Photo by Charlie Szur

Rising synth-pop artist Charles on TV releases his debut EP Truth & Lies, an eclectic 6-track project exploring the hypocrisies in the liberal elite world. The self-written and co-produced offering combines quirky orchestral instrumentation and live jazz elements that morph into the ideal backdrop for his captivating, smooth vocals, allowing them to melt into the synth-infused dreamscapes that he warmly invites us into. Herein lies the charm of Charles on TV, as he showcases his niche ability to shine light on the stark realities of today’s world through a satirical lense while maintaining an easy listening, approachable sound.

Tell us who you Charles on TV is

I make weird pop music. I make queer love songs and songs about hypocrisy and uncertainty. I haven’t arrived at a single identity as an artist but that’s what’s fun about starting out. I’m excited to find out who Charles On TV is, myself. 

What is the message behind your art?

I’m still figuring out what my art stands for, specifically. For now, I seek to explore cycles of hypocrisy within myself and within others with a comedic twist. Because life is funny. People are strange. And when the world kind of feels like it’s ending, you have to laugh. You have to dance in the debris. 

What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?

I write a lot of dialogue songs. That is, songs that feature internal dilemmas or conversations between me, myself, and I. Sometimes when I say “you”, I’m simply a self-observer–often an observer of my own hypocrisies. I benefit from the systems I snarl at. So do a lot of the people with which I surround myself. We’re not inherently “bad” because of it; a lot of hypocrisy is inevitable but still worth exploring. 

Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?

TYLER, THE CREATOR! I’ve been a Tyler fanatic for a few years now and I don’t see that changing any time soon. He continues to surprise me with his eclectic sound that manages to remain defined and cohesive. I also resonate with his self-deprecating lyrics and sense of humor. Tyler’s songs are as profound and brilliant as they are hilarious. 

Is there a record or artist that changed your life?

This is a hard one but it has to be The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds”. While many artists and records have inspired me to the point of releasing my own music, Brian Wilson’s brilliance provided that wake up call. The first time I listened to “Pet Sounds”, I got goosebumps that wouldn’t go away. I listened again and again and discovered new instrumental layers each time. And none of it ever got old. No music had made me feel that way before. 

Tell us about your EP and how it came about?

 I wanted the songs on my upcoming EP to tell a story–to exist in some semi-confined world–but that didn’t mean they all had to sound the same. Part of the story is that I’m still becoming the artist I am. I haven’t arrived at one single sound and I’d rather share each moment of the journey than wait for total sonic cohesion. So I’ve included songs on this EP from the past few months as well as one I wrote nearly two years ago. But 

You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?

One of my favorite parts of the songwriting process is messing around on a midi keyboard and throwing together sounds that rarely coexist. Why shouldn’t orchestral instruments accompany synthesizers and beachy vocal harmonies over Paul McCartney & Wings-inspired guitar licks? They should, or at least that fusion feels right to me. My love for orchestral instruments like woodblocks and timpanies came from listening to artists like Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and Italian composer Piero Piccioni, and I probably owe my love of synths to Tame Impala and Mac DeMarco. But I have so many musical influences that it’s hard to know where that list ends or begins. But my sound is always evolving and I’m excited to collaborate with more artists in the near future and reach beyond my current notions of “Charles On TV”.

How do you hope to make people feel while listening to your music?

I want to give people goosebumps. Lol. When I’m super into a song, the hairs always stand up on my skin and I want to give others that feeling. I also want to let people into my mind a little bit. I’m a social person but I can be pretty  guarded, even secretive. My music is a way of showing more of myself–opening up my being to others–in a way that’s frankly more comfortable. 

Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?

I’m super new to all of this so my fanbase is pretty tiny. I’m excited to start performing my music and expanding that fanbase beyond friends of friends of friends. I want to touch people I don’t know and inspire them the way so many artists have inspired me. And as I’ve said before, I’d love to work on more collaborative projects and broaden my identity as an artist.

Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?

Mental health isn’t always my friend and that goes hand-in-hand with a tendency to contemplate giving up. While I’ve never felt compelled to stop making music altogether, it takes a ton of motivation to continue pursuing music as a career. But I’ve worked on prioritizing internal validation over external praise or lack thereof. When you only focus on the streams and the likes, that’s a pretty unsustainable existence as an artist. So I’m allowing the process to unfold and I’ll keep churning out music no matter my projections of perceived clout. This is only the beginning. 

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Be patient.

What do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?

I really hope a streaming platform will emerge that pays artists adequately. That would be a game changer. I also feel like pop music is on track to becoming more experimental and just, frankly, better. I love what I’m seeing now in the pop music scene. Artists are testing the boundaries of genre and socially-acceptable aesthetics. I have faith in music.