Hi there, it’s time for our latest Track of the Week from our new home here on the BIMM Blog. But don’t worry, nothing has changed. Your weekly dose of new music is still here and we’ve got a good one from BIMM Bristol’s Charlie T Smith.
Take a listen to ‘Held Up’ here, and discover more about the track below…
What was your inspiration when you began writing the track?
The inspiration behind the track stemmed from the familiar feeling of trying to overcome self-doubt, particularly within my music. At the time, I was in one of those moods where I was seeing everything negatively and was essentially ‘stuck in a rut’. I used the song as a way to turn that feeling into something positive and relatable.
Are there any artists that inspire you when writing?
I would say that a few of my favourite artists that inspire my writing are John Mayer, JP Saxe, Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran. Recently though, I have started focusing more on combining songwriting with the production process and love producers such as Ian Kirkpatrick.
What is key to your sound and how do you make your music stand out?
With this EP and ‘Held Up’ in particular, I have tried experimenting with new production techniques, such as vocal splicing and combining this with my usual acoustic sound. I focus mostly on finding melody lines, which is definitely my strong point and using the instrumentation to support them.
How does your songwriting process work?
It varies with each song, but recently, I’ve been starting the writing process by forming a structure and producing around this before turning to writing lyrics and melody. This is opposite to the way I used to write music, which revolved solely around acoustic guitar riffs and lyrics. For the EP, I collaborated with two BIMM Songwriting students, Jodie Mellor and Freddie Palmer, who worked with me on the lyrics and melody.
Describe your sound in 3 words…
Catchy, commercial, honest.
How has studying at BIMM helped you develop as an artist?
Studying at BIMM has meant that I’m constantly surrounded by musicians and their music. Being inspired every day and having the opportunities to collaborate with such talented writers and musicians has meant that my writing has really developed. BIMM has also meant that I have so many more contacts for things, such as mixing and mastering and getting advice.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a collaborative single release with Jodie Mellor through HUBB Records that should be out towards the end of the year, which I’m really excited about. I’ve also begun producing for other artists and hope to develop that side of my music some more. I’m mostly just glad that I finally have some original music out to share with everyone.
Whilst you’re here, we also totally recommend listening to the full ‘Held Up’ EP too…
Stay up to date with Charlie on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook and his website.
