Still Charles is the stage name of 21-year-old Carlo Aprea from Marche, Italy. We asked him a few questions about "Sottosopra", a single with an original production that immediately entered Spotify's radars, jamming perfectly into the contemporary Italian indie scene.
Can you tell us who you are and how your project started?
I'm a 21 years old guy born in Civitanova Marche and currently studying in Milan. I have been breathing music since I was a child, my father played in a band and I used to tag along for his shows. I studied piano until I was 18 years old, then I stopped going to lessons, tired of the monotony of classical music, and I started teaching myself how to play the guitar. From that moment I started composing my first songs. At first it was more of an outlet, I didn't let anyone hear them... but about a year and a half ago I decided to post something online, and I released my first single "Girasoli".
My latest single is called "Sottosopra" and it is without doubt the song I am most fond of; I wrote it during quarantine in a particular moment of my life when I really had a lot of thoughts in my head, and this song for me was like a liberation, about not giving a damn about anything and everyone and moving on. In short, for me it is a hymn to life!
What does it mean for you to be an independent artist today?
For me, being a young independent artist today does not necessarily mean being alone, as is often thought. It's normal that if you're just starting out, you have to do something valid first and show your real stuff to catch the interest of labels or record companies. Moreover, if you manage to work well independently, relying on the right people and the right channels, you can often have more followers and visibility than other artists who rely on record companies that fail to enhance their work.
Personally, I will remain independent until I find someone who is really interested in my project and ready to invest in me.
What kind of relationship have you had with streaming platforms so far?
I think that streaming platforms have been a turning point in the music industry, a necessary tool to give visibility to artists from all over the world and to allow them to create a fan base.
Entering a playlist on Spotify (editorial or otherwise) plays an important role in the diffusion of the songs; in fact, for the artist, in addition to being a way to gain more listeners, being in certain editorial playlists is also a showcase in the eyes of the most inserted characters in the music world.
In my last single "Sottosopra" I finally managed to enter the editorial playlist "Sanguegiovane" on Spotify and I immediately noticed the feedback I got... many people were interested not only in the song but also in my project in general, writing me privately and following me on my social profiles!
Do you have other plans for 2021?
My goal for 2021 is to continue my musical journey by trying to bring as many people with me as possible! I have several singles ready for release and I plan on releasing a couple of them by the end of the year, with the idea of following my style making it unique and recognizable.
I'm just at the beginning, but I really want to rock and have fun with my music, maybe making the lives of those who follow me easier and more enjoyable!