Stripping music back to its core: an interview with Charlie Cunningham
INTERVIEW – Ten years after our first encounter, Charlie Cunningham opens up about his latest album “In Light”, playing solo again, and finding what it means to be human through music.
Charlie Cunningham and Rocknfool is a story that started a long time ago. I actually went back in time to realise that our first Rocknfool article about him dated back to February 2015. And our first interview, was a Parisian encounter in June 2016 (READ HERE). Ten years on and we’re not getting any younger. Still, Charlie’s meticulous and emotional music is one of our favourites in the world. This hasn’t aged.
I couldn’t have missed his two shows in Gesù for the world, as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival. To be honest with you, I didn’t know these final shows of his North American tour were in solo mode. What a good surprise!
We got to meet Charlie after his soundchecks, back in his low-ceiling green room. I’m very grateful to be able to ask him a few questions about In Light. His new album released last March is lighter (no pun intended) and his guitar picking takes more space. But above all, it seems that he has tried to get rid of the artist famous habit of reaching perfection.
First things first, in “Happening Lately” you sing a couple of “we’re alright”. How are you?
Charlie Cunningham: Yeah I’m alright (smiles), I’m really well actually! I’ve been playing shows on my own, which I haven’t done for many many years. That’s feeling really lovely, to perform songs in that type of way. Lovely energy, lovely intimate shows. It’s nice to actually see people in real life. And back in Montreal which is always awesome, we always have a great time there.
I’ve re-read our interview in 2016 and you said…“Opening the music a little bit more by the time, keeping on developing and trying different things, not restraining on one thing…” You did really follow that idea!
I did didn’t I!? (smiles) four albums later, here we are! It’s not a huge deviation. It’s got to be me, a true representation of where I’m at. I’m pleased that I did do that. Still going!
READ MORE >> Charlie Cunningham: “I didn’t think I would be able to be a musician”
You’re opening up and you keep developing your sound but I feel like in Frame there was less guitar, and now the acoustic guitar from your past EPs is more there. Did you go back to the older you?
It’s always a natural progression really. It must have been the way it happened. There’s subtle guitar in Frame but there’s a lot of piano and it’s very much a band-like record. A guitar is always gonna be there. It’s always gonna be my first love I think. I always want to reconnect and I feel like I’ve reconnected with it quite a lot on this record (In Light).
You did warn us a long time ago that you were going to add electronic soundscapes and layers to your music.
I love making soundscapes and emotional music. But with this one I’m just continuously curious about what the core of it all is. When you strip everything back, what you’re left with… Especially in the current climate, IA and blablabla. For me, it feels important to really try lock in what it is to be human in all and everything. Trying different shapes in between that everything else.
I’ve read articles about your last album mentioning technologies and the AI an how your album would be the opposite of that. But musicians do need technologies to work and promote their songs.
I think a lot of amazing things are coming out from AI for sure. I’ve said I’m not anti-AI especially when it comes to medicine, it’s profoundly incredible! I think it gets a little bit hard for me to get my head around when it maybe tries to beat humans, shortcutting ways to human experiences. Being aware of it is super cool but we will see how it all ends up. But perhaps people should be more tuned into stuff that sounds like human. Hopefully people will learn to identify more specifically what the human essence is. It’s pretty hard to contend so I think we have some kind of responsibility. We are all individuals and it’s important for us to find what is it that makes us, us.
“We are all individuals and it’s important for us to find what is it that makes us, us.”
What were your first impressions and emotions when In Light was released? Since you’ve recorded your new album as single takes and you said there were obviously some imperfections.
The sense of relief is ultimately quite strong and profound, it’s a real letting go. I know it’s cliché to say but there it is. And then I felt a little bit of apprehension because you’re kind of exposed, you’re very vulnerable for a bit. I feel like all of the takes in the album are authentic performances and I really value them as authentic emotions. So that brought with a lot of resolutions. They are what they are.
I would have checked the comments if it were me, I would have been so anxious…
You have to be so careful on the comments thing. It’s usually not helpful to read that stuff but you’re going to, especially if you’re a smaller artist. You’re gonna be a little bit curious. But people were pretty kind, which is always really cool… thank goodness!
Do you think albums should be more like In Light, more spontaneous in the making? When albums are released they were actually made a few years back. I guess In Light was written during your last tour?
The start of some of the songs, or the guitar lines were mainly written on tour. But for the most part it was all after a lot of touring was finished, after last record. We went straight into it. I don’t know if albums should be more spontaneous or anything really. What’s cool for me, what I’m drawn towards this stuff that sounds like real emotions or whatever emotion is, it doesn’t have to be, there’s a million emotions. If you get one from the news then that’s the main thing. Sometimes when you hear music with no emotions it’s harder to engage… For me it just works better this way…
“I try to overthink less and maybe this record is a bit of an example of that.”
Where did the inspiration come from this time?
I don’t know really… I’m quite an introverted person and when I go on tour suddenly I have to come out a lot which I do enjoy doing but it can be exhausting. My natural thing after the Frame touring was just to pull myself back, to go back within myself a little bit. And also, we’re always contending with all sorts of difficult things. Same with everybody but there’s stuff happening all the time. So it just seemed the right moment for some of those songs to start appearing. It’s learning to believe in emotions. As I continue, I try to overthink less and maybe this record is a bit of an example of that. Just going with the things.
Do you think you’re going to follow the same method on your next record?
I don’t know what I’m gonna do next. Hopefully the right thing will present itself. But at the moment I’m really enjoying playing shows on my own again. Just me being able to get out there quite easily, jumping on a train or a flight, not having too much gear… Coming back to the core of it all. That’s probably the starting point… who knows? We’ll see!
READ MORE >> Charlie Cunningham: “The idea was to keep things minimum”
It’s so cool of you to do that again. You’re also playing in smaller venues. You’ll be very close to people tonight!
I know! (smiles) It’s a bit close, I’ll look up, this is what I do not trying to lock eyes on anyone!
You never look?
I do have a little look, but only after playing a bit, otherwise you can project all sorts of things onto people. Like “oh no, they have noticed this wrong note! Or, that person is bored…” (laughs).
Interview by Emma Shindo (June 29, 2025, Montréal)
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