Charlotte Plank: "This Next Project Is All About Finding the Beauty in Imperfection"

Charlotte Plank on new music, trusting her instincts, and stepping into who she is as an artist.

Charlotte Plank has never been interested in staying in one lane. With a songwriter's ear and a producer's instinct for the dancefloor, the BRIT-nominated artist has spent the last few years building a world that refuses easy categorisation; one where Fleetwood Mac and Keith Flint sit comfortably in the same sentence, and a laid-back session with a DJ can turn into a fully-fledged hit record.

That instinct is all over 'Burberry', Charlotte's latest single with NOTION. Written two years ago and road-tested on tour since, it's a song that's evolved from a slower, stripped-back demo into the addictive, windows-down anthem fans have been begging to hear in full. The reunion with DJ/producer NOTION picked up where their last collab, 'TEMPORARY FRIENDS', left off, filtered through Plank's mind for melody and her flair for turning a personal story into a universal feeling.

With recent releases hitting the charts and receiving critical acclaim, and a forthcoming project taking shape with New York producer Aire Atlantica, Charlotte Plank is stepping further into her own artistic identity than ever before.

We caught up with Charlotte to talk about reclaiming her sound from other people's dancefloors, why she's done diluting herself for other projects, and what it takes to build a world that's entirely her own.

You wrote 'Burberry' back in May 2024, but it evolved on tour, and fans have been requesting it for over a year. How different is the version fans hear now from that original demo?

A lot slower…I guess the production overall was more straight forward pop... Well, we had no production references; written in a period I was just writing from the gut really, going back to my roots with a song-first approach rather than getting too caught up with production (I wrote 'crybby blue' around this time too). No specific genre/ box it had to fit in to be fair, we just flowed with what served the song best. A lil more laid back, classy disco vibe.

It was a favourite of my band's to play on tour and I’ve been getting non stop messages from fans about when the original demo is coming too…so that’ll have to be arranged!

What was it about this particular song that made it the one to bring back for a NOTION reunion, versus other material you were sitting on?

I sent him a few demos after the past couple years, slower more stripped back songs, which is how we worked 'TEMPORARY FRIENDS' together (it was a full song, a good 20 bpm slower / stripped back on a piano and he took parts of it and spun new life into it).

Similarly to 'Burberry', there was something so addictive about the topline we kept coming back to and the chord changes / synth stabs he added just sat so lusciously with the stacked vocal. Also, obviously both being British artists where club/ dance / fashion / British culture is at the heart of what we do and create, having a song titled 'Burberry' which further embodies/ represents the UK.

Is there a person 'Burberry' was actually written about, and have they heard it?\

Ha, I mean the crux of the story is me being very guarded at the beginning of my new relationship a few years ago after coming out of quite a turbulent long term one. About how becoming ready to let people in again and just go full throttle with feeling and following my gut again. Not overthinking the lines between lust and love etc, just rolling with the feeling and having fun with it… and we’re still here a few years later so...But yeah, it’s kind of a tongue and cheek / romanticised version of that saga.

You've cited Fleetwood Mac alongside Keith Flint and Orbital as some of your main inspirations. How do those inspirations show up in your songwriting?

I write best when commenting on / being inspired by the world around me, romanticising of some modern fairytale/coming of age film. That feels epic, cinematic, but has real and relatable, storytelling industrial, ethereal, dystopian modern fairytale we feel we live in sometimes day to day. A kind of haven and reminder to step out, zoom out for a minute, but also with a slight dark undertone / grit of reality. Stevie Nicks is an obvious hero of mine, again from one songstress to another, storytelling is such a key part of my writing and the way she does it, inspired me everyday. I draw inspiration from many different worlds/ spaces subconsciously channelling nostalgia yet serving it up in a way you’ve never heard before. Classic, slightly imperfect, DIY feeling.

'crybby blue' has already represented this: gaining traction online; being compared to the likes of early Grimes, Lorde, SOPHIE, as well feeling like a 90s morning on MTV. Someone described it as Grimes, SOPHIE and SZA all having a sleepover, which I just thought was perfect. Cutting through the noise of AI-generated and super polished, soulless music on the rise, it means a lot to be recognised alongside other females setting the tone from early in their careers going against the grain staying true to themselves.

The next project especially touches on my 80s influences (obsessed with Michael Jackson from a young age, and Madonna / Janet Jackson / Prince/ The Cure / Blondie / Sade / Nikki and the Dove).
There’s definitely threads of all of them throughout the wider the web of the entire project but contrasting with flecks of MIA, Imogen heap, LCD Sound System, Kelela, MGMT, Icona Pop, Mura Masa, Santigold, Sky Ferreira & bringing GUITARS INTO THE CLUB ha.

Photo credit: @charlotteplankmusic via Instagram

You're working on a forthcoming project with Aire Atlantica [SZA, King Princess]. How’s it been going?

It’s been in the works for a couple of years. A lot of songs I wrote a while ago that I’ve held onto, waiting for the right moment / still trying to get the production right etc. I’m so lucky to be able to create with some of my closest friends (kurisu, Jordan, Taet, Jo, Jakwob, etc, I love my little creative circle). I went to New York for the first time in December to work with the amazing producer Aire Atlantica. We locked in for a week working on a lot of existing demos/ writing new stuff, just solidifying the world around each song. I went out, experienced the city until the early hours, got driven round Times Square by a random couple we met in a bar one night. I’m going back later this month (September) to finalise some bits and am in Stockholm currently working with some amazing people to continue creating (just further building the sonic world and adding to the ever growing pile of demos I need to cut down for this project haha. Basically, I’m really bad at drawing a line under things and just saying ‘that’s done!!’, which probably goes for most things in my life re: relationships etc too ahah.. BUT this next project is all about finding the beauty in imperfection.

'crybby blue' landed on The Guardian's Tracks of the Week and 'car crash' hit the Billboard Dance Top 20. Has that kind of critical recognition changed how confidently you approach new material?

100%. It takes a lot of delusion and confidence in your craft to go against the grain and what others ‘above’ you are advising you to do (i.e. I’d been advised to stick to featuring on other people’s dance tracks. There’s a severe lack of female representation in electronic music / alt pop, especially with more artist lead / less DJ /producer projects i.e Nia Archives. The quality of my songwriting is recognised by everyone I work with; other producers are constantly asking for / using my demos, which have gone on to have commercial success i.e. 'car crash' charting on the Billboard Top 20. I needed the same faith and trust in me and my own project from my label.

I love collaborating, but handing over all these songs to DJs is diluting my identity, facilitating their careers / donating key parts of my own artistic identity. But if I wasn’t putting solo work out simultaneously, it was impacting my ability to world build and further grow my own fan base. I need the opportunity to put out a project / album to solidify to the world my own artistic identity. Which is EXACTLY WHAT AM I DOING hehe.

My goal as an artist - especially this year - was to gain global recognition for my work/ clear artistry/ songwriting / creativity. To be able to put out and have success from this next project, which feels closest to my musical DNA, and have the world resonate with it sonically, but also the real relatable stories behind each song: dance floor diary entries/ confessionals. Somewhere between a chat in the smoking area or toilet in the club with your favourite people and a diary entry in your bedroom/ trying on different versions of yourself.

To continue push boundaries, cross genres and inspire other young women in this male-dominated field... it’s just the start!

What's the biggest shift in how you think about songwriting now versus when you started?

I initially started writing short stories as a child, which developed into songwriting over time. I used to do everything on my own in my room to start with, which was a blessing and a curse because it was truest to myself and I had no outside influence, but I’d get in my own head and overthink projects until I ruined/ hated them. I then very luckily got signed and thrust into sessions with other people which I’d not done before, so I was quite easily influenced, and nowhere near as headstrong as I am now with what I have to say and what it has to sound like.

Finding your artistic identity can take some time and sometimes be overshadowed at the start by people who think they know better than you. So now, I always go with my gut and write from there, rather than being concerned about what others around me may say. I'm always wanting to push boundaries, overshare and represent my individuality, my ability to seamlessly cross genres and subconsciously create a sound/world that feels so nostalgic / takes you back to a familiar place whilst simultaneously taking you somewhere you’ve never been before. Practice, hard work and honing in on your craft is obviously key too, and I’ve definitely got a lot better and got to know myself a lot more.

Photo credit: @charlotteplankmusic via Instagram

What's the most surreal "how did I get here" moment you've had since starting out?

Recently, I mean probably being next to Madonna in the Billboard charts, like wtf... I still pinch myself everyday I get to write and perform for a living. There’s certainly been some surreal moments for sure ha... Like the other day at Peckham Carboot, a girl tapped me on the shoulder, pulled out her earphones and said, 'is this you?' and showed me her phone playing 'car crash’ - 'Are you Charlotte Plank?! I love your stuff!" Ha, mental.

Performing at Glastonbury 2024, taking my mamm, repaying the favour / full circle moment after she took me in 2006 on her own whilst she was pregnant with my brother. Fucking trooper, living icon.

Dance music is having a real commercial moment right now - what do you think gets lost when a scene goes more mainstream?

I think personally, parts of the UK commercial dance scene is too repetitive/ safe / slightly boring as you get a lot of DJs etc making a lot of the same stuff. It is exciting to see how electronic music is taking the world by storm though i.e. the way US blends, champions alt/electronic and the rise of indietronica/ indie sleaze crossover again. I think the UK needs more of that. But yeah, ultimately it’s a really exciting time for electronic music.

As part of Loud LDN, you're surrounded by other women in dance music. How does that community shape what you make versus writing in isolation?

Collaboration and community is so important in every area of this industry. London can feel very lonely sometimes so to have a network of amazing, talented creatives it makes our space beautiful and ever evolving and more inspiring.

Submit music to DMY here.