Today, Naarm artist Charlie Lane has released her debut album, I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t. It’s a beautiful and moving album full to the brim with songs that are deeply personal and emotive.
A queer and disabled artist, Charlie sees the world from a different perspective to most of us. She has proudly and boldy shared her stories, and won a legion of fans in her home town. The songs on the album date back to when she was a sixteeen year-old, through to the current day, and cover such topics as love and loss, grief, loneliness, as well as hope and the usual trevails of life – the ups and downs encountered when you first move out of home.
It’s a powerful and moving testament to a remarkable artist, who has collaborated with some wonderful local musicians. Charlie will be playing a series of shows from mid-November to give fans a chance to experience the tracks live. It kicks off in Thornbury on the 15th November . All the details are below. Do get along if you can and support live music.
To celebrate the release of I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t, Charlie has penned a track-by-track breakdown for the AU. So so press <play> and read-on.
Charlie Lane – I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t – Track by Track
Overview
I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t is an album about grief, love, and loss of various relationships, and the loneliness and isolation you can have coming out of those relationships, especially as a disabled person or a minority going through these things too. Mental ill health is very much scattered across the album, as I was in such a horrible place during the creative process. This album really does mean the world to me; it represents who I was and where I was, and as the title states, I’m really okay now (most of the time). Although I’m glad to say I’m in a better place now, I do hope that other people who have been in these situations can relate to the album.”
“Gold Drips”
“Gold Drips” was really important to put at the start of the album as lyrically I tell you ‘loyalty ruled me, but I unstiched my lips’.
I wanted the listener to know that I’m about to be really raw, and honest with them. Plus it’s a banger, we all loved this track and hope you do too!
“Ginger”
“Ginger” is the second track off the album. Like “Gold Drips”, with “Ginger” I drew from inspirations from two really different periods in my life.
I’m really glad I bought “Ginger” back. It means a lot to me and I think some of my family too.
“Fifty Shades of Bruised”
“Fifty Shades Of Bruised” much like “Ginger” has the beloved members of the Halo Vocal Ensemble and Emma Kelly on strings.
We also put some great percussion on this one. It has some real country-esk – folk vibes which I love.
“Dance With You”
“Dance With You” was the second single off the album and I guess out of all the tracks it’s probably the most self explanatory lyrically.
Writing it was quite hard though, particularly writing about queer love.
“Gone”
Then comes “Gone”. I wanted there to be a lot of juxtaposition musically with “Gone”, it’s a short, very dark, jazzy pop track. If anyone’s gotten to the point of possibly no return, you’ll understand “Gone”.
“I Hate Me”
Then comes “I Hate Me”. It came out as a singer- songwriter meets punk song. This song really means a lot to me, I love the way it was written, I love singing it live too.
As much as it’s a brutally honest and quiet dark song, it was really fun to create something so different.
“Tears”
“Tears” was the toughest track I’ve ever had to hand over for a co-write. “Tears” is a song about my personal experiences with a partner and domestic violence.
I knew it needed to get out, and it needed to be heard. Some things are just easier sung about than spoken. My collaborators dealt with this song so humbly and gently. I can’t appreciate them enough for that.
“Walls” / “I Need Sleep”
“Walls” and “I Need Sleep” were written in a sharehouse from hell and tell a similar tale. If you’ve lived with no sleep or in a crap hole, you’ll get it.
“Why Aren’t You Listening”
“Why aren’t you listening?” was inspired by growing up in a broken home. It counterbalances soft vocal tones with brutal, honest and really pointed lyrics.
“I Can’t Do Much”
Last! “I Can’t Do Much” really reflects on the album’s other tracks and looks at where I’m going from here.
Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the view before you miss it, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t Album Tour
Friday, Nov 15 – Cactus Room, Thornbury
Sunday, Nov 17 – The Mills, Castlemaine
Sunday, December 1 – Mumma Chen’s, Footscray
Friday, December 6 – Bakehouse Studios, Richmond
You can give Charlie Lane a follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t is out now on all streaming platforms.
Header image credit: Marcus Coblyn
