing with the likes of River Guerguerian (Free Planet Radio) & Billy Zanski (Owner of Skinny Beats and member of Zabumba Asheville Samba). Charles' percussion proficiency was reinforced in African, Middle Eastern and Brazilian techniques by these excellent teachers.

Now years later, Charles enjoys teaching all ages and skill levels as well as performing. His primary focus is hand percussion, mainly cajon, djembe, frame drum and doumbek. In the last few years he helped co-create a community drum circle in Waynesville and also performs with a number of Asheville based musical ensembles. Charles hopes to spread the joy of music far and wide and believes everyone deserves to enjoy it!

Life Like Water is the brainchild of David Matters and is a musical response to a radical shift in awareness.
After many years of creating music through various projects (most notably the newgrass band Gipsy Moon) as well as a number of genre shifts, his focus has narrowed and his vision has broadened.

Together with his band mates Megan Drollinger and Charles Furtado, Life Like Water has developed a sound that straddles the edges of contemporary folk and traditional music from around the world.

This music contains elements to fit almost anyone's taste. You can dance, groove, bob your head, space out, tune in, relax, get excited, and possibly even shed a tear to it.

"Life Like Water has harvested a sound from the mountains of North Carolina that is uniquely suited to satisfy the needs of a world that is waking up. Some of their songs are a still lake, others thunderstorms, but the depth of their message is without a floor. From a dance with the devil to unnamed celestial sounds, this group of compassionate musicians offers fresh richness from the soul of Appalachia."

~Ben Stockdale

Noah Proudfoot and the Botanicals