For anyone who grew up between two worlds, the question of “home” and “identity” is rarely simple. For Estonian-American singer-songwriter Carlotta, home isn't a single dot on a map—it’s the space between them, fueled by a lifelong rhythm of movement, music, and cultural bridges.
With roots deeply planted in both the United States and Estonia, Carlotta’s artistic identity is as fluid and expansive as her upbringing. Today, she uses that unique perspective to create music that refuses to be boxed into a single genre.
A Childhood on the Move
Before she ever stepped onto a professional stage, Carlotta’s childhood in the U.S. felt like the life of a touring artist. Her first eight pivotal years were a whirlwind of activity on the East Coast.
“We were always on the move—performing, dancing, singing,” she recalls. “My mom was basically my manager, makeup artist, stylist, and biggest cheerleader. She was constantly driving me from school to gymnastics, rushing from one practice to another, and taking me from competition to competition.”
From rhythmic gymnastics and swimming to step dance, ballet, and playing the flute, her early years were saturated with movement. But her upbringing was also uniquely multilingual. In the States, Carlotta attended the German School (Deutsche Schule Washington), navigating three languages on a daily basis: German and English at school and out in the world, and Estonian at home.
Sundays meant trips to the Baltimore Eesti Kool (Estonian School), keeping her deeply tied to the väliseestlased—the tight-knit community of Estonians living abroad. This early exposure to travel, diverse languages, and the thrill of being on the move sparked a lifelong love for international environments.
Then came 2006. At eight years old, she packed up her life and moved to Tartu, Estonia, a massive shift for a young girl. The contrast between the two cultures shaped her deeply. “Estonia keeps teaching me to be humble, patient, and resilient, while the States keeps teaching me to be curious, open-minded, and adaptable.” Funnily enough, after spending twenty years in Estonia, she still feels like a väliseestlane—just a different breed of Estonian.
Instead of choosing one identity, Carlotta embraces both. “Living in different cultures has definitely given my music a wide perspective. My approach is open and fluid—I don't limit myself to a single genre. Instead, I like to bend styles and incorporate everything I’ve learned and experienced.”
That fluidity stems directly from her musical upbringing, which spanned two completely different worlds.
“Growing up, I was exposed to two completely different musical worlds,” she continues. “In the States, I was listening to Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Rihanna, and Nelly Furtado. But in contrast, the Estonian side was Vanilla Ninja, Meie Mees, and Zetod. It’s really hard to compare them or even put them on the same spectrum—it honestly feels like I’ve been living two completely different lives for as long as I can remember.”
That connection to Estonian folk-infused sounds is built into her DNA. Carlotta’s maternal roots trace back to the Setos, an indigenous minority in Southeastern Estonia with a rich, ancient cultural heritage. Celebrated for their unique polyphonic singing tradition (leelo)—which is recognized by UNESCO—the Seto people have preserved their distinct dialect, vibrant folk attire, and customs for centuries.
“My mom's side of the family are Setos,” Carlotta shares. “When we gathered with relatives in Estonia, we’d sing together in the Seto dialect. Visiting Setomaa and celebrating those traditions with family has always held a deeply special place in my heart.”
Cicadas, Choirs, and Constant Melodies
Carlotta’s origin story as a musician is as organic as it gets. Music was both something she studied and how she interacted with the world.
“Constantly, a melody is playing in my head,” she says. “As a kid, I was always making music. I heard melodies when I clapped or snapped my fingers.”
Her earliest “instrument” was entirely unconventional. Fascinated by cicadas, she would collect their shells in a plastic bottle, accidentally creating her very first shaker. From those childhood experiments and singing in choirs, her passion only grew.
Her musical journey hasn't been a straight line, however. Like many young musicians, she faced moments of detour. She studied the flute at music school for four years in middle school before quitting—a decision she admits she used to regret.
“But it’s never too late to start again,” she says with the trademark resilience she credits to her Estonian upbringing.
Driven to master her craft, she took a major step forward as an adult by enrolling in the WAF Singing School, specializing in Complete Vocal Technique (CVT). In 2025, she officially graduated, marking a proud milestone in her vocal evolution.
The Momentum and the Cost of Intensity
For four years, Carlotta balanced her creative fire with a demanding full-time career as the event coordinator at the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden. Alongside managing large-scale public events, she poured her remaining energy into her indie band, midnight may, which was gaining momentum.
The year 2025 was a whirlwind of massive milestones. Midnight may crossed borders to perform outside of Estonia for the very first time, taking the stage at the New York Estonian Cultural Days. That performance kicked off an incredibly intense travel year that saw Carlotta cross the Atlantic three separate times: first to New York, then to Los Angeles for the Berklee songwriting camp in July, and finally back to the East Coast in December.
2025 was also about using music as a tool for meaningful impact. Early in the year, Carlotta spearheaded an ambitious international multimedia project to bridge contemporary music with cultural diplomacy, releasing a double single and music video in solidarity with Ukraine.
“The goal was to use music as a soft power to highlight the shared values of freedom between Ukraine and Estonia,” Carlotta explains. “The fight of Ukrainians for independence is not just theirs alone—it is a fight for the right of all nations to exist freely.”
The cross-border project involved managing an international production that culminated in filming the music video on location in Scotland, led by London-based Ukrainian director Iryna Rura. The impact of the project resonated far beyond the studio: the double single gained international media coverage in outlets like Mixmag Ukraine and Drive Music Media (UK), and earned an official endorsement from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia.
To top off the accomplishment, the lead single, “For Ukraine/domivka,” reached the Semi-Finals of the 2025 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)—placing in the top 15% of over 13,000 entries worldwide.
Between juggling her full-time job, graduating from the WAF school, writing, performing constantly with midnight may, and DJing with the DJ collective Sümbioos, the weight of her responsibilities began to mount. She was driven by an undeniable passion, but the sheer velocity of her life meant that her inner flame was burning out from the intensity.
A Creative Reset: From Burnout to the LA House Scene
By the end of 2025, the relentless pace had caught up with her. Feeling completely burnt out, Carlotta knew she needed a hard reset and a total change of scenery. She packed her bags and headed back to the U.S., first spending Christmas and New Year’s with her father and younger brother in Virginia before embarking on a solo trip to Los Angeles for a little over a month.
The trip was about networking and healing, rediscovering her joy, and reconnecting with friends she had made during the Berklee songwriting camp. While there, Carlotta found herself completely immersed in the local cultural landscape—from comedy clubs to live gigs—and deeply embedded in the LA house music scene.
For a DJ who can’t get enough of Chicago, Detroit, Jackin', and Tech House, finding a community that shared her raw passion for the rhythm was electrifying. But the ultimate moment of liberation happened unexpectedly at the Guitar Center.
“I went there just to jam, and I ended up playing the Arturia Astrolab 88 Stage keyboard for more than two hours,” Carlotta shares. “A massive wave of liberation, freedom, and pure bliss hit me right there. That’s actually where I wrote the chorus for my song ‘Tacos With Spice.’“
She even found time to challenge herself on the court, playing pickup basketball with locals at LA Fitness. “One lovely gentleman actually took the time to teach me proper technique—how to dribble and shoot hoops,” she laughs. “That solo trip was exactly what I needed to recover from burnout and just do what I love most.”
Spicing It Up: The Story of “Tacos With Spice”
The inspiration gathered in LA quickly manifested into an atmospheric, genre-bending new track. “Tacos With Spice” is a brilliant collision of cultural touchpoints, blending Carlotta's raw lyrics with infectious Latin rhythms that echo the energy of Reggaeton and Soca.
The story behind the track's production ties to Carlotta’s belief in serendipity. On her very last day in LA, a direct message popped up on the Instagram account of her band, midnight may. It was from Mateo Gutierrez, a Colombian producer known for his work with Grammy-nominated artists and multi-platinum producers. He had stumbled upon midnight may's song “Friends” and simply reached out to introduce himself.
“When I got back to Estonia, I replied to him, and that’s how the collaboration started,” Carlotta says. “I wanted authentic Latin rhythms, and Mateo knew exactly how to bring out that essence. Combining that with my raw lyrics and giving it a sun-drenched, summer feeling turned out pretty cool.”
For Carlotta, this cross-continental collaboration is the core of who she is as an artist. She attributes her collaborative spirit to her athletic past; before dedicating herself fully to music, she spent 15 years playing competitive volleyball in Estonia, as well as competing with her university team while studying at Sciences Po Bordeaux.
“I am a true believer in connection and collaboration. As a former volleyball player, I'm a big team player,” Carlotta says firmly. “Music, just like sports, is all about teamwork. I write songs about my real-life experiences, and it’s the people, the nature, and the culture around me that inspire me to release those emotions into the world.”
The Evolution: midnight may vs. Carlotta
As her music shifts, so does her artistic identity. While many listeners know her from her work with the Estonian indie band midnight may, Carlotta is stepping into a brand-new chapter with her solo project.
“They are separate worlds,” Carlotta explains. “midnight may is more indie and I see it as a collective work. Carlotta is my solo project. While I collaborate with different artists from all over the world, my solo work incorporates R&B, emotional storytelling, raw lyrics, and electronic music.”
This shift mirrors a massive transition in her personal life. “The band is located in Estonia, but to be honest, I am preparing to move out of the country. I need to take the next step in my music career and in my life—I need new challenges and goals.”
While midnight may will continue, the dynamic will evolve into a new rhythm. “We won't be operating at the same pace as before,” Carlotta explains. “I need to prioritize my well-being and personal growth right now, though I look forward to playing concerts, collaborating, and jamming with my bandmates whenever possible.”
Visualizing the Beat: The Making of the “Tacos With Spice” Music Video
For Carlotta, music has always been a full-body experience. Her deep relationship with dance and physical self-expression started early with childhood ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, and years of show dance in Estonia before she transitioned to volleyball. It is no surprise, then, that the visual storytelling for “Tacos With Spice” is just as dynamic as the track itself.
The creation of the music video was a masterclass in spontaneity and collaboration. While taking a music production course at Tallinn University's Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM), Carlotta met Evelina Nõmme. “I told her about my idea of shooting a music video, and she wanted to help. Since we were taking the course together, we just started doing the work.”
The team soon grew to include John Parra, a course mate from music production, and Tarvo Pajus, who came on board for the drone cinematography. Stepping onto her first music video set was a thrilling eye-opener that offered Carlotta an invaluable learning experience.
“It was a big learning curve,” she admits. “The audiovisual world is so complex. You have to think at least five steps ahead because technical issues happen. I learned how crucial it is to have specific roles within a team so production runs smoothly.”
“At this year's Tallinn Music Week 2026, Carlotta was deeply inspired by the Canadian reception, where she connected with Canadian talent and hit it off with Afro-fusion performer Kizaba… Carlotta supported Kizaba as his live DJ, while he joined her on drums for a performance of her track “Tacos With Spice.”
True to her spontaneous nature, a sudden burst of inspiration struck Carlotta on a drive from Tartu to Tallinn. “I thought to myself, ’I really need a taco bar scene in this video.’”
She reached out to El Camino, a taco bar in Tallinn. Mario, the chef and owner, welcomed the crew into his kitchen with open arms. “I actually got a chance to learn hands-on how to make tacos from scratch,” Carlotta recounts. “Putting yourself out there and just asking for help can turn out to be the best part of the process. Making these connections gives so much depth to life.”
Looking Ahead: A Global Horizon
With a fresh perspective and her burnout firmly in the rearview mirror, Carlotta’s gaze is fixed on the future. She is already building on a strong solo debut, marked by her first release alongside a Colombian producer. Moving forward, her mission is clear: to keep growing, creating, and connecting with international music professionals.
Her upcoming releases reflect this truly global mindset, featuring collaborations with creators from every corner of the world. Among them are Bay Area native producer, violinist, and rapper Jelani Brown—whom she met at a Berklee songwriting camp—French producer Yann Vertige, and Estonian drum & bass collective Rebel Cause.
Yet, her journey also features a special Canadian connection. At this year's Tallinn Music Week 2026, Carlotta was deeply inspired by the Canadian reception, where she connected with Canadian talent and hit it off with Afro-fusion performer Kizaba. That synergy quickly blossomed into a live collaboration in Tallinn: Carlotta supported Kizaba as his live DJ, while he joined her on drums for a performance of her track “Tacos With Spice.”
The experience sparked a new destination on her radar. “I definitely want to visit Canada as soon as possible!” she shares.
Whether she is laying down tracks in an LA studio, savouring tacos in Tallinn, or planning her next journey out into the world, one thing is certain: Carlotta's music will continue to defy borders, guided by the melodies that never stop playing in her head.
Carlotta would like to extend thanks to Tartu Kultuurkapital who supported the release of “Tacos With Spice”.
