Charlie Puth reflects on youthful 'hot-headed days ahead of new album
Puth credits early struggles and past songs with helping him find his current sound
Charlie Puth has reflected on how much he’s changed since first finding fame, admitting that his younger self was “hot-headed” and eager to prove his worth.
Speaking to Variety, the 34-year-old singer said his early career was marked by a desire to be “taken seriously.” Referencing his 2018 song BOY, Charlie explained:
“It’s a song that I wrote when I was 26, and I felt at the time that I wasn’t being taken seriously by somebody. As a young man, I was hot-headed and I wanted to prove them wrong. I should be taken seriously. I’m pretty cool, is what I would tell myself.”
He added that those experiences shaped his approach to his latest album, which he describes as his most personal work yet.
“I’m thankful for those songs because I don’t think there would be I Used to Be Cringe. I don’t believe I would have ended up singing in that way and about that topic had it not been for those songs that preceded it,” Puth said.
Whatever’s Clever! features collaborations with Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Kenny G, and Jeff Goldblum, showcasing a shift away from the polished pop sound that characterized his previous records. Charlie said he wanted the album to retain raw emotion:
“I didn’t want things to be so pristine on this fourth album. I didn’t want to remove the emotion.”
Outside the studio, Charlie admits balancing fatherhood and work has been a challenge since the birth of his first child with wife Brooke, alongside an upcoming arena tour.
“It’s hard at times. My goal is to never lie. And I would be lying if I said that everything was perfect. Nothing’s ever perfect,” he said.