Charlotte Sands grew up in a musical household just 25 miles west of Boston. Although many may recognize Charlotte from TikTok, through her leaked single, "Dress"—a creative and saucy defense of Harry Styles' decision to wear a dress on the cover of Vogue—she is not a classic 'viral success' story. The truth is that she has been grinding it out for years on the indie scene in Nashville, releasing countless singles and 2 EPs just in the last few years.
When the pandemic hit, Charlotte was faced with the difficult decision to either stay alone and isolated in Nashville with an uncertain future, or go back home. She was just about to buy her ticket back to Massachussetts when her trusted producer Danen Reed Rector introduced her to a piano melody that he was working on. This felt like a sign to her that she should stay, so she did. That musical motif became her single "Alright"—with lyrics that were written to reflect the desperation that she was struggling with at the time.
Looking back on it now, it is clear that Charlotte has finally found the community she craved growing up. She created it for herself, as well as for other social misfits. It is important to her that she be able to pay her success forward for other kids that are struggling for social acceptance and peer support—which is why Charlotte has announced a partnership with the JED Foundation, a nonprofit that works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and adults. The partnership will include limited edition Charlotte Sands x JED Foundation merchandise, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the nonprofit.
"Alright" represents the kind of success that appears suddenly, after years behind the spotlight. This anthemic track is both ethereal and profound, as she channels her experiences as an outsider into an empowering form of art. Last year was her busiest yet—Charlotte Sands played 103 shows, including national and international summer tours opening for big-name artists like YUNGBLUD, and My Chemical Romance; a headlining tour across North America with many sold-out shows; and festival performances at Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, So What!, Boston Calling, and Riot Fest. Now, 2023 is almost booked up with a fleet of international dates. The anticipation is palpable and delicious. Charlotte is finally doing what she does best—channeling a fizzy, hook-filled pop sound for an ever-growing audience of Gen Z-ers (and beyond) who are plagued by these same feelings of angst, anxiety, and alienation.
