In his self-produced and written new single, Charles on TV explores the truths and lies in what many may consider the era of perpetual falsehoods with his retro, vintage sound. His self-coined pseudonym, the golden alligator, represents those who choose to find comfort in the lies they’re fed.
“Golden Alligator” it’s his funkiest, most eclectic offering yet, fusing new-wave jazz, synth-pop and soul. Close your eyes and this single will teleport half of your body to a dim late night jazz lounge of the 60s while the other half is teleported to the front row at the main stage of Woodstock, where the energy is fueled by a desire for peace and political change.
“One night, a documentary on QAnon intrigued and disturbed me to the point of writing a song about truth in this era of lies.
I was listening to a lot of Jerry Paper, XTC, and Tyler, the Creator at the time; these inspirations helped guide my ironic and often metaphorical lyrics as well as my instrumentation in “Golden Alligator” (a mix of strings, clavs, hypnotic synths, and wood blocks that can feel refreshingly out of place).
The song was going to be released just within the EP but after some conversations with seasoned music folks, I decided to release it as a single, previewing the coming EP: “Truth & Lies”.
Fusing sounds reminiscent of everyone from the Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Tyler, The Creator to even the Beach Boys, Charles creates music that is easy on the ears (and truly unlike any new music I’ve heard in the past few years). “Golden Alligator” is the lead single from Charles on TV’s debut EP Truth and Lies set to release late Summer 2021.
Golden alligator is a pseudonym for those who choose to find comfort in the lies they’re fed, far less taxing than facing the pain that comes with understanding the truth. Coming face to face with a golden alligator and seeing it for what it truly is can be seen as a coming of age moment for the young artist.
“You’re the Golden Alligator, But it’s gonna snow, You’re not ready, To exit, Everything you know” – lyrics from Charles on TV’s “Golden Alligator”
The self-produced and written single is accompanied by an eclectic video shot and edited by the artist himself on his most recent trip to LA. The retro-funk aesthetic pairs perfectly with the single’s sonics as well as the quirky satire found in Charles on TV’s lyricism.
Following the January release of his last single “Strong Man,” a sobering, yet quirky song about toxic masculinity and its role in rising authoritarianism, the 24-year-old artist seems to be honing in on a theme, championing his ability to display his social awareness through his impressive vocal performance while borrowing elements from various genres. “Golden Alligator” is the lead single from the artist’s forthcoming 5-track debut EP Truth and Lies, set to release late Summer 2021.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve been writing melodies for as long as I can remember. As a child, I’d articulate these melodies through some guttural version of beatboxing and humming to myself. When I reached high school I started recording my ideas on GarageBand; I thought to myself, maybe I don’t want to lose these melodies, maybe I want to keep them with me or maybe even share them some day. And then the tunes in my head became songs with lyrics, verses and choruses, beginnings and ends.
I continued to song write and record in college but also realized my love for performing when I joined an acapella group and two bands Frogg and Parents. I miss those days of performing in front of live audiences. It’s a high when people sway to your sound and cheer for you.
After college and a tumultuous 2020, I had some solo projects I needed to get off my chest. Intimidated and inspired, I released my first single “Love“ on Spotify and Apple Music under the artist name Charles On TV; “Strongman” came shortly after and I’m excited to announce another single “Golden Alligator” will come out on May 13th. They’re the first of many songs to come and I can’t wait to continue creating and eventually get back to collaborating.
Is there a specific aspect of your art making that you love more than others?
I love that moment in the studio when I’ve recorded a skeleton of a track and I get to experiment with accents—those little guitar licks, midi string plucks, and synth pads that make a song whole, or as I like to think of it, goose bump-worthy.
Who did you grow up listening to?
My list of musical icons is massive and growing but there are artists and bands whose work particularly informs my own. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys is the first artist I think of whenever I consider my musical icons.
His melancholy beachy sound and eclectic instrumentation will always inspire my work. Contemporary artists like Tyler, The Creator, Tame Impala, Solange, Jerry Paper, and The Gorillaz also heavily influence my sound. The list goes on but I could never answer this question without mentioning these icons.
What is your creative process like?
My songs typically start with a voice memo or 30-40 second idea on Garageband. Maybe it’s just the verse or chorus or even a baseline I’ve hummed and recorded. The songs only really come together once I’m in the studio with sound engineer Danny Lapidus. In fact two of my upcoming songs I wrote entirely in the studio after experimenting with different instruments and synth sounds available. I love those improvised projects—when I arrive at the studio with nothing and leave with the makings of a new track.
What inspires your lyrics?
My lyrics tend to be inspired by cycles of hypocrisy I observe within myself and in others. As an artist I feel especially compelled to acknowledge socio-political events that occur outside of the studio—whether explicitly or in metaphorical terms. Sometimes my lyrics are set up like dialogue, capturing conversations had and overheard. I often approach these lyrics with a sense of humor; taking myself too seriously just doesn’t feel right.
What other art form usually inspires your creative flow?
Definitely cinema. I’m a visual thinker as much as I’m sound-minded and I always fantasize about images accompanying my music. I actually just finished shooting a music video for my new single “Golden Alligator”. Along with that cinematic representation, I painted the single cover–a series of golden alligators on a swampy-green ombre background. At least in the film sense, I’m inspired by comedic and ironic sketches like those directed by Doug Lussenhop or produced by Nathan Fielder. But I like to pair quirky storytelling with pretty shots too.
What’s the future looking like for you as an artist?
What I can guarantee about my future as an artist is more collaboration. It’s been fun to work on largely solo projects but I really miss performing with bands and writing songs together. I’ve nowhere near exhausted my own creative potential but I need to work with other creative minds if I am to grow as an artist. I’d love to write music for alternative rappers and R&B vocalists—for anyone whose taste exists in a similar or overlapping musical world really. I’d also love to sing over instrumentation I had nothing to do with! Beyond embracing collaboration, I’m excited to build and define a larger fan base as I release more tracks and get back to performing.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
My style/aesthetic, like my music, doesn’t always make immediate sense. It’s fluid, sometimes unresolved–ambiguous, eclectic. Like me. Regardless, it’s hard to pin-point the visual and sonic look I go for. I guess I’m a fusion of not caring and caring too much.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
My career as Charles On TV is brand new but I’m most proud of releasing my first single ever “Love” across streaming platforms. It was scary but I did it, and while only a few thousand people have listened so far, I know I’ve gotten to share a vulnerable and authentic part of myself with all of them. In other words, I’m proud of starting this journey at all.
