[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] Charlie Lim, “Do what makes you and the people around you happy”

Charlie Lim is a Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer! The artist is known in Southeast Asia for his incredible songs. In 2011, he made his debut with a self-titled EP then in 2015, he unleashed a double EP by the name of TIME/SPACE. He has sold out multiple shows and performed at several music festivals like the Mosaic Music Festival, Jarasum International Jazz Festival and more. Most recently, Charlie had the honor of remaking the National Day song.

Check out his exclusive interview below!

HYPNOTICASIA: Please introduce yourself to the readers of HypnoticAsia!
I’m Charlie Lim, a singer-songwriter / producer from Singapore

HYPNOTICASIA: Tell us about your newest collaboration single “Ashes” with Miho Fukuhara!
It started out as a simple demo during a session when Miho was visiting me in Singapore, and we filled in the lyrics later over the next few months, sending ideas back and forth online. It’s also my first time singing in Japanese, which was quite an interesting experience. 

HYPNOTICASIA: How has COVID-19 affected the song process? 
It’s been a tough time for everyone and I think the pandemic really influenced the making of it. We just wanted to write something that was healing and comforting. 

HYPNOTICASIA: What or who has been your biggest music inspiration?
I grew up listening to a lot of contemporary singer-songwriters like Jeff Buckley, Fiona Apple, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, Thom Yorke and John Mayer. But I also really like late 90s R&B from the Soulquarian era, like D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Bilal. 

HYPNOTICASIA: Are there any artists you would say have influenced your specific sound in music? 
Those I mentioned above, definitely!

HYPNOTICASIA: If you could choose only one song to perform forever, which song would it be and why? 
Probably Light Breaks In, because it always reminds me of the moment when I was writing it and I was going through a really difficult time but overcame it. It also makes me think about my wife.  

HYPNOTICASIA: You had the honor of remaking the National Day song; tell us about that experience!
It was quite a privilege to be able to do so, and get to perform it in front of tens of thousands of people and have kids at school learn the song. I guess I had something to say about how I feel we need to take a bit more ownership of things here, and that nothing’s perfect but we can be the change we want to see instead of just throwing stones all the time. 

2018 Version where Charlie rewrote a verse

2020 Remake titled “Room at the Table”

HYPNOTICASIA: Is there an artist you would like to collaborate with that you have not had the chance to work with yet?
There are so many artists that I love and respect. I think it’ll be a dream to work with producers like John Congleton or Jack Antonoff or James Blake. 

HYPNOTICASIA: What advice would you give to someone who wants to give up music? 
I don’t have any answers, but I know it takes strength to give up something too. Do what makes you and the people around you happy. Music doesn’t necessarily need to be your full time job, especially if you’re doing it because you love it. There’s also many fields within music that one can do, it’s not just a make or break situation.

HYPNOTICASIA: Can we expect more music from you in the near future? 
Definitely, this year has been quite interesting in terms of releasing singles and collaborations which I hope to do a few more of, before I start working on the next record.