Introducing: Charlie Hole

by Daniel Falconer | 3 October 2015

Rod Stewart was heard in a British radio interview a few years back hailing new and emerging talent Charlie Hole, saying the youngster had written a "beautiful song" before claiming he was destined for great things. A little later on, three-time Ivor Novello award winning songwriter Andy Hill also spoke about his astonishment at the quality and maturity of the young man's work. Now, Charlie Hole is stepping into the spotlight, preparing to release his EP 'Dirty Little Secret' at the end of the month, and it couldn't be a more exciting time for the 22-year-old.

Charlie Hole

The past few months and years have seen Charlie write music and play his songs across the UK, honing in on his talents and growing as an artist, whilst taking inspiration from icons of the business including Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen.

A chance meeting with record producer Jim Cregan led to a series of recordings at Jim's studio, and over the next 12 months the pair put together an album of original songs called 'The Joy Of A Caged Bird', which in turn led to Charlie securing a publishing deal with Rondor/Universal.

Politically moved in the title track for his forthcoming EP, Charlie explains: "the song was inspired by people like Ed Snowden and Julian Assange, who have both given up profound personal freedoms in pursuit of the truth.

"One of the important questions of our time is how much of our civil liberties are we willing to give up in return for our safety? The 'Dirty Little Secret' is that they're already being taken from us..."

Despite the heavy topic, Charlie does embrace other aspects of life including love and beauty, with song 'Make It Better' written from a female point of view in an abusive relationship and the search for hope. Another track on the EP, 'Animal' is about the end of a relationship and then having to try and find yourself once again, whilst 'The Chapel Of Unrest' sees Charlie unafraid to question the 'moral superiority' of organised religion and hidden abuse within it.

Wise beyond his years, Charlie is an artist we cannot wait to see blossom into a legitimate British star.

Tracklisting for 'Dirty Little Secret' is as follows: