Kerry Charles Blends Nostalgia and Neuroticism in “Pay to Survive”

Kerry Charles crafts music that feels like a shimmering blend of eras, blurring the lines between a nostalgic past and a sharp, self-aware present. His artistry lives in the space where smooth dad rock meets seductive R&B, where Prince’s daring and Steely Dan’s meticulousness collide. His sound, drenched in synths and punctuated by Max Cudworth’s soulful saxophone, evokes a longing for a time of polyester suits, dimmed lights, and late-night grooves. With each track, Charles invites listeners into a world that is sardonic yet sincere, polished yet deeply personal.

“Pay to Survive,” his latest single, is a hypnotic ode to a relentless mind. It dives into the paradox of unease, even when life appears calm and the scenery idyllic. Charles describes the song as a reflection on anxiety, the kind that sneaks into moments meant to be peaceful, leaving you gripping tightly to any semblance of control. His lyrics articulate the sensation of “white knuckling through another day in paradise,” a visceral image that captures the tension of hypervigilance.

The song’s chord progression holds a decade of history, borrowed from a piece Charles wrote in 2010 for a project called Science Fiction Fantasy. This reinvention of older ideas showcases his ability to revisit and reshape his past work into something fresh and relevant. The addition of bassist Nathan Pence, whose slap technique became a defining feature of this recording session, adds a layer of infectious rhythm to the track. It’s a groove that feels effortless, yet intricately crafted, like the rest of Charles’s catalog.

His debut LP, I Think Of You, was celebrated for its warm and groovy atmosphere, with Noisey dubbing it a collection of “seriously groovy cold-weather jams.” “Pay to Survive” continues in that spirit, offering a sound that’s lush and inviting while exploring the complexities of human emotion. It’s the kind of track that feels right whether you’re driving with the leaves falling outside your window or sitting alone, trying to silence the noise in your head. Kerry Charles makes music that resonates because it’s both timeless and deeply current, blurring the lines between caricature and confessional, just as he intended.

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