Start Listening To: Charlie Vaughan

Charlie Vaughan discusses nostalgia, storytelling, and his journey from band member to solo artist.

Emerging from the quiet town of Winslow, Buckinghamshire, Charlie Vaughan is an artist who blends the nostalgic warmth of the '60s and '70s into the fabric of modern storytelling. With a sound that resonates with the classic songwriters of the past while addressing the complexities of the present, Vaughan has swiftly made his mark as a solo artist after transitioning from his role as drummer and co-lead vocalist in the band Weird Milk. His new single "Timebomb", a jubilant nod to the British Invasion era, is just a taste of what's to come in his upcoming EP Thank You, Joe Fernandez - a collection that promises to be as rich in social commentary as it is in baroque-pop charm. In this candid Q&A, Vaughan opens up about his creative process, the inspirations behind his music, and what fans can expect from his live performances and future releases.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Hello, my name is Charlie Vaughan. I'm from Winslow, Buckinghamshire, a little country town in the middle of nowhere. My music is influenced by classic songwriters of the '60s and '70s, and my lyrics are stories based in modern times to achieve a sensational juxtaposition.

Your new single 'Timebomb' has been described as a jubilant ode to the 60s ‘British Invasion’. What drew you to this era, and how do you balance nostalgia with modernity in your music?

What drew me to that era for this specific song… well, I was listening to some classic rock 'n' roll songs. I think it was the song that inspired The Beatles' "Day Tripper"—Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step" is the tune! A lot of fuzz guitar and things like that… Anyway, that wasn’t British Invasion, it was a bit earlier. Sorry, back to the question: I write lyrics about things that are happening to me or others now. Whether that’s what I’m feeling or what I’m seeing, whatever affects me strongest wins… and if it's more abstract, I try to put in words that you didn't have back in the '60s, like Google or Internet.

The upcoming EP, Thank You, Joe Fernandez, is packed with social tales and baroque-pop whimsy. Can you share more about the inspiration behind the EP's title and its significance?

The most I can say is that Joe is a man that everyone's met before in their lives. He tried to save the world, and he did his best, and we thank him for it.

You mentioned that 'Timebomb' is a "splurge of memories, TV shows, and real-life encounters." Can you tell us more about the lyrics in this track?

The lyrics are supposed to make you overthink. It goes from personal attacks to talking about someone from the past, and then moves on again. It’s too much! It’s a time bomb!

How do you approach songwriting?

It differs every time. Sometimes you can be struck by a lightning bolt, and you just sit down, have an idea, and it flows out of your fingers. Other times, you have a small piece of an idea that you construct into a song, and it takes time and revision. It's always changing. It really depends on the things I'm doing other than writing, like what films I’m watching, what I’m listening to or reading, or coincidental moments that happen outside on the street.

Your previous work with Weird Milk received significant attention. How has your transition from drummer/vocalist in a band to a solo artist influenced your approach to making music?

I think the transition was easy in a live sense because right at the end of Weird Milk, I became the co-lead vocalist and drummer. We only had a few months of rehearsal before we were playing loads of summer festivals, so it was incredibly intense and terrifying. So, when starting the solo project, nothing could be as scary.

How important is storytelling in your music, and how do you decide which stories to tell?

I like to write all kinds of songs depending on what it’s about and what’s inspiring me. The majority of my music so far follows a beginning, middle, and end—if not in the lyrics, then in the music. My early mantra was always to learn how to do that really well and master that craft, and this is why I have always been drawn back to those decades of music where this was practiced as an institution. I am trying to explore how to write a song that might be about something much simpler, like one emotion or one second of interaction. The difficulty is obviously that there’s less to say about something so fleeting. Anyway, does that answer it?

Your debut EP So Profound was acoustically driven, while the new EP ups the ante with a full backing band. What prompted this shift, and how has it influenced the sound of your new work?

It's upped the ante—you said it yourself. I was recording So Profound all by myself, with much of it done in my bedroom, just me and the acoustic guitar. Once I'd recorded that, I decided to start playing live, and I started playing electric guitar. That influenced what I wanted to write next. I wanted songs that brought a lot of energy to grab people’s attention, but also it's fun to rock out, so that's why I've upped the ante.

With the release of your EP on the horizon and a headline show at The George Tavern, what can fans expect from your live performances?

Backflips, cupcakes, and merchandise.

What do you love right now?

Aretha Franklin’s music.

What do you hate right now?

Gorp-core.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Carole King’s Tapestry. I used to sing it with my Ma. All the songs are fabulous.

Looking ahead, are there any particular milestones or goals you're aiming for with the release of Thank You, Joe Fernandez?

Improved SEO. Great metrics. High stats. People to tell me it’s good.