Charlie Bennett live at The Folklore Rooms, Brighton (Matinee Show)

Charlie Bennett

Charlie Bennett is a 24-year-old bedroom-pop artist from Birmingham. Inspired by Dayglow and Beabadoobee, he started releasing music in late 2020, having taught himself to record and produce from his bedroom during lockdown. A self-declared “bedroom pop artist”, Bennett was drawn to the genre’s creativity-first ethos: making music with whatever gear you have. This DIY stance proved itself in his breakout track “Is This Falling?” in September 2020. With 6 million streams and counting, it was recorded using a £20 microphone and an iPhone. Its success gave Bennett the confidence to double down on his musical instincts, releasing his debut EP “Duvet Days”, which was aptly named after using his bedding to soundproof his room whilst recording. Charlie Bennett has built a community of over 500,000 dedicated followers, nicknamed his “Strawbennetts”, who’ve helped stream Charlie’s music over 12.5 million times to date. He’s landed playlist spots on Spotify’s “Our Generation”, supported Will Joseph Cook’s recent UK tour, a slot at Reading Festival, plays on 6 Music, BBC Introducing and KCRW, and the attention of major label bosses, one of whom Bennett remembers chatting to on Zoom whilst folding his socks. Given what they continue to achieve from a student bedroom, it is clear this DIY champ is one to watch.