Charley Interview
Mitch: Your latest single, Serial Idealist, came out January 30. Do you mind sharing a bit about the track and what inspired it?
Charley: I was trying to find a word that encapsulates the album, and for some reason, serial and idealist kept coming to me. I think because serial sounds a bit crazy, and idealist is something that I really relate to. With every situation in life, I try to be an idealist. Sometimes I do it a bit too much and burn it to the ground, hence my last EP, TIMEBOMBS.
I went away down south with some of my favourite writers, Harry Charles and Ned Houston, and we were in this Airbnb that we turned into a studio. It overlooked this green patch of grass onto a lake. I decided I didn’t want to write about any particular person, but instead about how I’ve always gone for people that are bad for me, but how I want to manifest someone who is good for me.
Now it’s a song about going for people that are toxic for me, but halfway through the song I start manifesting the one who is good for me and we’re in a sexy little cabin on a lake, in the forest.
Mitch: What do you hope your audience feels while listening?
Charley: I just want people to feel fun and silly and sexy!!!
Mitch: You’ve also just dropped a music video alongside the track. It’s so fun, it’s queer, it’s camp, and it’s so cute! How did the video come together?
Charley: Originally, we were going to have a guy and a girl in it because I’ve always wanted to share my bisexuality and queerness. Everything kept going wrong with every guy that we booked, so we ended up having to just go with the girl, which was amazing because she’s just beautiful.
The video is everything that I pictured for the bridge of the song, which is: “you and me on a lake in the forest, when it’s raining at night and we’re hot and bothered.”
I pitched this entire idea that I rock up to a cabin and the person is there as a neighbour or something, and Outro, the production company, came up with the big idea of there being magic. It was a really big collaboration, which was so fun. I love working with Outro. It’s now been turned into this magical thing where I hotbox myself with shrubs and dandelions and random things!
Mitch: What was your favourite moment on the set of the music video?
Charley: Two things! Firstly, I was learning how to skip rocks, and I did it one time with a really flat rock. You don’t see it in the video, but I did it, so you just have to believe me.
Number two was that we had one go with the fire hydrant because it was a fake one. It was the very last shot, and that’s all we could do before the place was completely demolished in baby powder. That was really scary and my heart was racing.
Mitch: This is a taste from your debut album, The Chronicles of a Serial Idealist, which comes out April 17. How does it feel to be releasing a major body of work finally?
Charley: It’s been such a long time coming. Being able to create an entire body of work that tells the story of my last few years of life – the really difficult parts, along with the really happy parts and really sexy parts – is so special. I really hope everyone loves it. It kind of feels like having a baby to release an EP or an entire body of work.
Mitch: What can fans expect from the album? Can you spill any secrets?
Charley: The fans won’t expect to have a song about boys on there, so they might get a bit of a shock. That song is a lot about the bigger scheme of things. It goes a bit back in history about the patriarchy and Donald Trump. I don’t know how to describe it, haha!
The last song on the album is one of my favourites because I feel like I’ve been able to encapsulate my anxiety about living as a whole. I’m excited for people to hear that, because I feel like it summarises the entire album for me.
Mitch: You’re also going on tour in May, hitting Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney & Newcastle! Why should people come? What can they expect from your sets?
Charley: I think people can expect to get a date if they’re single. I feel like my shows are one big Bumble meet-and-greet.
It’s very much the gay crowd! They love turning up in their finest attire and meeting each other. They then message me after saying they’ve just met their wife or their husband, and I’m always like, “Wow tell me more, let me be the officiant at your wedding please”.
That, and then maybe some mediocre music... who knows, haha!
Mitch: What is the best way for people to support you and this album?
Charley: Any actual interaction online helps it get to a wider audience. Also, if you see me out in public, come say hi! Those moments where people tell me what songs relate to them and why solidifies why I do it for a living.
Mitch: Who are some emerging AUS/NZ musicians that people should get behind?
Charley: There’s so many!
Lyric is a really amazing writer, singer and pop star!
Charlie Pittman – he’s gorgeous!
Will Baker!
Gretta Ray (she’s already huge though)!
The pop girls are really rising up as well – Holly Hebe & Aleksiah! They’re both amazing!
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS!!
Mitch: Favourite lyrics from Serial Idealist?
Charley: “Imma make wine out of water”! That line makes me feel like I can achieve anything and I can make great things out of shit things.
Mitch: Which track are you most excited for the fans to hear?
Charley: Either the first or the last track!
Mitch: What is the perfect listening experience for this album?
Charley: Wine with the girlies! Bringing your friends over, having a charcuterie board, having nice wine and sitting down and listening to it. Alternatively, doing a long drive on the highway.
Mitch: Finish the sentence! Charley is for fans of...
Charley: Emotional yearning.