Fresh off the release of latest single Anthem for Loners, Charli Lucas joins producer and collaborator Ethan Reginato for a chat on all things touring, upcoming music and the joyful power of “a crisp high-five.”
Last month, recluses the world over were blessed with the release of Anthem for Loners, an ode to life’s solitary joys that came courtesy of Sydney singer-songwriter Charli Lucas. Complete with ever-relatable mentions of dinner dates for one, quiet party exits and solo jay-smoking, Lucas’ indie-pop single was a blissful “reminder that it’s okay to take time for yourself, to retreat into your own thoughts and find solace in your own company,” the singer explained in a press statement.
It’s the kind of honest yet playful lyricism that you might hear on a BENEE record, with Lucas’ discography seemingly ripped from the diary of a 20-something whose struggles with heartbreak and coming-of-age feel both personal and universal. The lyrical terrain has evidently proved fruitful for Lucas who — with just a handful of singles to her name — has given voice to the unsung experiences of adolescence with a quirky sonic signature to boot.
While Anthem for Loners might revel in solitude as an empowering force, Lucas’ work is far from a solo enterprise. The single was co-created by Lucas’ friend, producer and songwriting collaborator Ethan Reginato, who joined the singer for an exclusive interview with Happy Mag. Below, the pair discuss everything from touring to upcoming music, and the joyful power of “a crisp high-five.”
Read Happy Mag’s full interview with Charli Lucas and Ethan Reginato below, and head here to listen to the new single Anthem for Loners.
HAPPY: What are you up to today?
ETHAN: Today we’re sitting under the Sydney Harbour bridge after just having a meeting together to discuss what our next month will look like and we’re now about to head into a writing session together.
HAPPY: Tell us about your average workday.
CHARLI: Our average workday usually starts with Ethan and I sitting on his balcony and catching up for a bit. The good thing is Ethan and I are actually friends, sometimes, which is nice. It means we have a comfy creative space to write together and see what we can come up with on the day or sometimes we’ll show each other things we’ve been working on.
ETHAN: Unless a song is near completion, we don’t jump onto finishing stuff quickly, a lot of that stuff happens in our own time. Instead, we use our time together to constantly be writing and developing our sound.
HAPPY: Tell us about your creative community.
CHARLI: Our creative community is made up of all our friends and colleagues that we have met along the way through being in the creative arts.
ETHAN: I think we’re fortunate enough to be friends with many other creatives. Charli went to NIDA for four years and was able to make a network of peers who were in the arts and same with my studies in music.
CHARLI: Our band is made up of all our friends and we’ve had many people involved with helping us do Videography, Directing and Mastering. There’s very much an idea of everyone helping each other in the community.
HAPPY: What did you read or watch growing up that fuelled your passion for music?
CHARLI: I have to say music theatre, because I have a musical theatre dad. I feel like the story- telling in musical theatre has inspired me a lot both lyrically and melodically.
ETHAN : I definitely read a few books growing up like Scar tissue and the Jim Morrison biography and some other stuff that helped me understand what it is to have a career in music and also watching a lot of bands play live.
HAPPY: Your music is known for its self-deprecating lyricism and mind-worming melodies. Can you talk about your creative process and how you come up with such unique and relatable content?
CHARLI: I feel things and then feel the need for others to hear them by putting it into a song, I suppose. Sometimes I have the idea first, or sometimes it comes to me in a writing session with myself of Eth, but I try to always make the music come from an honest place and how I’m feeling in that moment.
ETHAN: I think Charli does this thing where she’ll listen to a new idea and find the song or melody sporadically rather than pre-planning them. There’s an improvisational quality to her writing.
HAPPY: Your latest release, Anthem for Loners, has been described as a song for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of the world. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the track and the message you hope to convey to your listeners?
CHARLI: The inspiration behind the track came from a time where I was feeling burnt-out socially and I just wanted to spend time alone. I think the message I want the audience to receive is if you wanna chill in your room and not talk to anyone for a bit and just do you, then do it. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of solitude.
ETHAN: I think the thing I like most about the song is that it’s kind of the audience’s interpretation of whether it’s happy or sad. It tows the melancholy line so listeners can take the message they need for that day.
HAPPY: You sold out your first headliner show in mid-2022. How has your experience been transitioning from releasing music to performing live shows?
CHARLI: It’s been pretty dope, I love performing live. I’m new to it still so I’m keen to learn more as we start to play more gigs.
ETHAN: The band have started to be more in sync, and I think Charli and I realise that the songs we make in the bedroom are great and we want people to hear them but we want to do it in a different way to what people hear online.
CHARLI: We wanna bring a live element to it. I think we were both very inspired by seeing artists like Remi Wolf play live. Someone who really puts on a show, that’s our goal.
HAPPY: You list BENEE, SZA, and Mallrat as some of your biggest inspirations. How have these artists influenced your sound and style as a musician?
CHARLI: BENEE, SZA, and Mallrat have all influenced my sound and style in different ways. BENEE’s quirky, catchy melodies and honest lyrics have inspired me to be more playful with my own music. SZA’s raw, emotional storytelling has shown me the power of vulnerability, while Mallrat’s dreamy, laid-back vibe has helped shape my overall sound.
HAPPY: Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or collaborations you have in the works?
ETHAN: We’re currently in the final mix stages of a news ingle called ‘Breakfast Roll’ which were really excited about.
CHARLI: It’s a bit of a different vibe to our last single. It definitely feels like a more emotional track with quite a vulnerable performance, so I’m keen to hear what people think of it.
ETHAN: We’re also about to start “Tour for loners’ in June 2023 which will be a string of headline shows touring Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong and Newcastle.
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HAPPY: What makes you happy?
CHARLI: A crisp high-five.
