Charlie Puth wasn’t listening to music when he set out to write his third album. Not because, like some passions that become work, it became tedious, but because he didn't want his new record to be too heavily influenced by what he might have had on high rotation.
We sat down with the American singer-songwriter while he was in Singapore preparing to release his new, self-titled album, Charlie. We talked about his approach to songwriting, what fans can expect from the new record and what it’s like to be on the road again.
For Puth, arriving is his favourite part of travelling. To sustain such a travel-heavy lifestyle, he tries to incorporate familiarity into the unfamiliar nature of being away from home—most commonly in food. “I like embracing the culture,” he said. And with jetlag a familiar friend for Puth, he welcomes Singapore’s incredible coffee scene with open arms.
It’s not just the excellent food and caffeine hits that have caught his attention while in Singapore. The otherworldly song of the local mourning doves has inspired some future songwriting for Puth. “They all make such melodic sounds, which is great for me because I can make several songs out of those things,” he said.
Like birdsong, Puth has embraced unexpected inspiration to write his new record. “I just combined two unlikely things for 12 songs,” he shared.
He was driving down the Pacific Coast Highway on the way to visit his parents in California when the chorus melody for his latest single, I Don’t Think That I Like Her, landed in his lap—Puth’s favourite track on the album. But the final product didn’t come together as quickly as it began. In fact, it took another 11 months for him to finish the song—which is why it takes position as track 11 on the record.
Reflecting on the past few years, he acknowledges that many of his songs wouldn’t have seen the light of day five years ago. But now, thanks to the cult following he has built since then, he’s felt confident enough to release those ‘underdog’ tracks including the likes of Smells Like Me and That’s Hilarious—two of his favourites.
Looking to the future, Puth has his sights set on Australia which he hopes to visit in 2023. As for artists he’s listening to now the album is finished, it’s K-pop group NewJeans grabbing his attention.
Charlie Puth's third album, Charlie is out everywhere on October 7.
Image: Singapore Tourism Board