{"id":71561,"date":"2021-09-29T09:41:48","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T08:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=71561"},"modified":"2021-09-29T10:25:43","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T09:25:43","slug":"charles-on-tv-today-releases-the-outstanding-ep-truth-lies-with-lead-single-lately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2021\/09\/charles-on-tv-today-releases-the-outstanding-ep-truth-lies-with-lead-single-lately\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles on TV Today Releases The Outstanding EP \u2018Truth & Lies\u2019 With Lead Single \u2018Lately\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles on TV is a breakthrough synth pop artist from NYC but that\u2019s a description that scrapes the surface of an artist who finds inspiration from very diverse things. The Beach Boys, the political and social situation in The States and saying goodbye to negativity are just a handful of things that shape the music that this exciting artist creates. To attempt to pigeon hole Charles on TV is near impossible but the one thing that is clear as I listen to today\u2019s EP release is that, with every time, I find more nuance, more depth, more that intrigues me. To listen to this musical journey is to recall the moment I discovered the music of Isao Tomita where voice was used as much as an instrument as a lead vocal. Charles on TV combines synths, orchestral instruments, witty lyricism and his voice is as much an instrument as the delivery tool of honest, relatable lyrics.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Charles on TV says of \u2018Lately\u2019: \u201c\u2018Lately\u2019 is a f*ck you song. It\u2019s an anthem for the nice folk who\u2019ve been brought up to keep wrath tamed and turn the other cheek. A song for those of us trained to passively aggress because we don\u2019t know how else to release frustration. It\u2019s an upbeat tune mimicking the smiles we wear when, inside, we\u2019re angry\u201d.<\/p>\n

The EP has a focus track \u2018Lately\u2019 but the whole EP has a lyricism that runs deep throughout and allows Charles on TV to deliver his introspective 6 track sonic journey which documents his experiences and observations as a queer, liberal male through a satirical, socio-political lens. \u2018Truth and Lies\u2019 for me should really be absorbed as a whole but if you need a gateway into the incredible music of this artist then take a listen to \u2018Lately\u2019.<\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to get to ask Charles on TV some questions and his candid, articulate answers give a great insight into the beginning of what I\u2019m sure will be a long and collaborative journey.<\/p>\n

EP: The new song \u2018Lately\u2019 really doesn\u2019t pull its punches. With a refrain like \u201clately I only want to see you cry\u201d, it\u2019s definitely a song that relates to that moment at the end of a relationship where love turns to hate. And yet the upbeat, almost jaunty melody sounds like a happy place. Was the dichotomy intentional, I\u2019m sure it was, and what\u2019s the inspiration behind the song?<\/strong><\/p>\n

CoTV: That assessment is right on! I intended for \u201cLately\u201d to be a break up-esque song but wanted to focus less on the sadness of losing someone and more so on the freeing experience of bidding a negative force goodbye. There\u2019s definitely a deliberate dichotomy between the angry lyrics and the jovial instrumentation, but I think that dichotomy ultimately lends itself to a cohesive feeling: clarity. And clarity\u2019s a thing worth celebrating. \u201cLately\u201d is about saying \u201cgood riddance\u201d with a hop in your step. It\u2019s about achieving a clear head after snapping out of a toxic love spell.<\/p>\n

\"Charles
Charles on TV: Photo Credit Charlie Szur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EP: I love the layers of your music, there\u2019s so much going on that it really doesn\u2019t matter that \u2018Lately\u2019 literally has a one-line refrain. Everything going on in and around the refrain adds more than enough depth. Your style really reminds me of songs like the brilliant Groove Armada\u2019s \u2018At The River\u2019 where a refrain almost becomes another instrument, just a part of a much deeper multi instrumental whole. What music influences your style?<\/strong><\/p>\n

CoTV: Thank you! I\u2019m inspired by countless musical styles and I think that\u2019s why it\u2019s so hard to pinpoint my sound. When people ask me what genre I fit into, I often freeze. For now, I stick with \u201cAlternative\u201d or \u201cIndie\u201d or sometimes \u201csynth-soul\u201d, though I know none of these give the full picture. My streaming libraries are eclectic to say the least and so is my music. I like to combine sounds that don\u2019t normally co-exist, like synths and orchestral instruments, nostalgic vocal harmonies and 808s. The Beach Boys are one of my main influences of all time and then again so is Tyler, The Creator. So is Tame Impala, Solange, Jerry Paper, James Blake, Blood Orange, Badbadnotgood, Gorillaz, Paul McCartney & Wings, Martin Denny, XTC. I don\u2019t know where the list ends. But all of these artists create music that moves me. Perhaps the commonality is dreaminess. I also think it\u2019s too early in my career to know who I am as an artist. I\u2019m excited to collaborate with other artists down the road and expand my musical identity. In the meantime, I\u2019m here to explore each and every sonic avenue that gives me goose bumps.<\/p>\n

EP: Having had the benefit of being able to listen to the \u2018Truth & Lies\u2019 EP, it\u2019s almost like an electronic symphony. Your vocals are always front and centre but never in a way that over dictates the pace. I found the EP as a whole incredibly cinematic, and very much like I was being told a very personal story. It was almost like you\u2019d taken a period of your life and put it to music. Did you always intend the EP to be thematic, or would you prefer the songs to be taken as single and separate things?<\/strong><\/p>\n

CoTV: I hadn\u2019t always intended for the EP to be thematic. In fact, I wrote some of these songs before I even knew I\u2019d be making an EP. \u201cLately\u201d comes to mind. But regardless of intent, all these songs reflect a distinct chapter of my life. That chapter is one of uncertainty; many early-mid 20-somethings can relate. We contemplate futures underscored by question marks–question marks accentuated by climate change and the pandemic. The EP also explores cycles of hypocrisy I observe within myself and others who operate within the American \u201cliberal elite\u201d. \u201cDon\u2019t Pretend\u201d is the track that most directly deals with this concept. We preach about injustices online; we care, we really do. But sometimes we care most about others thinking we care. Whether or not we\u2019d like to admit it, we put our egos first.\u00a0 The EP also nods at the current political climate in the U.S. as a whole. The EP title \u201cTruth & Lies\u201d is derived from living in a society plagued by perpetual falsehoods. We believe everything\/we doubt everything. When facts become subjective and a fascist president (Donald Trump) is in office, scary things can happen. And they did happen. They are happening, even as Trump no longer holds office. I find it my responsibility to acknowledge pressing realities in my art.<\/p>\n

\"Charles
Charles on TV: Photo Credit Charlie Szur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EP: Your music is very obviously electronic but I can hear other things going on. Are there more traditional instruments in your armour and how do you usually construct your songs? Do you start with the story or the melody?<\/strong><\/p>\n

CoTV: I went through an exclusively acoustic phase when I first started making music. I\u2019d cover the Fleet Foxes and other folk bands on the acoustic guitar and ukulele. My musical identity transformed when I got a midi keyboard. There were so many possibilities! Futes, strings, bass, beats–I could make them all come to life electronically. That made me really excited. Most sounds in the EP are electronic with the exception of guitar and saxophone, the latter of which was played by sound engineer and producer Danny Lapidus. When writing songs, I almost always start with the melody. Lyrics usually take form in the studio, with the exception of \u201cLately\u201d. I come in with a concept and some key phrases but rarely more than that lyric-wise.<\/p>\n

EP: Are there any plans to bring your music over to the UK? We have a brilliant multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter called Jack Garratt who I think you\u2019d really like who constructs music like movements in a classical p[piece but from electronic parts and is very popular. I\u2019m sure your music, like his, would really resonate with a UK audience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CoTV: It would be a dream to play in the UK! I\u2019m just getting started as an artist, so my fanbase is tiny but I\u2019m hoping and praying to expand it a ton with the release of my EP. I\u2019m excited to perform my first show on October 1st in New York (which sold out in just a couple days!) and I\u2019m excited for the many shows to follow. Fingers crossed I get to the point of performing abroad. Until then, keep streaming UK!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Charles on TV says of \u2018Lately\u2019: \u201c\u2018Lately\u2019 is a f*ck you song. It\u2019s an anthem for the nice folk who\u2019ve been brought up to keep wrath tamed and turn the other cheek. A song for those of us trained to passively aggress because we don\u2019t know how else to release frustration. It\u2019s an upbeat tune mimicking the smiles we wear when, inside, we\u2019re angry\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":71562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21447,641,7,21454,9,21445],"tags":[28056,407,6033,77,370,116,10677,3138],"class_list":["post-71561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ep-reviews","category-interviews","category-music","category-new-eps","category-new-releases","category-reviews","tag-charles-on-tv","tag-interview","tag-lately","tag-new-release","tag-new-single","tag-review","tag-single-review","tag-steve-holley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Charles-on-TV1.png?fit=2048%2C1468&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yMhl-iCd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":84396,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/10\/andrew-x-opens-up-to-us-in-about-new-single-whatever-it-takes\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":0},"title":"Andrew X Opens Up To Us In About New Single, ‘Whatever It Takes’","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"03\/10\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Andrew X clearly has 'Whatever It Takes', and in our recent interview with him about his single of the same name, we asked him about his style, his inspirations, and the answer to a question he's never been asked before.","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","block_context":{"text":"Interviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/interviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Andrew-X-Whatever-It-Takes-single-art2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Andrew-X-Whatever-It-Takes-single-art2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Andrew-X-Whatever-It-Takes-single-art2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Andrew-X-Whatever-It-Takes-single-art2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Andrew-X-Whatever-It-Takes-single-art2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73063,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2021\/12\/charles_on_tv_official_video_this_christmas_i_want_you\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":1},"title":"Charles on TV! Releases The Official Video For ‘This Xmas (I Want You)’ Today And There\u2019s A Hidden Message That We Should All Listen To.","author":"Steve Holley","date":"20\/12\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"With his usual wonderful style, Charles on TV has made his own version of a Christmas movie for these weird pandemic ridden times.","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Charles-on-tv-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Charles-on-tv-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Charles-on-tv-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Charles-on-tv-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Charles-on-tv-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17909,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2016\/02\/charlie-funk-give-me-a-groove-with-debut-solo-ep\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":2},"title":"Charlie Funk – ‘Give Me A Groove’ With Debut Solo EP","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"09\/02\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Brooklyn's alt funk master, Charlie Funk has released his debut solo EP, 'Give Me A Groove'.","rel":"","context":"In "New Releases"","block_context":{"text":"New Releases","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/new-releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Charlie-Funk-4.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Charlie-Funk-4.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Charlie-Funk-4.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Charlie-Funk-4.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47997,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/03\/hollie-carmen-releases-debut-ep-plan-b\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":3},"title":"Hollie Carmen Releases Debut EP ‘Plan B’","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"20\/03\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"With a sound that's several parts Amy Winehouse, a dash of Dionne Bromfield, a splash of Pixie Lott, and a dash of Lily Allen, newcomer Hollie Carmen has a lot to live up to with her debut EP, 'Plan B'. Thankfully, she does.","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Plan-B-artwork.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Plan-B-artwork.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Plan-B-artwork.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Plan-B-artwork.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Plan-B-artwork.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":83797,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/08\/akon-set-to-release-latest-ep-tomorrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":4},"title":"Akon Set To Release Latest EP Tomorrow","author":"Declan Hafey","date":"24\/08\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Legendary American recording artist Akon has announced his latest EP, titled \u2018Afro Freak EP\u2019, which was to be releasing in two days - now, with a day left until the eight-track release hits digital and physical shelves, we can take a further look into what it might be like, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/8A7B116D-14EC-470E-A580-C283D3B8945E.jpeg?fit=1195%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/8A7B116D-14EC-470E-A580-C283D3B8945E.jpeg?fit=1195%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/8A7B116D-14EC-470E-A580-C283D3B8945E.jpeg?fit=1195%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/8A7B116D-14EC-470E-A580-C283D3B8945E.jpeg?fit=1195%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/8A7B116D-14EC-470E-A580-C283D3B8945E.jpeg?fit=1195%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49211,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/04\/hollie-carmen-reveals-official-video-for-plan-b\/","url_meta":{"origin":71561,"position":5},"title":"HOLLIE CARMEN REVEALS OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR PLAN B","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"19\/04\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Rising star Hollie Carmen has just revealed her official music video for latest single, Plan B. The video was directed by Hedy Mowinckel, and shot in London\u2019s Whitechapel.","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plan-B-artwork-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plan-B-artwork-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plan-B-artwork-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plan-B-artwork-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plan-B-artwork-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}