An Interview With Charli Adams

Charli Adams is a remarkable alternative pop artist based in Nashville, TN, who has just released her debut album, ‘Bullseye’.

Consisting of previously released singles, such as ‘Cheer Captain’ and ‘Get High w/ My Friends’, alongside new tracks, ‘Bullseye’ is an eclectic mixture of genuine personality. It’s a fascinating compilation of relatable and free-spirited pop anthems, that undoubtedly resonates with listeners.

 

Recently, I had the privilege of conducting an email interview with Charli where we discussed the record, dream collaborations, musical influences, the current state of the music industry post-COVID and much more!  

 

Your new album ‘Bullseye’ is set to be released on July 16^th - congratulations! What would you say is unique about this album in comparison to your earlier material? What is something listeners can expect to hear that you are most excited about? 

 

Thanks so much! The album was written while I was experimenting a bit musically and wasn't really aware that it would become my debut album, so I think that's why it's pretty genre-bending and all over the place. It was a chaotic time in the world and in my personal life so it's special to me that the album sort of sonically captures that moment in time. I think I'm most excited for people to hear it top to bottom the way I prefer to listen to records; the closing track is my favourite. 

You ha ve collaborated with some awesome and notable artists, such as Novo Amor and NIGHTLY. If given the opportunity to work with any artist in the world, who would you choose to work on a song with? 

 

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of all of the featured artists on ‘Bullseye’. It's still hard to believe I had the opportunity to collaborate with each of them, they're all wildly talented. This is such a tough question, but I think I'd do just about anything to write a song with Taylor Swift, so I'm gonna go with Taylor Swift. 

 

Who would you consider to be your primary musical influences, and what inspired you to begin creating?

 

I think I'm most influenced lyrically by the darker sort of casual melodramatic songwriters, like Sun Kil Moon or Elliott Smith. When I was younger, I listened to the classics of the 2000's like Hilary Duff & Avril Lavigne. I always loved an epic chorus, so I think sonically I'm influenced by bands like The Cure, or The 1975. People who sort of trojan horse sadness into a big pop tune. 

 

What is the best advice you have been given about working in the music industry? 

 

Hm, that's hard because I feel like we're all just winging it, but I've been lucky to have a team that really encourages me to be my truest self. I know ‘Bullseye’ wouldn't be the same without them. They helped me realize that being authentic to who you are is kind of your best and only shot. 

 

What do you enjoy most about being a musician?

 

Hands down, my favourite part is performing. I'm a Leo sun, so it's super predictable, but it’s just a really special experience. I always dreamed about being on a stage when I was a kid and it's one of the few things that actually lived up to the expectation. 

 

Being a queer individual that grew up in a very conservative, evangelical home, I found myself relating heavily to your song, ‘Cheer Captain’. Can you talk about the process that went into writing this song, and did you receive any backlash upon its release?

 

Absolutely. Yeah, I wrote this song after I thought the album was finished so I think that's why it's almost a trauma dump. I didn't think there was a chance it would make it on ‘Bullseye’, so I thought I had time and wasn't afraid to let it all out. I've never been more anxious to release a song or video, but it was the catalyst for some really tough and healing conversations. Sometimes It doesn't feel like it but being honest about who you are is always worth it. Your life is about you, not them, and that's something I'm learning. 

 

It is without a doubt that the COVID outbreak significantly impacted the music industry and destroyed many of the opportunities artists typically had access to. It looks like things are finally beginning to change - what are your thoughts and feelings on the future of this industry in a post-COVID world? Is there anything you are most looking forward to?

 

To be completely transparent, I haven't been optimistic about it whatsoever. It's scary because the music industry doesn't look the same as it did when I chose this as a career. I'm really looking forward to the things that made me feel alive and real. The internet can make you feel overstimulated and weirdly disconnected at the same time. We started writing songs over zoom, touring stopped, and social media became more important than ever. All of this kind of goes against my nature, so I'm very excited to play a show, hug people and travel again. 

 

 

Addison Rider

@AddisonRider

Image: Bullseye official album artwork