Berlin based singer/songwriter Charlie Grant got his first break in music as a songwriter for hire in London, after landing a publishing deal with EMI. But Charlie knew that he could not stay behind the scenes for long - so he got used to recording in the dead of night, and set to work on a collection of songs focused on musicianship, storytelling, song-craft, and an deep love of retro soft-rock like the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Tom Petty.
"Wide Open" finds Charlie on the acoustic guitar, with a backing band that includes banjo, piano, and acoustic bass, exploring the difficult landscape of personal vulnerability. Inspired by a speech he heard at a friend's wedding, Charlie Grant gives us his take on how difficult it can be to truly open yourself up to another person, and to let them really see who you are. "Wide Open" splits the difference between Folk and Chamber Pop, and offers a welcome alternative to the toxic ideas around masculinity that a lot of men have grown up with. At its core, "Wide Open" is about breaking free of old school ideas around what it means to be a man.
The bravest thing I ever did was this
Was this - was to let you look inside
And see my heart, naked
Charlie wrote this song with friend and frequent collaborator Jez Ashurst.
Visit Charlie on Facebook and Instagram.
Read this story on Apple News.