9 September 2024
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with Cheltenham based artist Charlie Plews to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I am from the midlands (Leicestershire specifically however recently based in Cheltenham) and I first got into music through my father playing the likes of Oasis, The Stone Roses and Foo Fighters growing up, this was further built upon when deciding to choose GCSE music in Year 9 when I fell in love with the process of making music.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up, Oasis were a massive influence as well as Radiohead and The Stone Roses. These days I attribute my sound to Indie Pop Rockers such as The 1975 and Declan McKenna, as well as contemporary pop artists like FINNEAS and Harry Styles (and I couldn’t leave out The Beatles).
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as alternative/indie pop rock with acoustic elements and also incorporating some more shouty, heavier moments on occasion.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My latest release is called Falling4u. The influence mainly stems from modern takes on 70s hard rock classics such as Kiwi by Harry Styles and Ain’t for the Faint by Tuk Smith and The Restless Hearts. Some of the older influences include tracks like AC/DC’s Back In Black and Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin.
What’s your local music scene like?
The local music scene in Cheltenham is rather subpar with the same handful of University Alt Rockers constantly on rotation at the same 3/4 venues. Leicestershire is regarded higher in my eyes with lots of small festivals gracing the surrounding villages as well as some really neat independent venues in the heart of Leicester with a plethora of talent always on show.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
Within the next 12 months, I plan to have rolled out an entire EP in the form of singles for the most part (consisting of 6 tracks). This EP is conceptual taking on the story of a relationship from beginning to end.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
My whole ethos around my music is that I do everything pretty much as much as I can do myself. However, I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Paul McCartney.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
A common recurring bit in my sets is that at the lowest point of the set, whilst performing my heartbreak anthem “after all” my drummer Matt is humorously miming out the lyrics in the background (he doesn’t get to do much on that track).
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
My music is as authentic as it gets. In a modern world where there are 20+ songwriters and producers per song, I craft the songs all by myself along with my drummer (because I can’t drum lol) from writing to recording, mixing, mastering, artwork and promo. I believe this gives the music a greater sense of personal depth that comes across in the tracks.
You can find out more about Charlie via Apple Music, Instagram, Linktree, Spotify or TikTok.
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