Listen to ... Charlie Smith – One day some day
There's no harm in wearing your influences on your sleeve ...
Take even a passing glance at Charlie Smith’s socials and you’ll soon form an image of an artist juggling self-deprecation with a drive to perform and hone his craft. It’s an odd balance that’s being projected – and one that makes Charlie’s work all the more endearing.
Look at the Hampshire musician’s catalogue of music, and this perceived lack of confidence is all the more jarring. With almost 40 tracks released on Soundcloud – ranging from raw ideas to his latest single – he’s an experienced artist that has undoubtedly grown since bringing his first handful of songs into the world.
“So I must admit, after playing this song over and over for the last few weeks, I've grown to hate it intensely. Passionately even, you could say. I'm going to write some songs that are easier to play live …”
Dive into ‘One day some day’ with this knowledge and you’ll come to appreciate the track. While there’s always room for improvement on any release, there’s a renewed level of polish and production on this single from the off.
A ringing acoustic guitar lingers while Charlie’s husky vocals set a slightly sombre tone from the off. There’s soon a tease of a crescendo as we get to the chorus, with Charlie’s influences for the track becoming clear: there’s more than an ounce of late nineties grunge in this mix.
When paired with the ambiguous label of the ‘singer-songwriter’ subgenre, you might expect something more akin to a traditional folk track. That’s far from the case here, with the single wielding a solo which is ideally positioned to provide a respite to listeners while keeping the track’s pace going strong.
When considered alongside his previous release ‘Have it all’, the single reinforces Charlie’s established style – one best described as acoustic punk. But in wearing his influences prominently on his sleeve, Charlie’s work sets and meets clear expectations.
Its simplicity works alongside a lo-fi – but clear and purposeful – mix. While getting into the track may take a few listens, it’s an adept offering that effortless works with the direction he’s going as a budding solo alternative artist.
As always, head over to Charlie’s Instagram to see what he’s got on the horizon. And while you’re there, do head over to the Rave Reviews Instagram, too – yeah?