Charles Connolly

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 – 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙨

Charles is back…

Did ya miss me…? Yes? Not particularly? Well, either way, I’m back. I have been not hither, but thither. Not only was I taking a break from this here Corner (it can get a tad claustrophobic at times), but I was busy being elsewhere. Not London, not England, and not even Britain. Europe in the Summertime – THAT’S what’s been happening! Yes, I know Britain is in Europe, but, ya know… It is but it isn’t. It’s a different kind of Europe. Britain is just not very “European”. I needed to feel that European thang. Sometimes I do Italy, but this time I did not. This time, my girlfriend and I went up into the sky and landed in her original turf of Poland. Thankfully, the aeroplane did not burst into flames or do anything it shouldn’t have done. I don’t think I have ever had such an absurdly packed schedule while on holiday. Aside from buses, trams, tubes and cars, we were taking trains almost every single day. Not to mention a ridiculous amount of walking. Doesn’t sound much like a holiday, does it! The thing is, I have never been one for lying on a beach for a week. Even the idea bores the hell out of me, as the sun burns the pale out of me. This constant movement is the very momentum that keeps things bubbling. Then and now, I just can’t stop feeling! There was modern urban city. There was beautiful old city. There was countryside. There was beach. There was river and sea; food and sun. Museums and memories; nature and manners. We covered so much yet really very little of this vast land of Po. I live for feelings, and feeling was basically all I did for those ten days.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝘼𝙂𝙀 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙠𝙤 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙨 & 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣

Charles is content in his cage…

Europe in the Summertime. A song I wrote years ago. Europe is fun in summer. We think of Roman piazzas. We think of English coasts. We think of Spanish villas. Sun, sun, sun, as it relentlessly beats down upon our already scorched arms. Summer is the time to get away. Americans call it vacation. We, in England, call it holiday. A break from the norm. A time to eat ice cream without feeling it has to be squeezed into a swift lunch break. But is it simply a break from the norm, or is it more than that? Is it wanted or is it needed?

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠 – 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙤 𝙃𝙞𝙡𝙡

Charles welcomes you to Ruby Tuesday…

What a week I have just had. You must permit me to ramble and go to excess this week. Well, I’m going to anyway. Hush, I don’t get paid for this. And advance apologies to Sano Hill for going on. Recently I have been working hard on a production in collaboration with a mystery NAS artist you all know well, but whom shall remain nameless, at least for now. It is going extremely well, but it can go to one’s head, this art thang. It can get a bit much, so one needs breaks from time to time. Monday evening was the first of these breaks. My girlfriend and I felt like watching a horror film. Not terrifying gore-filled heart attack inducing horror, but the old kind. The quaint, amusing Vincent Price kind. And so we sat down to watch The Raven. Yes, The Raven. as in, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. We contemplated watching it standing up, but thought this to be altogether rather uncomfortable. “While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.” – yes, THIS was what I wanted. Such charm and style in the old way. The film was just as I had hoped for. A break from reality. Something to take my mind away from music – something for which I rarely wish.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘽𝙮𝙚! – 𝙀𝙙 𝙀𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙚

Charles bids you all adieu.

Saying goodbye is rarely easy. Saying farewell is often hard. Leaving the room for good is a tricky thing. Leaving a partner can be worse. Sometimes it’s for the best. Sometimes it’s one sided. Sometimes it’s amicable. But often this mutual parting agreement can be fuelled by hatred and resentment. Why were they ever together? Was it ever good in the first place? Was it initial attraction and fun times, followed by bickering, turning into serious slam-door arguments? Should this sound even remotely familiar, one should never actually wish harm to the other party. One should wish them well, with the hope that they find someone more suited. If however there is to be a mutual separation, who does the dumping? You’ve hated each other’s guts for so damned long, but you’re used to each other. It’s routine. Habit, if you will. Well now it’s time to kick that habit. You’ve rid yourself of that foul odour and those shamefully stained fingertips, and now it is time to shed another burden. But that burden is feeling the same! “My, how the turn tables”. It reminds me of Sam and Diane in Cheers. The constant argument of who dumped who… We all want to get there first, but sometimes they just get there quicker. In which case, “SOD YOU!” – and what a relief it is to be rid of this curse.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘽𝙮 𝙈𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙙𝙚 – 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣

Charles has nothing but time…

Last week I talked about not taking life too seriously. I also talked about work and how it can truly crush the spirit and make you a bit of a drone. Well, actually I didn’t say that. But that’s what can happen with work. It can get the better of you and start to own your soul. We only get two chances at pure freedom. One, when we’re too young to appreciate it, and the other when we’re too ill to enjoy it. Both ends of the spectrum, and both ends of life, as we know it. In the middle we are in our prime. And yet, in the middle we are too busy and too stressed to even contemplate a bit of relaxation and fun. Typical! God plays these little games from time to time. Well, in between natural disasters, of course. It’s his own “me-time”. So yes, that middle of life… The majority of life. We toil and we worry. We fret about the future. And it all just seems so endless. Weekends are spoiled by the impending knowledge that another Monday is soon to be thrown on your desk. The sun is shining, and yet you cannot enjoy it because… EMAILS. There is little more depressing than a grey inbox. Have you noticed that despite your screen predominantly being white, it feels grey? Pale, dead, depressing, lifeless grey. And you think back to those days when you used to go out all the time, feel free, wear what you wanted, do what you wanted, and be who you wanted. You had great ambitions and the future was bright. Well, now you realise that the future is not orange but in fact grey. And oh so current. What happened…?? Well, we mustn’t dwell on what happened, but instead on what is happening. Life is happening. And you must simply get on with it. Why? Because there will be a time when you are NOT doing the mundane. When work will be a thing of the past. When you are once again free! There is a caveat, however…

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 – 𝙈𝙖𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣

Charles briefly does it…

In a selfish (or kind) way, I’m going to keep this short. The reason being, at the time of writing, it is Bank Holiday Monday (at least here in England). But I didn’t want to simply not write an article this week, just for the sake of a lazy Monday. It wouldn’t be fair on the artist who would miss out on their earned praise. I know most of you – if plonked in my shoes – wouldn’t even contemplate working on a Bank Holiday Monday. But perhaps a few of you might think it their duty to carry on regardless. I’m doing the annoying thing of meeting halfway. Neither one thing nor the other. Not ignoring my duty, but not putting in everything I’ve got for most of the day.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 – 𝘼𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘

Charles makes matters more difficult…

In the words of the late, great Bowie, “It Ain’t Easy”. I mean, it REALLY ain’t. Oh, and by the way, yet another week passed with no message from the artist I reviewed. Just speechless. Unfortunately literally speechless, but I meant me. You remember a few weeks ago when I wrote a whole initial paragraph about how so many artists don’t thank me for having spent hours writing about them? Well, even that week, that artist said nothing. Not a single word. Good old Kele did, though. Or as some commenters decided to call her: Kyle(!!). Such a lovely lady she is. So yeah, Bowie was right. It ain’t easy. But we truck on. Don’t we? Well, we try to. Lord, we try. Of course, it doesn’t help that I’ve got a rotten, stinking cold right now, but I’m only writing that for context. Please don’t write any pity comments. It’s a cold; it will pass. Meh. Anyway. It really is hard to pick a blinder of a song while at the same time know that the artist is deserving of the praise, attention and effort. The thing is, I never know until it is already published. Automatically too late. So, a while ago, I decided to simply base it on the music. Not be biased about the artist in any way. I still have to have my HAL (A.I.) antenna on at all times, but aside from that, I just let the music itself be my guide. Otherwise it’s just too complicated.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙 – 𝙎𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙤

Charles begs you to look back.

I’ve spoken about age once or twice quite recently. I can’t remember when exactly, for this is what happens with age. Not that I’m old… I spoke about how people over the age of 23 are made to feel middle-aged these days, or even past it by the age of 25. Well let’s go back way before that so you can REALLY feel old. Cast your mind back to a different era (or a not-so different era, depending how old you are). I ask you one question: What were you like when you were 13? What were you doing when you were 13? How did you feel when you were 13? Okay, so 3 questions. When I was 13, I had more hair, but it never did what I wanted it to do. I wanted it to look like Paul McCartney’s (circa 1965), but frankly it looked more like a blonde mushroom on my noggin. I was really into music, but only in the sense of listening to it. I was not remotely into sport – not a lot has changed there. Of course, I wanted to be a rock star – or pop star – but I had no real talents. Sure, I could play the drums and the guitar a little, and my voice was fine, but there were many others of my age – and of course, older – who could do the same. I was lazy and didn’t bother to push myself in music, but even if I had been a little more ”pro-active”, I wouldn’t have seen the point at such a young age. Who would have taken me seriously? Coming back to the point, though – I had no real talents to show. 13 is a funny age. It can be very unfunny too. Maybe I mean a peculiar age. Truly in limbo. Should one be playing with toys? Should one be hanging out with the older kids, coughing one’s first smoke? Toys are safer, but then again they “may contain small parts”. Should a 13 year old be interested in a member of the opposite sex? Should a 13 year old be interested in a member of the same sex? Should a 13 year old be interested in anything at all? These are just some of the questions you can feel free to answer in the comments below. My point is that one does not expect anything much from a 13 year old, except perhaps for them to turn 14.

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 (𝘿𝙪𝙚𝙩) – 𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙨, 𝘾𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙚

Charles can’t get enough of this GAS…

I often delve into the dark ages like an old fart, despite not being old. I mean, just HOW many times have I mentioned The Beatles?? At least once or twice. Oh, the 60s was quite the decade. The revolutionary, swinging 1960s. But going back as far as the 50s for me is rare. The pretty and beautiful 1950s. Maybe I mentioned the odd quiff? Perhaps an “uh-huh-huh” or so? How about the 40s? The brave and romantic bomb-stricken 1940s. Well I might have done. Maybe to mention the war, for old times’ sake – “those days of going down to the shelter while listening to Vera Lynn” etc…. Have I even touched on the 30s? The gloriously opulent (Great Depression notwithstanding) 1930s. Perhaps I mentioned Art Deco or Cubism once? I just can’t remember. And what of the 20s? What, NOW? No, no – wrong century. The similarly gloriously opulent (not to mention roaring) 1920s, before anyone could conceive even the notion of a depression, great or small. It’s more than likely that I had fun with the odd flapper or two, but let’s be honest here. I haven’t really gone into that era. It’s a hundred years ago, for Christ’s sake! How is that possible??

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Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙙 (𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩. 𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖’𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚) – 𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙧𝙭𝙨𝙨

Tentatively, Charles opens up.

My corner. My messy little corner strewn with toys, glitter, hats and sweets. I live it. YOU know it; you come here every week! But do you REALLY know it…? I mean, many of you may feel you know me quite well through my weekly musings and my odd appearance elsewhere, not to mention my own music. But is this it? Is there perhaps more to this singular chap than meets the eye? I am always more than happy to speak about what I have done, observed and created, but do I ever speak about the future? My future? What I am working on, for example? No. Never. I am a private soul who doesn’t like to show or tell until something is complete and ready for the general public (apologies for generalising – with a bit of luck, you all simultaneously took offence). You may be familiar with at least some of my music, but you are never to know what is coming next. I never divulge. Partly because I might not know myself, but also because I simply don’t want to. So! People may have decided they know my style of music, both in taste and in creation – there’s pop, indie, maybe a bit of orchestral thrown in. People seem to note the happy, upbeat style through my music. I have personally never seen it that way. People also know I am never going to come out with a hip-hop track in collaboration with another artist. People have maybe seen the lack of hip-hop and rap in my reviews – “he obviously just doesn’t like hip-hop and rap, and doesn’t do collaborations”. When examining this seemingly innocent little corner of mine, there seems to be a small hidden door. It says ‘PUSH’ – doesn’t open. Pulling, however seems to have done the trick (sneaky chap, this Connolly). Oh Christ, we’re in his mind. MY mind. The ‘TO DO’ pile is hitting the roof. The ‘DONE’ pile is thin and dusty. Ah, here we are: ‘WORK IN PROGRESS’. That’s pretty damned tall too! Bugger, and now it’s all over the floor. Wait, what’s this? A hip-hop track? Rap? Collaboration?? “But he… But it… No, but he can’t…” – Ah, but I CAN, you see, and so I will.

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