Danielle Bloom was on a mission, to “rock Nashville " and "take it by storm.” Her first task was to put together a band capable of doing just that. The North Dakota native, by way of Florida, placed an ad in a local paper and her first respondent was guitarist Dakota Powell. Together they started Raw Charm.

Soon, bass guitarist Dustin Hubbard and rhythm guitar player Dylan Cruikshank joined them, along with drummer Bob by Gordon. The five shared the common goal of bringing artistic musicality back to rock n’ roll. “We don't just want to be a band that just plays music. I want to be a band that somehow brings hope to people. We all go through things in life and it can be so hard sometimes. I want people to come to a show and leave encouraged knowing they can make it in this life. I want to make a difference.”

“We all come from different backgrounds and different tastes in music. When you bring it all together, you’ve obviously got to put some kind of lid on it and that’s how it meshes well. When the other guy doesn’t know how to do something, somebody else can bring that spice and that flavor in. I think that’s really how we compliment each other’s style a lot, that we bring something different to the table,” explains Dustin, originally from Memphis, Tennessee. “The different cultures we were brought up in adds to the attitude and the passion that we bring to it. We really bring in our individuality and giving each other the space to show it, play it, speak it. All those different things, that’s what makes us stick out.”

Lead singer, Danielle says, “I started singing in church. My dad was a pastor, I started singing hymns and sneaking away with my brother singing some Janis Joplin. I always wanted to sing. My mom told me when I was two I was singing with a hairbrush as a microphone. My first solo was in church at age seven. That was pretty exciting. I started traveling and singing at age twelve and recording records at sixteen.”

“I started playing guitar around eleven or twelve,” says Dylan, who hails from Arizona. “My dad listened to a lot of Rolling Stones. I finally convinced my mom to buy me a guitar after I started playing my cousins guitar. I’ve been doing that ever since.”

Dustin says, “The first memory I have of music is playing oldies rock and roll that my parents had. The first music that I actually got into, though, was country music. Then I started picking up and learning all the classic older hard rock. That’s what I cut my chops on. I started playing around Memphis in a few different bands. The music scene pretty much changed and I ended up here in Nashville where the opportunities are really endless. I joined up with Danielle and Dakota formed Raw Charm and it’s been good ever since.”

“My dad was a drummer so, growing up, I was in a houseful of music. There were always all these musicians staying the night, crashing. My dad was up til midnight, 1 or 2 o’clock jammin’. My first memories are of going to hear my dad when he was playing at outdoor festivals or non-alcoholic venues. When I was eight he brought me up on stage and I got my first taste of what it’s like to perform. I’ve been addicted to that ever since,” explains Bob by, who grew up surrounded by music in Kentucky. “I can’t remember not being around music, so I was just cursed from birth. This is the only thing that I could ever see myself really being serious about. Everything is so trivial when you think of the complexities of melodies and rhythms. There is just nothing else like it, this is the only thing that interests me.”

Dakota, also from Kentucky, says, “I started playing when I was 10. It’s something I always wanted to do.”

As the only girl in the group, Danielle emerges as the ringmaster, “I grew up in church, so I’m just trying to tame these guys a moment at a time. It’s not working too well, though. Someone’s got to be responsible, right?” she says laughing.

Music is the glue that holds Raw Charm together. They all have a deep respect for it and belief in its importance. “Music is the air that I breathe, it’s the reason I’m living, it’s the fun that I have, it the passion that I feel, it’s the blood that’s in my veins,” says Dustin.

“He’s reading that off of a script by the way,” laughs Danielle.

“Yeah we wrote it all down earlier, I’m reading it out of a poem book,” Dustin intones.

“He’s Robert Frost.”

Dustin chuckles then grows serious, “It’s what I breathe, sleep and eat.”

Danielle agrees, “Music is my passion; it’s in my soul. I swear I started singing in the womb. It’s just everything I’ve ever wanted to do. I think once you go through hardships in music, if you’re still doing it and you’re still standing, you know you really love what you’re doing.”

Dylan says, “Music is the only thing I’m really able to do. Music makes you want to rock, makes you want move, to dance.”

“Get up and shout!” Danielle exclaims.

“Yeah, if the songs are good.” Says Dylan, “It’s all I really want to do.”

Dakota adds, “Music means everything to me. It’s the only thing that I can really be good at and do.” He means that literally. “Dakota is a full time band member,” he says speaking in the third person.

“I like to sleep all day, stay up all night,” Danielle says, “He also adds friends on myspace for us, which is nice. But for some odd reason, I go into our new friends and it’s all girls, no guys. What’s up with that?”

“He adds all the single women,” Bob by says with approval.

When not playing or writing their own music, the other members of the band venture out into the world of real jobs, only because they have to while waiting for the day they can devote all of their time to the music they love.

“ I’m a personal trainer,” says Danielle.

“Which means the rest of us should look good,” interjects Bobby.

“I’m also writing a book for girls called Mirror Mirror. About how not to make the same mistakes I did,” Danielle continues.

Bobby says, “I technically have a day job working at my mom’s restaurant in Kentucky called the Breakfast Barn. Really, I just do whatever I need to do to get by so that I can focus on my music. There is no other side to me.”

Dylan says, “I work in a grocery store, I work in a coffee shop. I work 35 –40 hours a week. I just work like that so I can pay the bills and do music. Work just to survive.”

Dustin pipes up with, “ I work at the most evil corporation in the known universe, called Walmart, maybe you’ve heard of it? They’ve got low prices, unbeatable apparently. That’s because they don’t pay us anything!” he says laughing. “I just work there at night. I like working with vampires and werewolves. Just doin’ what I can to get by, I reckon. Makin’ ends mean, doin’ what I can.”

Raw Charm is making itself known by playing rock venues in downtown Nashville. They are prepping now to record their CD in the next few weeks alongside the bass player for Kid Rock, Aaron Julison, who also happens to be Danielle’s brother. “We’re excited about that, it’s gonna be nice! Are you ready for us? Coz we’re here to conquer the world,” enthuses Danielle.

“Here to stay here to play,” says Dustin.

“We’re not just going to be a one hit wonder, we’re here for a long time,” says Danielle.

Bob by adds, “Yeah, we’re gonna hit you a bunch of times, not just once! And the drummer is single!”

Danielle smiles, “They are all single. And, so am I for that matter, you can add that too.”

Just as the members of Raw Charm bring their individual attitudes to their music, they each bring their own personal spin to their outlook on life. “If it’s out of your control, don’t worry about it. Just make life what you want. If you’re not living the life you like, change it,” declares Bob by.

Dylan says, “Live how you want to live. If you haven’t tried to do what you want to, do it. I’d much rather try and fail knowing that I tried.

Dustin, ever the poet, says, “If your soul and your life has a soundtrack, why listen to somebody else’s? Why not just make your own?”

Danielle encourages, “If you have a dream, chase it. Whatever you want to do in life, don’t let anyone ever discourage you or get you down from trying to do it. Just go for it, no matter what, and see what happens, because you don’t want to live with that regret.

And Dakota, the man of few words, sums everything up nicely, “Just never stop believing.”