“When I was sent away from home, age 15, everything started to get better”, says trans artist that exchanged Brazil for Germany

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Charm Mone (25) was born in Missal, Paraná, a small town with a little more than 10.450 inhabitants according to IBGE data. When she was 13, she already knew that she didn’t belong to the masculine gender and, two years later, she was living her true identity being herself, as she always felt, shoing that gender goes further than clothes but it goes to the way that the person feels.

Her involvement in the music and entertainment industry opened the doors for Charm to show her talent as a singer and composer away from the country, the prejudice and the bad looks. In 2015, when she exchanged Brazil for Germany, more specifically Berlin, where the queerscene is bigger and more popular. Despite the German people’s individualism, she says that there is something normal in being able to express your gender in the way the you really feel it.

In a conversation with GAY BLOG BR from Berlin, the singer/composer with androgynous features talks about prejudice, the challenges of the trans community when you are a foreigner and other topics.

What made you change Brazil for Germany?

Initially, it was my job that brought me here. For a yer my focus was between one artistic residence and collaborations that came along of my way. When I realized that I was moving my job and having experiences that were more connected to my interests, I decided to move.

Is it true that you knew you were trans at age 13?

I knew before that, I think that when I understood that I had a body, but the vocabulary and experience started to make sense since this age.

What are your memories from your childhood in Brazil?

A little messed up. When I was sent away from my house, at 15, everything started to get better.

How was is the situation when you had just arrived in Berlin? And why Berlin?

It was fun, always tough, but I learned from an early age to go through limbo with pleasure. I was really lucky to get to know amazing people that gave me opportunities to show my work and get better in my reality little by little, when compared to my history in Brazil. Berlin was a gift, when I got the award from MinC in 2014 (that facilitated the whole process of artistic residency) I send projects everywhere and in Berlin there was the only gallery that accepted my project. So, without thinking too much, I went for it! And here I am (laughs) rebuilding my narrative and life.

And how did the trans Berliner community welcome you?

It’s complicated to talk about this, I don’t feel like Europe has such a strong and present network as Brazil’s trans community. Normality here makes the need to be together different and the community becomes a different thing. I was certainly welcome by the black, immigrant and refugee community. The artistic class also welcomed me; even so, the idea of individuality is really strong, and you end up having to make it on your own.

Have you ever experienced a prejudice situation in Germany?

A lot of times! You can find people that don’t have things to do in any place of the world…

And in Brazil?

There too! My last job, when I was still in college, made me a stalking target for far right and neonates groups from the South of Brazil but also to professors and other institutional figures. That was what made me to look for alternatives to leave the country in 2014.

There are many immigrants living in Berlim, and at the same time the city is very cosmopolitan, advanced when it comes to entertainment, freedom, etc. How is this experience with people from other countries that sometimes have a more narrowed or even homophobic culture?

It’s interesting. It makes you live some very awkward experiences and it also shows how similar we can be. Mainly, when it comes to the exchanges between many aphrodisiac and dissident generations that end up meeting themselves and moving here. The bad news is actually that the bad man existis in all languages (laughs). I am for the mixtures and cultural exchanges. In Berlin, most cultures mix themselves, unfortunately they end up cultivating rests of a oppressing behavior and that is really sad to experience. But also, here in Germany, we have rights that are respected to a certain extent, and a notion of individual space that is incredible, so that ejó (mental confusion in the Iorubá African language) of prejudice has limits, you know? Everybody lives their own lives and that’s it.

In your opinion, what does Brazil have to learn with Germany when the matter involves the freedom of belonging to the gender we wish to belong?

Lots of things! The powerful ones, the general people, they should all be inspired by the way people here face and prioritize expression, independence and how good it isto mind your own business. In the end, it’s more about you having the freedom and the support (political, social, and culture) of being and cultivating a more inclusive society and that respects life than necessarily something only related to gender. After all, being whoever you want helps the system as a whole; let’s say that a group of happy people that feel good about themselves ends up contributing a lot more for a promising future than a society that censors itself, in lives’ closets, unnecessary judgment and etc.

It’s very long topic and I am still learning about it, but I believe that as soon as Brazil is antiracist, than you only have to stop the fanatism for religions and habits that are based on guilt and oppression, and therefore, become less ignorant, understand that the American Dream (cheesy) that the middle and higher class still cultivate doesn’t exist anymore, and that we live in our different powers and shapes and that is the reality of the future; everybody’s lives, mainly of trans people, will get a lot better.

You are a singer, do you believe that your work is more accepted in Europe that in your country of origin?

In the beginning, I believed that yes, the conceptual basis of my job was always talking with the demands and exchanges here, but since I’ve released my EP, in March, I’ve been seeing a beautiful acceptance that is coming from Brazil. I believe I’m aligned with both at the moment.

And how was your debut in the music world?

My debut was independent and long, it took three years and it involved a lot of affection and dedication from people that accepted the mission to put the extended play in the world, available for all of you. And even if I’m working in the industry for a long time now (writing for other artists or performing as a backing vocal), I had a lot of fears while exposing my musicality. I was really happy to be accepted and welcomed in a lot of places, and even with Covid getting in the way of my plans to become a superstar this year (laughs) I’m glad to know that this job still lives.

And how about romantic relationships? Have you noticed differences betweenGermans and Brazilians?

Lots of them (laughs)! I’d rather keep this department focused in Latin America.

Some time ago I interviewed a Brazilian trans womenthat lived in the sex market and in Paris after a while, her dream of becoming an actress had become true. Do you believe that Europe is full of opportunities for trans people to develop their skills e talents?

To a certain extent, yes. There’s still a lot of work to be done by the global community regarding the inclusion and raising of the trans community. However, yes, there are many opportunities, because here, lots of times, people see more than gender and, soon, the theme revolves around how you and practice (in a general way) can contribute with your local communities.

What piece of advice would you give for a trans person that lives in Brazil in an oppressive environment?

Don’t forget that oppression is only one of the possible realities for your story, and it was imposed, that is, it doesn’t belong to you. You can and you have the right to rewrite your own narrative.

How can we get to know Charm Mone better?

My EP is available in all digital platforms, my beautiful releasing video is on my Youtubechannel (please, subscribe) and I love Ventura Profana.

To follow on Instagram: @charmmone

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