Arts Derbyshire

Artist profile

Charlie King | Singer-Songwriter

I’m Charlie King, an emerging singer-songwriter from Derby, who’s gained measurable recognition in the Midlands and South Yorkshire indie/blues scene, over the last 4 years. It’s an absolute honour to be a part of Festivity 2025.

I’ve been performing, recording and releasing my music for around 4 years now in the Midlands and South Yorkshire. I make, what I like to call, Modern Soul n Blues, inspired by greats such as Sam Cooke, and more recently Dominic Fike. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want a resurgence in British soulful blues?

 

Creative Genre

  • I like to define my sound as Soul n Blues, but it’s infused with a variety of styles. I use my trademark soulful voice as an anchor, inspired by greats such as Sam Cooke and Paolo Nutini. I also combine this with guitar rooted in blues and hip-hop rhythm, inspired by more modern artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Dominic Fike and Mac Miller. My aim is to bring classic 60s and 70s blues/soul music into the modern scene with new technologies. I infuse my music with meticulously crafted lyrics exploring motivational messages, social commentary and personal struggles. My song “Obsessive Creative Disorder” details me growing up with OCD as a young man. I now perform it hoping to inspire young people to speak up about their mental health, as doing so greatly helped me.

Work Undertaken

  • Before dedicating a vast period of my 20s to writing and performing as a solo artist
  • I had a career outside of my musical pursuits. I worked for 3 years as a data analyst in the Civil Service; having studied Economics (BSc and MSc) at the University of Sheffield. Whilst still working in the civil service
  • I began attending every feasible open mic in the Sheffield and Midlands scenes
  • leading to getting regular solo gigs and becoming recognised by BBC Introducing stations in the East Midlands. I have notably performed at acclaimed festivals such as The Eyes Have It
  • Tramlines Fringe and Hockley Hustle
  • as well as performing at an incredible Sofar Sounds night at Nottingham Central Library
  • with Rach Richardson. In 2023
  • due to growing success of my live career and rising fanbase
  • I took the leap to leave my government role and put my full energy into my music. I now earn sustainably
  • pursuing my passion
  • through weekend gigs
  • as well as part-time work for a nationally growing community garden/music venue
  • Electric Daisy Derby. A big part of my role at Electric Daisy was to set up
  • run and host fortnightly open mics. I partnered with rising local music entrepreneur
  • Alfie Bricknell (Musikbox)
  • to help run and promote the night and consequently it has grown into one of the most popular music nights in Derby
  • attracting a youthful and diverse group of artists
  • from all over the Midlands and Yorkshire. In May 2024
  • I was chosen as the month’s featured artist for Discover Me UK. This led to huge professional music production improvements as well as the opportunity to perform with other talented Sheffield musicians.

Work in Education

  • I’m currently studying an MA in Music Performance
  • Production and Business at WaterBear College in Sheffield
  • having been awarded The Music Venues Trust Scholarship in September 2024.

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Portfolio

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