On “Charlie” Mallrat proves that whether the song is made for dancing or crying to, her storytelling is her most uniquely powerful tool.
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Listen: “Charlie” – Mallrat
The relationship an owner has to their dog is arguably the purest relationship one can have in their lives. It is a true partnership, one that’s based only on love and devotion, it’s loyal, transparent, innocent, unique, and something that’s difficult to explain to those who haven’t lived through it. Having a dog as your loyal companion feels like you always have something to fall back on, even if that something shows love by licking your face and wagging their tail and occasionally peeing in all the wrong places. The idealism and purity behind this relationship is the main inspiration for Mallrat’s new single, “Charlie” (aptly named after her Labrador Retriever – who’s also the star of the single cover art), the lead single off her upcoming EP Driving Music, our September 6th.
The single is a departure for Mallrat, who until now has made spectacular pop music that relied mostly on synthesisers and electronic beats while Mallrat sang about the mundane, the heartbreaking, and the occasional alien. Instead, “Charlie” opens with piano chords which blend together just enough to allow you to drift into the song, and then Mallrat steps in with one of the most earnest, heartfelt, and slightly heartbreaking opening lines the year has seen:
And I know it’s bad, but I just can’t wait
‘till you feel in love when you see my face
Well I got to bed, but I’m still awake
When you go to bed, do you sleep like a babe?
On the opening verse alone she introduces love and hope, tying them together as she addresses her loved one, opening up her heart against a simple musical backdrop. The contrast established at the end of the verse shows that Mallrat and the person she’s addressing aren’t feeling the same way – she can’t sleep, anxiety-ridden and obsessed with the sheer idea of being in love, while the other person sleeps soundly.
I just want coffee for breakfast
I just want warm cups of tea
I just might love you forever
I hope you warm up to me
I hope your dreams are amazing
I hope your dreams are amazing
The chorus comes and highlights what Mallrat does best: using images of the seemingly mundane to get across how she’s feeling. Coffee and tea, hot beverages that are part of people’s day-to-day lives, are used as a symbol of comfort and warmth but also reliability – they’re there every day for her, they’re part of her routine – and what she’s seeking is someone who will bring her this comfort and warmth and also become as naturally a part of her day as coffee and tea are.
Watch: “Charlie” – Mallrat
My dad he worked out West, and he worked so hard
My mum she smells like cigarettes and they broke each other’s hearts
She says that love is like a chess game and boys gotta do the chasing
But when did I start taking her advice? I raised myself and that’s alright
As the drum beat kicks in, “Charlie” picks up and Mallrat starts singing about her family and upbringing, topics which she’ll further touch upon on Driving Music. The song then builds even more, with backing vocals and an electric guitar making the song even more expansive and layered. The more “Charlie” grows, the more delighted you are to get lost in it.
Oh I was really feeling nothing, but you got me feeling something
And it’s heart felt, like ice melts when winter turns to spring
And I keep your pictures like a hoarder, I think about you when I sing
Said you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t always make it drink
So I drink coffee for breakfast
I want warm cups of tea
I just might love you forever
I hope you warm up to me
I think you might be my angel
I think you might be an angel
I think you might be an angel
I think you might be
All you gotta do is wait for me to get home, like Charlie in the rain outside
All I wanna do is see you when I get home, like Charlie in the rain outside
All you gotta do is wait for me to get home, like Charlie in the rain outside
All I wanna do is see you when I get home, like Charlie in the rain outside
The bridge is the climax of the song, where everything comes together brings you in even more. The more Mallrat opens up about her feelings, the bigger the song gets, and the more inundated with love you feel. Charlie, the song’s title character, finally appears, with his name and image being used to show the loyalty, joy, and love Mallrat not only receives from her dog but is hoping for from the person she’s singing to. When Charlie’s name is mentioned, it echoes and reverberates around the song, making it that more impactful. There, the song reaches its peak, and basks in it, repeating the lines for a while. It’s so good you don’t ever want it to end.
“Charlie” is a declaration of love as much as it is a recipe for it. As Mallrat bares her soul to the person she loves, speaking about her feelings and family, she also tells them exactly what she looks for in a relationship. Or this might just be a song about how much she loves her dog, which makes it equally (if not more) as special. Regardless, on “Charlie” Mallrat successfully shifts direction and proves that whether the song is made for dancing or crying to, her storytelling is her most uniquely powerful tool. Mallrat songs are made for listening to on repeat, because listening to her is like speaking to your best friend about the best, worst, and most boring things, and “Charlie” is no different.
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:: stream/purchase “Charlie” here ::
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? © Tash Bredhauer
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