As a teenager, I grew up living in the UK’s Suffolk countryside. Whilst I now have a sense of nostalgia for that landscape, at the time I felt suffocated by it. The place, the thinking, the people, and the sense of diversity all felt so small and stifling. I found myself longing for the potential and possibility of cities, which shimmered with the potential to find people more like me.
With my own experience in mind, it is perhaps no surprise that French musician Charlotte Boin’s new single resonates with me. Entitled No Downtown, the song “paints the picture of being stuck in a town too small for your big dreams”. Both written and produced by Boin, the song draws together soft alt pop melodies with R&B textured percussion, together with her own raw lyrical performance.
The resulting song is polished but emotionally authentic. Liberal use of sub-bass lends the song an introspective feel, whilst hinting at the nighttime thrills of the larger environments Boin longs for. Taking inspiration from artists that include Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears, Charlotte’s sound reflects global sensibilities whilst still drawing on the roots of her southwestern French hometown.
Check out No Downtown below: