Lady Charles Releases Bold New Album "Oh Boy!"

Lady Charles’ latest album "Oh Boy!" is an audacious and richly textured soundtrack that pushes the boundaries of what a musical score can achieve.

Known for their theatricality and inventive use of genre, Lady Charles takes us on a rollercoaster ride of sound, emotion, and narrative, creating an album that is just as captivating on its own as it is in complementing the play it was written for.

Oh Boy! shows that Lady Charles is at their creative peak, blending a variety of musical styles while keeping their signature flair for drama and storytelling at the forefront.

Listen in here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/7a83209sH8Von3X6PVZo5C

The album kicks off with the opening track, "Oh Boy." From the haunting intro, the listener is thrust into an ethereal world of sweeping synths, immediately setting the tone for what's to come. The song perfectly mirrors the play's theme of rebellion, tapping into the emotional complexity of adolescence.

With its mix of synth - heavy textures and cinematic atmosphere, it stands out as a powerful entry point into the world of "Oh Boy!." The album then quickly shifts gears with tracks "Hands" and "Cherry Chapstick", both more pop-funk tracks that practically jump out of the speakers.

Infectious and upbeat, "Cherry Chapstick" contrasts sharply with the moody opening, showing off Lady Charles' ability to switch between more emotive tones without losing the cohesion of the album.

One of the most striking features of "Oh Boy!" is its eclectic mix of genres Lady Charles draws from glam rock, disco, electro-pop, and even 70's funk to create a rich and varied sound palette.

Tracks like “Child of the Night” and “Hands” are prime examples. “Child of the Night” stands out with its relentless 70's groove, a pulsating track that carries both a sense of danger and excitement. It feels like the soundtrack to a night out that’s teetering on the edge of chaos. Meanwhile, “Hands” offers a disco-infused, high-energy beat that still manages to convey emotional depth. These tracks, with their infectious rhythms and clever arrangements, make it impossible to sit still while listening.

But Oh Boy! is not just an album of danceable beats. Lady Charles digs into heavier themes with tracks like “Child of the Night,” where the tension between youthful freedom and societal constraints hits a fever pitch. There’s a rawness to the way the music builds, reflecting the emotional weight of the characters in the play as they navigate the turbulent path to adulthood. It’s in these moments that Lady Charles captures not just the fun, rebellious spirit of youth but also its darker, more complicated emotions.

This balance between high-energy, theatrical tracks and more introspective, emotional pieces is one of the album’s greatest strengths. There’s a sense of exploration throughout, as if the music is constantly searching for new ways to express the themes of identity, rebellion, and the pressure of growing up in a small town. It’s an ambitious project, but Lady Charles pulls it off with confidence and style.

Charles says:

"Oh Boy!" is a very special record for me, because I have always wanted to make music for theatre and cinema. I love the synergy of different art forms, and the challenge of being creative while working in service of a narrative. It's the first soundtrack I composed, and it gave me the opportunity to explore disco both for pop song structure and instrumental score.

The play is a twisted, funny, bizarre adaptation of Hamlet and for it the director wanted Saturday Night Fever style disco dance numbers. I tried to situate all the sounds in the 1970s while bringing in elements of modern indie rock and electronic music in a way that enhanced the impact of the show. For songs with younger characters I brought in more modern sounds, such as Child of the Night which is almost like an epic U2 or Killers song with some disco mixed in.

"Hands" might be the most danceable song I have composed, Cherry Chapstick might be the most engaging pop story song, Goncharov the funkiest groove. I wasn't expecting a genre that someone else picked to bring out such extremes in my work, but it was my goal to make disco my own and what came of it surprised me. It felt like such a natural, personal statement - I think I managed to find myself in the disco heat and make a worthy sequel to Manic Pixie Dream World.

I love albums that take you on a journey. While the streaming era lends itself to individual songs, I think albums will always have a power that rewards patient listeners. Oh Boy is sequenced so that the score and the pop songs are interspersed - dramatic, funky singles will give way to chilled out ambient depths, disco gives way to dream pop, manic and disonnant electro flows into indie rock extravagance. I love the way all these different sounds and styles blend into a unified whole, and I am proud that I covered such ground; It really is an album's album."

"Oh Boy!' was mixed by Erin Tonkon and Mark Plati - two amazing engineers who have also worked on some of Lady Charles favorite recorrds. Working with such incredible talent in the music industry pushed Charles to elevate their singing while helping bring the vision firmly to life.

Lady Charles’ evolution as an artist is evident in this album. They have come a long way since their days fronting the glam-rock band Valois, and this album shows a depth and maturity that feels fully realized. They bring together a wide range of influences, from David Bowie and Kate Bush to Chic and MGMT. Yet, what makes "Oh Boy!" particularly special is how personal it feels. Lady Charles has always been unafraid to explore their non-binary identity through their music, and here, that exploration takes center stage.

Whether you’re drawn in by the disco grooves of “Hands” or the haunting beauty of the title track, there’s something here for everyone. The album captures the highs and lows of adolescence, the thrill of rebellion, and the complexity of finding yourself in a world that often tries to tell you who to be.

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