Charley: Redefining Pop And Her Mesmerising New Single ‘Cherries’

Photographs by Sara Regan

Sydney-based pop songstress Charley is back with her most captivating release yet. A sultry and empowering new single ‘Cherries’, marks the first chapter of her highly anticipated debut album and signals the beginning of a bold new era for the ARIA-nominated artist. 

Written and produced across Los Angeles and Sydney alongside Lukas Costas (Jonas Blue, Devin Kennedy) and TBHits (Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK), ‘Cherries’ showcases Charley’s evolution into a more daring and intimate sonic space. Driven by dark synths, a seductive pulse, and the irresistible thrill of connection, the song captures the intoxicating rush of a fleeting situationship while celebrating queer love and the power of feminine desire. 

“I was in LA when I wrote it last year, and wanted to write something that felt sexy and dark. Something that sounded like the thrill of a short situationship,” Charley explains. “It’s all about that anticipation, that positive excitement before the chaos.” 

For Charley, ‘Cherries’ also marks a pivotal emotional shift. After years of exploring heartbreak and loss through her earlier releases, she’s now embracing the beauty and vulnerability of falling in love again. “All of my previous work was about the tragedy of love and falling out of it,” she reflects. “But Cherries is about that moment before you get your heart cracked open, it’s hopeful, electric, and full of anticipation.” 

The song arrives with a visually stunning music video directed by Roman Anastasios (Hilltop Hoods, Jacotene), set against a lavish, Marie Antoinette inspired backdrop. Equal parts glamorous and chaotic, the video channels the energy of a “last supper gone wild”, a decadent girls’ night that spirals into a food fight of cake, cherries, and unapologetic fun. “I’ve wanted to do a music video with dancing for so long and it finally came to fruition,” says Charley. “I wanted it to feel dramatic, iconic, messy and fun, like that rush before ‘the act.” 

Despite the extravagant aesthetic, the shoot wasn’t without its challenges. “It was literally the coldest day in Melbourne,” Charley laughs. “By the end of filming, we had cake all over our bodies and in our hair. It was chaotic, but the beautiful kind.” 

A lifelong performer who grew up dancing ballet, Charley found the video to be a full-circle moment. “I’m not a professional dancer by any means, but it’s something I’ve always loved,” she says. “I’d love to bring that side of me into my live shows one day.” 

Charley’s creative energy is deeply personal with each song drawn from real-life experiences. “Every single song I write is about someone or something that’s happened in my life,” she shares. “Don’t date me if you don’t want to be written about,” she jokes. “I’ll never say names, but every song carries a story.”

As honest as her music is, that vulnerability doesn’t come without its challenges. “It’s the biggest emotional roller coaster,” she admits. “Being perceived can be stressful, but it’s part of what I do. The best moments are when people tell me they feel seen or heard through my music. That’s when it all feels worth it.” 

After releasing her acclaimed debut EP ‘TIMEBOMBS’ in 2023, which earned her an ARIA nomination for the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award and debuted on the ARIA Albums Chart, Charley has firmly cemented herself as one of Australia’s most exciting new pop exports. With over 10.5 million combined streams and 1.5 million YouTube views, she’s already toured nationally, supported major artists including Stephen Sanchez, G-Flip, Griff, and FLETCHER, and wowed audiences at SXSW. 

Influenced by powerhouse vocalists like Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, and Paramore, as well as contemporary pop innovators such as Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Troye Sivan, Charley affectionately describes her sound as “yearning while crying while dancing.” It’s a fitting phrase for an artist who channels both emotional rawness and glittering confidence in every release. 

Looking ahead, Charley is eager to keep expanding her creative world, both musically and visually. “I’ve been creating music nonstop for the last two years, and now it’s time to bring it all to life,” she says. “Each song will have its own visual universe. Once I get to perform them live, that’ll be the next big moment for me.” 

As for dream venues? “Madison Square Garden would be the ultimate,” she grins. “Or supporting Dua Lipa or Zara Larsson, that crowd would eat Cherries up.” 

And in true Charley fashion, she leaves fans with one last cheeky note: “This song goes out to all my queer girlies who also agree that papaya is just better than eggplants,” she laughs, a perfect dose of playful defiance from an artist who’s not afraid to be both powerful and unapologetically herself. 

With ‘Cherries’, Charley isn’t just delivering another infectious pop anthem, she’s stepping fully into her next era: bold, confident, and beautifully unfiltered. 

Dive into the sound of her new era, “Cherries” out now on all streaming platforms.