An emerging indie talent based in Naarm, Charlie Lane's newest release is also her oldest song.
A love-heartbreak song titled 'Ginger', Charlie originally penned the track as a 16 year old, only returning to record it after her step dad ('Ginger' was his favourite song of Lane's) passed away."'Ginger' is a tender one. It was the first song I ever wrote, and comes from my lost, little 16-year-old heart who liked to push people away a lot. I really hope people can connect with this track, whether they're grieving, lonely or in love."
Lana Del Rey meets Cat Power with the youthfulness of Nessa Barrett, 'Ginger' is a folk ballad drenched in the melodic tones of bedroom pop with lyrics longing for love but coated in a bruised reality of lost intimacy.
Achingly honest and emotively raw, 'Ginger' opens with tender piano tones and gentle acoustic guitar that's enriched with hope encased within Charlie's gorgeous vocals (alongside soothing angelic choir vocals).
The meandering acoustic start is quickly energised by a foot-stomping rhythm section that comes galloping along, carrying the song's sonic richness to an ethereal plain. The added flourishes of sublimely wondrous strings towards the end adds the right flavour of nostalgia.
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (20 September), today scenestr is delighted to premiere 'Ginger'. Enjoy.
"I was listening to a lot of artists like Angus & Julia Stone, Sarah Blasko, and Kate Miller-Heidke at the time [I wrote 'Ginger'], a lot of indie folk and Australian indie artists.
"I was initially going to throw the song in the bin. I have always felt the most vulnerable when writing love songs, so at the time I was just embarrassed by the concept of it becoming anything more than a little hidden gem.
"In saying that, 'Ginger' is a bit of a heartbreaker as well as a love song though. I brought it to Adam Heath to create the first demo before taking it to Rohan Sforcina at HeadGap Studios, and wanted to recreate the bridge section.
"In 2020 during COVID lockdowns, my stepdad passed away from cancer really suddenly, and he always loved this song, he also happened to be a ginger. I wanted to make this kind of an ode to him, so I rewrote the lyrics from a perspective of grief."
'Ginger' is the lead single of Charlie's upcoming album 'I'm Okay Now But I Wasn't' (to be released 18 October), an 11-track guide to her unique perspective on the world as a queer and disabled woman, and acts as a celebration of collaboration.
"From the get-go I knew I wanted strings [on 'Ginger'], I could just hear them. Emma Kelly jumped onboard and created these epic string sections that were more than I could have hoped for.
"Liona Tatafu, director of Halo Vocal Ensemble, friend and singing teacher at the time, jumped in too and said 'Charlie, let's get the choir in,'; she knew what the song meant to me and the next thing I knew, I had a full choir in the studio.
"'Ginger' had so much room for instrumentation it was hard to just let it be, but I really wanted to keep that original, stripped-back keys and vocals feel in sections too.
"I really hope people can connect with this track, whether they're grieving, lonely or in love. It's a slow burner, it's heartbreaking, but I just think from where the song started to where it's finished, its connection to the community and its meaning are beautiful I think. I don't know. I like it haha."
