SINGER songwriter Charlie Hanlon has told the Mourne Observer his new single, ‘Stand’, is his most personal song yet.
The Downpatrick performer released the track last Thursday (July 25), and he explained how the song addresses some difficult topics.
“It’s a song about growing up in Downpatrick. It is about some of the experiences I have had with toxic masculinity and drug use amongst friends and all that kind of stuff,” he said.
“As much as it sounds like it is against the town, it is a love letter to the town as well because I do love it here.
“I had always wanted to write a song about my situation growing up. I attempted it before. I guess ‘Kids Today’ was a lighter version of what this song is.
“It is one of the first times that I have been completely honest in a song.”
Charlie has come a long way from his release of ‘Kids Today’ back in 2021. ‘Stand’ is his second release of this year, after ‘Godsend’ came out in February.
But he explained that the new song takes steps towards addressing more serious themes.
Charlie said that after spending time busking in Downpatrick, he saw how people have set ways of thinking about the world.
“I would always say growing up in a place like this there is an endless cycling that repeats itself. You see that day in, day out.
“The idea of someone doing something different in a place where everyone has this idea of what you are supposed to do with your life is challenging.
“Everyone is telling you what you should be doing, and what they think you should be doing. I was always fighting that when I was growing up.
“I am in a position now where I am doing what I want to do.
“That’s after people told me that I should get a proper job. So, I think the song is a bit about pursuing your dreams.”
But while he has clarity of thought about what the song means, it wasn’t always destined to be recorded.
Charlie explained: “I wrote this song this time last year.
“Then I kind of put this song aside and forgot about it.
“Then I was doing a live session for Queen’s Radio. I had a different song which I was going to perform, but in the middle of the set I thought I would change.
“The band I had playing for me didn’t even know the song. But I said to myself that I was going to play this song. So I played it on a whim, on solo.
“It got filmed for YouTube and you can see the band looking at me wondering what I was doing.”
Charlie said that originally he didn’t think the song was very good.
“Then I played the song, and people were asking about the song, then it went on YouTube and there were ones asking what the song was.
“People could relate to it. Then I asked myself why I put it aside. I regard it now as one of my strongest pieces.”
He recorded the song in February at Tree Song studio, with producer Danny Trouton.
“It was the first time that I worked with Danny and I recorded it in a day. We blasted it out.
“I am excited to get it out now.
“It is exciting to get new ears on my music.”
The response from those who have heard the song has been positive.
“From the clips of the audio that have been going up on social media people just tend to relate to it. I am learning a lot more people have the exact same experiences.
“I sort of just hope that it opens up a conversation on how it feels to be a young lad growing up in a town where there is a lot of toxic masculinity and man up and stiff upper lip vibe.
“I hope it opens up that conversation that it is okay to not be okay and no one needs to man up and that’s what being strong is, to be able to be emotional and be vulnerable.”
It has been an exciting year for Charlie.
He made his first ever trip to England, when he played two gigs at the music industry festival ‘The Great Escape’.
“I had never been to England before, and to be playing gigs was the ultimate goal. Going to Brighton as well was always a place that I wanted to go to.
“To be able to play at a festival that I wanted to play, and gigging. It was all class.”
They played Friday and Saturday at the festival and the reaction was good.
Charlie and his band played in a venue that is usually a jazz bar and were surprised by the turnouts.
“Five minutes before the gig there was literally no one in the venue. So I went backstage and I was sort of thinking that was what you expect with the first time playing in England.
“But then when we went on the venue was completely packed and they were turning people away. I was like, ‘oh my god’.
“I think word spreads around, especially if you are playing two shows.
“The first show we did was very industry focused. That was the showcase for the artists from the north. That was nearly a guaranteed crowd because the Oh Yeah Centre were running it.
“People were just interested to see bands that they wouldn’t see in England.
“It was a great experience and I would love to do it again.”
He will be playing the Corner Stone festival, which takes place in Annacloy at The Sunflower Cottage.
It is run by Conal Montgomery. The event, featuring 10 musical acts over nine hours on Saturday the 10th of August, is supporting the Life Change Changes Lives charity.
“It is the third time I am playing that festival, but it is the first time that it is out at Annacloy.
“I am always honoured to be a part of that because Conal has always been absolutely brilliant to me.
“That festival raises awareness for something very important. I am always willing to take part.”
And in October he plays the Ireland Music Week Festival in Dublin.
“That is a big industry festival.
“That is something I have always set my eyes on. To be doing that is a dream come true as well. I am very excited about that.”