Charlie Freeman Releases “Lost Town”
Charlie Freeman returns with his first new single of the year, the stunning “Lost Town.” It embodies much of what makes Charlie such a singular artist – the gorgeous vocal, incredible production and a huge dollop of soul.
In Charlie’s words - ‘“Lost Town” is a song about journeying through those long nights of the soul. Digging out the darkness and out the other side to freedom - ‘come on everybody, let us rise again.’
The west London-based singer-songwriter has been travelling over the last few months and drawing inspiration from the places he sees and the people he meets. As he’s been to different parts of the world he has channelled some universal themes that resonate with all – positivity, hope, love – an distils these into this perfect rock n roll songs. The result will be a new album, “Freedom”. Set for release next year, it’s classic rock roll with a modern, universal take that will see Charlie build on the work of his previous records “Love” and “Truth”.
Charlie Freeman is a unique proposition, a charismatic, louche rock n roll star living in Notting Hill. He has performed on TV multiple times and throws open his home on Portobello Road to the creative community around him. His home has hosted acoustic shows and photography talks, music healings and serves as a base for his Freeman Foundation, where he is able to offer support to those new musicians and artists from less fortunate backgrounds. He has recently set up a state-of-the-art home studio, and has many exciting new projects and artists using the studio.
Garland Kelley On the Making Of “Mortal”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Mortal?"
The creative process for this song was fun and evolved in the studio. My writing process generally starts on guitar and that was the case with this song. Once I found a groove that captured my state of mind, I created a rhythm track around the idea and began contemplating melodic and lyrical ideas. Once I narrowed in on the concept of the song, I had a much clearer roadmap in terms of atmosphere, arrangement, and lyrical development.
Could you discuss the lyrical themes or messages conveyed in "Mortal?"
The message of this song is an observation of mortality. While melancholic, I feel the lyrics are less a judgement of death and more an acceptance of its inevitability. Regardless of one’s beliefs, we all must face our mortality at some point and I feel that many of the feelings surrounding death are universal. “A one way path to the setting sun” is the focal point of the lyrical concept and I hope captures some aspect of the bittersweet beauty of life and death.
How do you feel "Mortal" represents your artistic identity?
I feel that this song is an excellent representation of my artistic identity in its message/concept, musical performance, songwriting, and production. I am particularly proud of this song and I hope it captures some truth surrounding a heavier existential subject while remaining approachable and listenable.
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
I try to be receptive to inspiration and musical ideas at any point. I have found that inspiration generally arrives unannounced at any time. There are certainly days where I “strike gold” when I sit down to write and setting aside designated writing time is paramount. That said, I have been struck by tremendous and instantaneous inspiration in seemingly uninspiring environments while I have had no inspiration when sitting down to write for hours. In summary, I believe the craft and the muse are equally important. I feel that the hours spent coming up with nothing is often the necessary work to break through the creative walls that lead to the random moments of inspiration.
Are there any specific venues or festivals that you dream of performing at?
Most definitely. Obviously, festivals such as Bonaroo and Lollapalooza would be incredible. Venues such as Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl would be amazing as well. For deeply personal reasons, playing at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA is at the top of my venue list.
Day Nah “Wild and free”
Electrifying, funky, and bluesy. “Wild and free” is a fantastic track where the wildness and playfulness held in one’s sacred space is given a voice. Day Nah tunes deeper into her feelings and intuition, harvesting the strength and potentials from her ambitions and passion. Vocals blossoming in chiming groove with a unique blend of sonic palette that evokes the heart and memory of funk, blues, rock and soul music,“Wild and free” sees Day Nah in full control, glistening in eccentric retro aesthetic yet does not lack its modern edge.
If there’s one thing that strikes out the most to you about “Wild and free” is how the song has proven that Day Nah has the range and potential no less than a mainstream singer. Her powerhouse of a voice charms in expressive recurrence, desires to be heard on stage, by millions. Day Nah has what it takes to command the attention of big crowds.
The soulfully and freely expressed melodies go to unexpected places in “Wild and free.” They convey different colors, evoking a wide range of feelings and emotive experiences without the aid of anything else. Her melodies are mesmerizing and lingering—“Wild and free” is the kind of song you won’t be able to forget for a long while. That’s how good Day Nah’s singing is.
Like many, Day Nah was once trapped in social constraints and expectations of who she’s supposed to be. After years of struggling, she decided to not let fear further decorate her action, but to follow her true calling. “Wild and free” speaks about letting go and letting free. Like the cleansing flame that burns away the old and sparking new energy and opportunities, the track is at the crossroad of old and new.
Read our interview with Day Nah and learn about her artistic journey.
Punk Head: I love the unique blends of sounds and expressive vocals on "Wild and free." Tell me more about the song. How did everything come together?
Day Nah: The period in which I wrote and recorded “Wild and free” was one of the most turbulent of my life. I had recently embarked on this creative journey with producer Radu Constantin and the plan was to create a unique EP where our different creative influences come together. After writing and recording Baby Cosmic Crazy and sharing it with different musician friends and other friends, I was filled with lots of hope and excitement for what was to come. It seemed like, professionally speaking, all of it was coming together for me, I had finally found my calling and my purpose.
At 33 years old, a year with great religious significance, after trying and completing several educations and working in different fields, I felt like I was finally onto something. On a personal level, after a very long relationship, I felt somewhat stagnant and restless with a strong need to experience a lot more, to meet new people, to experiment, to be playful, to fall in love again. Somehow my professional and personal vision for my future didn’t quite match the reality of my life at that point and I felt like I wanted to break free from everything.
Even my work password in that period was breakfree33, being inspired by the Queen classic song and by Jesus’s death and resurrection year, which I was quite obsessed with at that time. It’s probably worth mentioning the song was written after the first Covid lockdown, in a period when I, like many others, was starving after social contact and the pure joy of getting wild and free on the dance floor or at music festivals. So, for me, this song is the realization of my inner nature for what it is: raw, driven, carnal, passionate and the celebration of this realization.
PH: Can you describe the emotions or feelings you hope this single evokes in listeners?
Day Nah: I truly hope this song can inspire listeners to feel free to be who they want to be, to accept, embrace and celebrate their feelings and emotions, whichever they might be. I also hope it can empower them to acknowledge their true nature and calling, whatever those might be. And last but not least, I hope the song can inspire listeners to trust their own intuition, as this accompanied by reason and a good strategy will lead them to their best selves.
PH: What has been, so far, your favorite song to perform and why?
Day Nah: So far I’ve only performed acoustic versions of Baby Cosmic Crazy and it has been a wonderful experience, with much more of an intimate and personal feeling than the studio version of the song. I am very much looking forward to performing my songs with a full band, which hopefully will happen already this summer.
PH: What is your creative vision as an artist?
Day Nah: As an artist, I think it’s important to inspire others to follow their heart, not their fears. We often make choices based on fear, because we’re always taught we have to strive for safety and because of that we compromise so much of our inner nature and passion. I, personally, don’t come from a family where emotions and feelings were acknowledged, shared or accepted, so music has always been like a safe space for me to explore and express my emotions and believe me, I have lots of them! For this reason, music and singing have always felt like my superpower in tackling uncomfortable emotions and truths about myself and the ones dear to me. So, I believe that my creative vision as an artist is to inspire people to leave fear and overthinking behind and muster the courage to believe in their dreams and in their intuition. In my opinion, ”trusting your own madness” is a must if you want to live a purposeful, fulfilling life and at the same time feel alive and vibrant.
PH: What is the one thing that you’d like your fans to know about you?
Day Nah: I make my decisions from the heart, but it’s not always been this way. For a very long time I had difficulty trusting my intuition for important decisions in my life, like which career path to follow. And, as mentioned previously, I started and even completed several educational programmes and had so many different jobs but I was avoiding my true passion and calling for fear of displeasing others, especially family and friends. As soon as I decided to dedicate myself to music in a serious way, I was motivated by my dream and passion and started feeling empowered, stronger and happier.