Meet Charissa
Session singer, vocal contractor, vocal coach, and music therapist — based in Los Angeles with 25+ years of experience making music for film, TV, commercials, and albums.
The Story
Before becoming one of LA’s most sought-after session singers, Charissa Nielsen worked as a personal assistant to Rick Rubin and Cecilia Noel. During that time, she “learned the finesse of working with celebrities” — a skill that would define her career.
With a Music Therapy degree from Loyola University and classical and jazz vocal training, Charissa brings a rare blend of technical skill and emotional intelligence to every session. “I put my therapist hat on every day,” she says. “In a high-stress recording environment, you need someone who makes everybody happy — the person that hired you, the client, the kids choir, and the parents.”
Today, Charissa is one of the top session singers in Los Angeles, with credits spanning Star Wars to the Super Bowl, and collaborations with Neil Young, Post Malone, Smashing Pumpkins, and dozens more. She sings it, she finds it, she makes it happen.
Credentials
SAG-AFTRA
Commercials Sub-Committee Chair
Loyola University
Music Therapy Degree
25+ Years
Professional Experience
Bilingual
English & Spanish
What I Do
Session Singing
Pop, classical, gospel, country, rock, Spanish — versatile across all genres. 24+ national commercials, 18+ feature films. Self-engineers vocals with Logic and Pro Tools.
Vocal Contracting
LA has more than 5,000 session singers — and Charissa knows them. As SAG-AFTRA Commercials Sub-Committee Chair, she assembles the right vocal team for any project.
Songwriting & Composition
Original music for film, TV, and commercials. Quick turnaround compositions on short notice. Credits on America’s Next Top Model, Third Watch, MTV, and more.
The Network
Over 25 years, Charissa has built deep relationships with some of the most respected names in the music industry.
Rick Rubin — Legendary Producer
Ryan Hewitt — Grammy-Winning Engineer
Andrew Scheps — Grammy-Winning Mixer
Greg Fidelman — Producer & Engineer
Dan Wilson — Grammy-Winning Songwriter
Cecilia Noel — Singer & Bandleader
Colin Hay — Men at Work, Solo Artist
Jamie Cullum — Jazz Artist & Performer
Community
Elevate Gospel Choir
Co-founded and directs this professional gospel choir for film, TV, and live events. Featured on major productions and commercial projects.
Captivate Kids Choir
Co-founded this children’s choir specializing in film, TV, and commercial vocal work. Featured in M.I.A.’s Rose Bowl performance and more.
Cecilia Noel & The Wild Clams
15 years performing salsa, Latin, and world music with this beloved LA ensemble. Showcases Charissa’s bilingual vocal versatility.
Press & Interviews
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you need a session singer, vocal contractor, or choir — let’s talk about your project.