Charles Edison Reveals The Inspiration & Sonic Direction Behind New Album
Intro:
London-based rapper and producer Charles Edison is an incredible talent who just released his new album “June In February” this month. Charles has always been passionate about music & has been creating for over 15 years. You can hear how artists like Common & Marco Polo have played a role in influencing the sounds of his new album. The versatility between his rapping & producing skills provides many unique ways for Charles to practice his craft & express his inner art. Before reading our brief conversation, make sure you listen to Charles Edison below today.
Me: What was the creative process like while making this new record? How'd you get inspired?
Charles: I don't always set out to make a record, like a full "project." I tend to just make beats when I get the feeling to create something, and sometimes that can spark an idea for something more fully formed, which is what happened with this one. I remember having a really productive period towards the end of 2024 and the start of 2025 when the weather in the UK is super dreary, cold, and seemingly perpetually dark - it's generally quite depressing!
But the music I was making had this warm and uplifting vibe that just felt like summer. It occurred to me that this was kind of where I felt my life was at. I'd gone through an awful time a few years back, and even after getting out of that place, there were all sorts of emotions that came with finally getting clean and sober that I hadn't expected to have to deal with. Now, it finally feels like that part of my life is fully over with, and I can just be present and be grateful for what I have, instead of regretting things I've done in the past or wishing I'd done things differently. Drawing parallels between the music and summer helped me to focus on that positivity, and the music came quite quickly once I was in that state of mind.
That’s powerful! Outside of life & the Earth’s seasons, did you draw inspiration from any specific genres or artists for this release?
I had been listening to a lot of Marco Polo stuff, and he has such a great instinct with the MPC and how he uses samples. Just a nice rawness that I don't think is really present in rap anymore, but it's what really got me hooked on hip-hop. I also used a lot more additional elements like drum fills and risers that I would normally overlook, but can help make tracks sound a lot more detailed and fuller.
Additionally, how would you describe your current overall style of music? Has it evolved over the years?
I actually don't think it has evolved that much! (Is that bad?) I've always just made the kind of music I want to listen to, and I've never really tried to chase what's popular or fashionable. I think maybe I've gotten a little braver in terms of my vocal delivery. Even a couple of years ago, I would never have dreamed of trying to sing!
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from this specific project?
This one definitely has a more accessible sound, I reckon, which was very much intentional. For me, part of making a project from a positive/optimistic/"sunny" state of mind was to just have fun, and I tried to get out of my comfort zone a little, which is why there's a lot more of me (attempting!) singing. That being said, there's still a couple of emotional tracks - mainly 'Florence', which is about my Nan passing away in 2016 from a brain tumour. The album title has a secondary meaning, which is a nod to her.
Her name was Florence, but everybody called her June, and she died in February 2016. I'm sure anyone who has lost a grandparent will be able to relate, so I hope that one strikes a chord. Anyone who has listened to my previous projects will know that a lot of my music focuses on mental health issues like addiction, anxiety, and depression, and I've received a lot of messages from people in the past to say that they related to those songs. I'm hoping they'll relate to these too, and it'll help them to focus on being grateful for anything positive in their lives.
What an emotional takeaway! I’m sure many can directly relate to that experience, like you said. From there, what was the most challenging part of the recording process?
Knowing when to stop. I think this is the hardest part of any release. I find that when the beats stop coming quickly, it's time to evaluate whether you really NEED any more. It's a fine line between building on something solid and adding unnecessary weight. The parts I sang were also very tricky for me. I'm not a trained singer, and I have very little music theory, so hearing something in my head and not being able to get it into the mic sometimes was frustrating.
Where does your stage name originate from? Has it ever changed in the past?
My first kind of 'proper' release was an instrumental album called "Lightbulbs," which was inspired by the phrase "lightbulb moment" to describe the moment someone gets an idea or is inspired. The name came from that. Charles is my actual name, but the surname 'Edison' was a nod to Thomas Edison. Whilst Edison didn't invent the lightbulb, he is credited with revolutionising it, which I suppose is a kind of lofty ideal for what my ambitions as a hip-hop artist were when I first started!
Great! And before we wrap up, do you have any upcoming releases or plans that you're comfortable sharing with the readers?
Nothing is planned as yet, but I'd like to do another instrumental project. I'd like to try to get away from being so reliant on samples, as it can be limiting.
And finally, in your own words, why should a new listener check out this song today?
If you like rap but can't relate to having millions of dollars to spend, driving Ferraris, or murdering people, then this is probably more your cup of tea.
