Charli Rose - Shots Fired

Charli is 18, she’s from Perth, and if you’ve been anywhere near Local Sounds Radio recently, you’ve probably already heard her name bounced around. Her new single, Shots Fired, is the furthest thing from a delicate ballad. It’s playful, a bit cheeky, and honestly, it’s got a lot to say.

The idea for Shots Fired came out of a pretty familiar social scenario. As Charli puts it, “I started writing Shots Fired after I had a conversation with someone and started noticing how different people can treat you once they’ve had a few drinks. I wrote it from the perspective of someone trying to understand mixed signals, how a person can seem so emotionally open and connected in one moment, then distant or unavailable the next. It definitely came from real experiences, but I think it’s also something a lot of people can relate to.”

Musically, if you heard her earlier releases, this one’s a noticeable left turn.She says, “I will never not love writing a good true piano ballad, but there is also a lot of fun in experimenting with new sounds and different styles and seeing where that can take you. At the time of writing Shots Fired, I really wanted to create something that felt energetic and fun, so I stepped away from the piano and started playing around with loops and beats in Logic and then went on to add my melody line and lyrics. I then brought those ideas to my producer Gareth Henderson, who helped shape and elevate the track into what it is today.”

People keep trying to pin her to a genre. Country, pop, ballad, whatever. Charli’s not worried about it, but she still cares about the difference. “Genres definitely matter to me, but not in a limiting way. I think it’s important to understand and appreciate all the different areas of music because every genre brings something unique creatively. I love experimenting with different sounds and styles and trying all the different ‘flavours’ music has to offer.

“Even though Shots Fired steps outside of what people might see as a typical country track, I still think it carries some country elements, especially in the songwriting. A lot of my writing is very story-driven and centred around real emotions and experiences, which is something I’ve always loved about country music. I think that storytelling aspect will probably always find its way into my songs no matter what genre I’m exploring.”

If you noticed this one’s production feels bigger and bolder, you’re on the money. Charli was all over it from day one. “I was definitely very involved in shaping the sound of the track from the beginning. It actually started really simple with a few little loops I was playing around with in Logic, alongside the melody and lyrics. As the song developed, we ended up replacing those original loops with a completely new production that my producer created, which really helped bring the track to life in a much bigger way.

“The song also changed a lot lyrically throughout the process. The first version of the lyrics was actually very different to what I ended up releasing, but I’m really glad I kept going back and reworking them. I think taking that extra time helped the song feel more honest to me and allowed it to tell the story I truly wanted it to tell.”

Charli’s got a reputation for writing lyrics that are sharp but don’t try too hard. She says, “I think for me it always starts with honesty. A lot of the time I’ll sit at my piano or guitar and just write from exactly how I’m feeling, or sometimes I’ll put myself into somebody else’s shoes if I want to write from another perspective. I always want the emotions in my songs to feel genuine and true to life.

“At the same time, I think there’s a lot of fun in songwriting too. I love playing around with interesting lines, phrases and imagery that make a song feel more colourful and memorable. With Shots Fired, even though the song deals with quite emotional themes, I still wanted it to feel energetic and vivid rather than overly heavy. I think that balance comes naturally when you’re writing from a real place but still allowing yourself to be creative with the storytelling.”

Outside of gigs, she’s at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) trying to keep it all together. “Balancing WAAPA and my solo career can definitely get busy at times, but I actually think the two really compliment each other. Being surrounded by so many creative people constantly pushes and inspires me, and studying music has helped me grow a lot both technically and creatively.

“I really love the collaborative side of WAAPA as well. Getting to work with other musicians and play in different bands has taught me so much and introduced me to styles and ideas I maybe wouldn’t have explored on my own. At the same time, I also love having my solo music as a space where I can fully step into my own storytelling and artistic direction. I think having both experiences keeps me learning and growing all the time.”

If she could pick any song and claim it as her own, Charli’s choice is pretty understandable for her age.. “That’s a hard question because there are so many songs I lyrically love and am so inspired by but I always find myself coming back to Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. I think the songwriting is so beautiful and captivating. The lyrics paint emotion and storytelling in such a creative and vivid way, while still feeling incredibly intimate.

“I also love how the melody and harmonies feel so intense and emotional without the song ever becoming overcomplicated. It’s one of those songs that completely pulls you into its world, and I think that’s something every songwriter hopes to achieve.”

Listen to "Shots Fired" by Charli Rose on Local Sounds
https://localsounds.com.au/song/charli-rose/shots-fired

Listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/1EypYKvfXprGp97mIa5Z82