Emerging singer-songwriter Charlotte Han is introducing herself with an ambitious debut that captures the emotional highs, lows and unexpected humour of early adulthood. Drawing inspiration from artists including Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Noah Kahan, her music combines intimate storytelling with expansive pop arrangements, while her background as a classically trained violinist and recording engineer brings additional depth to her creative approach.
Her debut album 'The Diary of a Twenty-Something' explores the complicated realities of navigating relationships, heartbreak and personal growth across eleven emotionally candid tracks. Balancing vulnerability with playful observations, the record transforms the uncertainty of growing up into a collection of relatable stories.
So with the new album out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The piano!! I always wanted to do whatever my older sister was doing, so when I clocked in on the fact that she was learning the piano while I was in first grade, I insisted on getting lessons too! Then, of course, I started learning violin in 4th grade at school, and the rest is history.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My dad used to play “Hotel California” by The Eagles on lazy Sunday mornings, but besides that I was a pop girlie through and through! Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, all day every day. Still love them!!
What was the first album you remember owning?
Oh gosh! Is there a way to find that out from like the OG iTunes platforms or something? I honestly can’t remember!! I wasn’t really allowed to purchase music when I was younger, but I do remember at some point I got a “Now That’s What I Call Music!” album back when they were still in the single or double digits haha. My dad loved those things and of course they had all the hits on them! Once I got older and started owning physical media, I’m pretty sure the first actual album I owned was one by my former recording studio professor titled “Contiguous Congruency” by Professor Jeff!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I could list out hundreds, holy moly. I guess the first one that comes to mind right now is Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” because gosh, the storytelling?? I got to see her perform it live at the Eras Tour in Wembley and the way that song just captivates you for the ENTIRE 10 minutes is wild. The metaphors, the imagery, the lyricism…gold. If I could get a second freebie, I’m also insanely jealous that Noah Kahan could write “You’re Gonna Go Far”. Instant tears, every time.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Get my heart broken! No seriously though, that’s kind of what sparks 90% of my songwriting haha. And it doesn’t necessarily need to be from a romantic thing either, which helps with having more content. I did spend a good chunk of time trying to write the title track to my latest album, “The Diary of A Twenty-Something”, this time around though. I wanted to write something that specifically sounded like it was meant for driving through the woods with your windows down and tears flowing, and it took a minute to figure that out! I listened to a LOT of Noah Kahan, picked through my lyric ideas in my notes app, and did a ton of scrolling on Instagram to find chord ideas.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Taylor Swift, always. Noah Kahan, I’ll never stop crying. But I’ve also been obsessed with Chappell Roan, Olivia Dean, Olivia Rodrigo, and Maisie Peters this year!! I’ve basically had all of their latest albums on repeat, and they’ve become my soundtrack to my drives up and down California.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
TAYLOR PLEASE!!!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
This is actually a relatively new discovery, but hearing how much people can relate to my music and then seeing/hearing them sing it back to me at shows!! That’s such a crazy experience, and it always reminds me that my music isn’t just for me to get my feelings out, it’s also for all the other people experiencing the same or similar canon events that we all seem to be going through!!
And what is the most frustrating part?
This industry. It’s so frustrating to see how insane the “process” of being a musician has become in the last 10 years. The way labels hold so much power over artists, the INSANITY of streaming platforms, the crazy shift to everything being social media-based?? I feel like I need to be an influencer just to get my music out there, and that’s not really what I want to spend my time doing!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
“Fuck ‘em”
It’s been so helpful to remember that at the end of the day, my music is for me. Not everyone is going to like or support it, that’s literally just how humans work. And that’s totally fine!! But with that comes the haters, both in real life and in my own brain,, and ya know, fuck ‘em. I’m doing this because I WANT to, not because someone is forcing me to. I’m writing the music I want to write, and the people who are listening and supporting are there because they choose to be! Fuck the rest of the noise! Fuck the negative parts of my brain that think I’m not enough, fuck the people who go out of their way to be nasty, use all of that energy to create more incredible music, and don’t forget to revel in the moment every so often and look at how far I’ve come!!
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Charlotte Han's debut album 'The Diary of a Twenty-Something' is out now. Check it out in the player below.