Charlie Deakin Davies Explained

Charlie Deakin Davies
Birth Date:9 June 1995
Birth Place:Walkern, England
Years Active:2005-present

Charlie Helen Deakin Davies (born 9 June 1995) is a British musician from Walkern. They have released an EP, Green, under the name DIDI, and the singles "Easy" featuring Piri and "Bumped in the Head" featuring Ellie Dixon as Charlieeeee. They have also co-written the Gary Barlow song "Let's Get Drunk" from the album Music Played by Humans, co-produced the Ellie Dixon song "Swing", the Kate Dimbleby album Songbirds, and the compilation album The F Spot Femme Fatales, directed the Piri & Tommy tour Froge.tour, and supported China Crisis.

Life and career

Early life, The Folk, and Delora

Charlie Helen Deakin Davies was born on 9 June 1995 in Walkern, and attended Freman College. They got into music after being given an electric guitar by their father aged ten;[1] around this time,[2] they formed a band which played funk, indie, and grunge music, which they were in for around five years. Aged fifteen, they formed the Folk, a band composed of lead singer Lucy Holmes, ukelele player Rose Goodship, and violinist Sam Saward, for which Deakin Davies played guitar;[3] all four spent time busking in Hertford, during which time they were spotted by Martin Lumsden of Cream Room,[4] a recording studio in Dane End in Hertfordshire which closed in 2021.[5] The band released a single, "When It Rains", and then an EP.[6]

Deakin Davies, Holmes, Goodship, and Saward later attended Freman College, with Deakin Davies studying music technology at AS-level and dropping out after a year. Saward later left the Folk;[7] the remaining members later changed their name to Delora, after discovering the word while googling at 3am and discovering a Latin word that meant "by the seashore", and released a single, "Come Alive", inspired by the sensation of being cheered up by music.[8] They later released an EP, Superglue, and then another single, "Sober", by which time Goodship had also left.[9]

Folkstock Records, DIDI, and "Let's Get Drunk"

Deakin Davies' first production works were made at the back of a converted shed at the end of their parents' garden, and which was built by their stepdad.[10] They produced Kelly Oliver's debut album, "This Land", which was released in 2013 on Folkstock Records, a record label Deakin Davies' mother, Helen Meissner, had set up specifically to release the music they had recorded together;[11] the label later released a second album by Oliver, Bedlam, in March 2016.[12] Deakin Davies also produced the label's The F Spot Femme Fatales, a compilation album for International Women's Day 2015,[13] which appeared on the Daily Telegraphs "Best Folk albums of 2015" list.[14] In 2016, they produced Ships by Bethan Lee,[15] and in 2017, they produced Songbirds by Kate Dimbleby, an a cappella album.[16]

In March 2017, they began releasing music of their own under the name DIDI, a contraction of their surname, after writing "Sorry" and finding they wanted to record it themselves;[17] they then released the singles "Awkward",[18] "Back Off", "Fast and Furious",[19] and "Fickle Friends",[20] and then the Green EP, which contained "Go!".[21] In October 2017, they supported China Crisis at the Horn in St Albans.[22] In February 2019,[23] Gary Barlow hired Deakin-Davies as a studio assistant; in a September 2021 with Moths and Giraffes, Deakin Davies asserted that the collaboration came about after meeting Fraser T. Smith at a ceremony for an award they had won, that the lockdown met that their contract had been extended from one year to two, and that it ended in February 2021. One of the songs Deakin-Davies wrote, "Let's Get Drunk", appeared on Barlow's 2020 album Music Played by Humans, which charted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.

Trans Creative Collective and Charlieeeee

In January 2021, Deakin Davies came out as non-binary, and changed their name to Charlie; they then moved from East London to West London, and took over Ten87 studios in Tottenham Hale. In March 2021, Deakin Davies attended a session at Abbey Road composed entirely of transgender, non-binary and gender diverse producers for International Transgender Day of Visibility, along with Max Blue Churchill and Jesley Faye.[24] Moved by the response, they cofounded the Trans Creative Collective, a directory of transgender musicians. Deakin-Davies then co-produced Ellie Dixon's "Swing";[25] in a September 2021 interview with Moths and Giraffes, they asserted that they contacted Dixon after hearing their earlier track "Sucker" on New Music Friday. In November 2022,[26] they directed Piri & Tommy's Froge.tour.[27] Around this time, Deakin Davies was scouted for a year-long mentorship programme led by Fred Again, as part of which they cowrote a track with him, Raye, MNEK, and Kamille.[28]

For 2023, Deakin Davies made a New Year's resolution to finish every song they started, regardless of opinion. One song completed in this manner was "Easy", a love song directed at a partner and friends,[29] which came about after Piri gave them some breakbeats to mess around with. In January 2024, they signed to Relentless Records, and released "Easy" on the label; the song was credited to "Charlieeeee", and was released on 17 January.[30] The song was released alongside a video containing a commentary on being a queer person in a heteronormative society, and was followed by "Bumped in the Head", which featured Ellie Dixon.[31] In May 2024, Deakin Davies announced their debut EP Dogbowl, so-called due to their self-deprecating attitude at the time, and released "Xtreme Circumstances", which completed the Charlieeeee's World music video trilogy; "Easy" depicted Deakin Davies falling to Earth and finding love, while "Bumped in the Head" depicted them exploring Earth and discovering their community and "Xtreme Circumstances" depicted them discovering a love for music and performing while contemplating a return to their home planet.[32] A further single, "Sunburn", was written about falling in love with best friends.[33] Deakin Davies released the EP in June 2024.

Artistry and personal life

Writing in February 2024, Notion described Deakin Davies' sound as a combination of "indie vibes, hyper-pop energy, and a touch of '00s nostalgia" and "somewhat reminiscent of Paramore and Piri & Tommy's lovechild",[34] and in March 2024, DIY described "Bumped in the Head" as a fusion of "heavy D'n'B beats with synth-pop melodies"; Deakin Davies used the former piece to assert that they had been inspired to introduce drum and bass to their sound from touring with drum and bass artists. In a September 2017 interview with MusicOTFuture.com, Deakin Davies stated that their earliest influences were Ellie Goulding, Two Door Cinema Club, and Haim and that their current influences included Hole, Declan McKenna, Marika Hackman, and The Big Moon, and in June 2024, they used an NME piece to cite Paramore and Chase & Status as influences. In July 2023, Deakin Davies and Piri took part in a Trans Pride parade in London.[35]

Discography

EPs

TitleDetails
Green(DIDI)
Dogbowl(Charlieeeee)

Singles

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbumRef
"Sorry"
(DIDI)		2017Green
"Awkward"
(DIDI)
"Back Off"
(DIDI)
"Fast & Furious"
(DIDI)
"Fickle Friends"
(DIDI)		2018
"Easy"
(Charlieeeee featuring Piri)		2024Dogbowl
"Bumped in the Head"
(Charlieeeee featuring Ellie Dixon)
"Xtreme Circumstances"
(Charlieeeee)
"Sunburn"
(Charlieeeee)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 13 September 2017 . INTRODUCING UK PUNK/INDIE POP SINGER SONGWRITER 'DIDI' AND HER BRAND NEW SINGLE 'BACK OFF' AND THE STORY BEHIND WHO SHE IS, HER STAGE NAME AND MORE! . 17 January 2024 . MusicOTFuture . en-US . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161252/https://musicotfuture.com/2017/09/13/introducing-uk-punkindie-pop-singer-songwriter-didi-and-her-brand-new-single-back-off-and-the-story-behind-who-she-is-her-stage-name-and-more/ . live .
  2. Web site: Lauren Deakin Davies joins Pro7ect 2019 . 17 January 2024 . www.soundonsound.com . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161251/https://www.soundonsound.com/news/lauren-deakin-davies-joins-pro7ect-2019 . live .
  3. Web site: 24 May 2012 . University of Hertfordshire 2012 Summer Ball folk set to party . 18 January 2024 . Welwyn Hatfield Times . en . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118104955/https://www.whtimes.co.uk/things-to-do/22294052.university-hertfordshire-2012-summer-ball-folk-set-party/ . live .
  4. Web site: Keyes . Karrie . 4 August 2019 . Rising Producer-Engineer - Lauren Deakin Davies . 17 January 2024 . SoundGirls.org . en-US . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161251/https://soundgirls.org/lauren-deakin-davies/ . live .
  5. Web site: Martin the Producer - After 23 years of recording, The Cream Room Recording Studio in Dane End, Hertfordshire closed on the 30th June 2021 after the land where the building is situated was sold to housing developers. To mark it's passing in to history, and in order to celebrate our incredible musical community, I was delighted that some brilliant local artists agreed to contribute their time and their talent to create this unique limited edition CD collection, raising funds for local charity "Mudlarks" - a Hertford based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Martin Lumsden, owner and producer at The Cream Room with special thanks to Kyle and Sam from The Real McKoys for inspiration, motivation and invaluable assistance in creating and completing this project. It's been a great adventure - thanks to everyone who's been part of the Cream Room studio. While we won't be gathering at this studio again we will definitely be somewhere making great music soon. Martin www.martintheproducer.com Acknowledgments I'd never have made it this far without the talents of contributions of numerous amazing people, but these deserve special mention Rob Clydesdale Heather Lindsay Kyle Booth カイルブース Pete Stannard Charlie Deakin Davies and for pretty much always taking care of anything that I couldn't - John Denzil Dines Featuring... The Real McKoys Ed Tattersall Natasha Strange - Vocalist Dan Thomas Music Baron Goodlove Eponine Cardinal kings Zoë Phillips Maxx Palmer Los Lips Dom Claytor & Grace Jones Alex Bayly 1403 The Mojos Ebony Rose Facebook . 17 January 2024 . www.facebook.com . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161251/https://www.facebook.com/martinlumsdenproducer/photos/a.184246592131553/924219354800936/ . live .
  6. Web site: 14 March 2012 . Girl group The Folk play live on University of Hertfordshire's radio station . 18 January 2024 . Welwyn Hatfield Times . en . 16 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116104612/https://www.whtimes.co.uk/things-to-do/22295136.girl-group-folk-play-live-university-hertfordshires-radio-station/ . live .
  7. Web site: 13 December 2020 . North Herts musician and producer works on Gary Barlow's chart-topping album . 16 January 2024 . Royston Crow . en . 16 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116110029/https://www.royston-crow.co.uk/things-to-do/22028728.north-herts-musician-producer-works-gary-barlows-chart-topping-album/ . live .
  8. Web site: 15 August 2014 . LOCAL WOLVES // ISSUE 17 - BEN BROWN by Local Wolves - Issuu . 9 March 2024 . issuu.com . en . 9 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309120454/https://issuu.com/localwolves/docs/augustseventeen . live .
  9. Web site: Bayram . Lauren . 23 March 2015 . Flavourmag Premiere's Delora's new single 'Sober' . 9 March 2024 . FLAVOURMAG . en-US . 9 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309120456/https://www.flavourmag.co.uk/delora-new-single-sober-premiere/ . live .
  10. Web site: Lauren Deakin Davies Interview - The Conqueror . 17 January 2024 . MusicTech . en-GB . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161252/https://musictech.com/features/lauren-deakin-davies-interview-the-conqueror/ . live .
  11. Web site: 29 September 2015 . Rising Stevenage star Kelly's eyeing a singular step towards new album release . 17 January 2024 . The Comet . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117114552/https://www.thecomet.net/news/22430812.rising-stevenage-star-kellys-eyeing-singular-step-towards-new-album-release/ . live .
  12. Web site: Ainscoe . Mike . 2 February 2016 . KELLY OLIVER: BEDLAM - album review . 18 January 2024 . Louder Than War . en-GB . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118104954/https://louderthanwar.com/kelly-oliver-bedlam-album-review/ . live .
  13. Web site: 13 March 2015 . Femmes fatales of folk music . 17 January 2024 . Watford Observer . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117114552/https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/music/11855090.hertfordshire-record-label-folkstock-releases-a-cd-of-folk-music-by-talented-local-women/ . live .
  14. News: Chilton . Martin . 11 August 2015 . Best Folk Music Albums of 2015 . 18 January 2024 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235 . 29 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329221600/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-folk-music-albums-of-2015/ . live .
  15. Web site: Ainscoe . Mike . 18 November 2016 . Bethan Lees: Ships EP - pre release taster . 18 January 2024 . Louder Than War . en-GB . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118110457/https://louderthanwar.com/bethan-lees-water-wine-stream/ . live .
  16. Web site: 22 September 2017 . Songbird Kate Dimbleby comes in from the wild . 17 January 2024 . Oxford Mail . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161251/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/leisure/15553250.songbird-kate-dimbleby-comes-wild/ . live .
  17. Web site: Garnett . Linda . 8 January 2018 . Interview: Award Winning Producer Lauren Deakin Davies . 17 January 2024 . Indie Music Women . en-US . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161252/https://indiemusicwomen.com/featured/interview-didi/ . live .
  18. Web site: 4 May 2017 . Review: DIDI Sorry and Awkward . 17 January 2024 . Fresh On The Net . en-GB . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117161252/https://freshonthenet.co.uk/2017/05/reviewdidsorryawkward/ . live .
  19. Web site: Women . Loud . 31 January 2018 . First listen: DIDI drops 'Fast and Furious' . 17 January 2024 . LOUD WOMEN . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117171717/https://loudwomen.org/2018/01/31/first-listen-didi-drops-fast-and-furious/ . live .
  20. Web site: 27 October 2018 . Unplugged Kazans to headline jam-packed Retune featuring DIDI, Anna Wells and Ben Sommers . 17 January 2024 . Bishop's Stortford Independent . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117171718/https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/whats-on/unplugged-kazans-to-headline-jam-packed-retune-featuring-didi-anna-wells-and-ben-sommers-9054529/ . live .
  21. Web site: 12 November 2018 . Fresh Faves: Batch 303 . 17 January 2024 . Fresh On The Net . en-GB . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117171717/https://freshonthenet.co.uk/2018/11/faves303/ . live .
  22. Web site: 2 October 2017 . Award-winning record producer's China Crisis support slot . 17 January 2024 . Herts Advertiser . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117171718/https://www.hertsad.co.uk/things-to-do/21773298.award-winning-record-producers-china-crisis-support-slot/ . live .
  23. Web site: In the Producer's Chair with Charlie Deakin Davies . 17 January 2024 . Moths and Giraffes . en-GB . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117180759/https://www.mothsandgiraffes.com/theactualcontent/yvan9cpvly1rvwccelwbem8ovs8em6 . live .
  24. Web site: Corner . Lewis . 31 March 2021 . Premiere: Abbey Road Studios releases documentary celebrating trans and gender diverse talent . 17 January 2024 . GAY TIMES . en-GB . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117185736/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-abbey-road-studios-releases-documentary-celebrating-trans-and-gender-diverse-talent/ . live .
  25. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 21 July 2023 . "I feel like I've had ten years of experiences in two" - Ellie Dixon is a future alt-pop legend from her own bedroom . 17 January 2024 . Dork . en-US . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927131348/https://readdork.com/features/ellie-dixon-the-cut-cover-july-2023/ . live .
  26. Web site: Holden . Finlay . 21 September 2022 . piri & tommy have announced their debut project, 'froge.mp3' . 17 January 2024 . Dork . en-US . 4 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304081850/https://readdork.com/news/piri-tommy-announce-debut-project-froge-mp3/ . live .
  27. Web site: piri & tommy: Student Radio Class of 2023 . 20 November 2022 . 14 April 2023 . . 14 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230414064833/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4MmVvRML9k&gl=US&hl=en . live .
  28. Web site: Jolley . Ben . 2024-06-19 . Charlieeeee: vibrant drum ’n’ bass with inclusivity and acceptance at its heart . 2024-06-20 . NME . en-GB.
  29. Web site: Relentless Records signee charlieeeee unveils their debut single, "EASY" . 19 January 2024 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133507/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/relentless-records-signee-charlieeeee-unveils-their-debut-single-easy . live .
  30. Web site: Relentless' Shabs Jobanputra talks 'amazing potential' for new stars plus returning artists in 2024 . 17 January 2024 . www.musicweek.com . en . 17 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117053217/https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/relentless-shabs-jobanputra-talks-amazing-potential-for-new-stars-plus-returning-artists-in-2024/089093 . live .
  31. Web site: 8 March 2024 . The Neu Bulletin (The New Eves, cruush, Slow Fiction and more!) . 9 March 2024 . DIY . en . 9 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309130349/https://diymag.com/feature/the-neu-bulletin-the-new-eves-cruush-slow-fiction-and-more . live .
  32. Web site: charlieeeee announces their debut EP, DOGBOWL . 2024-05-17 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US . 22 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522053029/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/charlieeeee-announces-their-debut-ep-dogbowl . live .
  33. Web site: Charlieeeee . 2024-06-18 . Gaydio . en . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620082540/https://www.gaydio.co.uk/brighton/on-air/gaydio-breakfast/charlieeeee1/ . live .
  34. Web site: Mukaranda . Maria . 2 February 2024 . Entering charlieeeee's Whimsical World . 9 March 2024 . Notion . en-GB . 9 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309113338/https://notion.online/entering-charlieeeees-whimsical-world/ . live .
  35. Web site: 8 July 2023 . 'Our rights are in danger right now more than ever': Trans Pride in London 2023 . 16 February 2024 . The Independent . en . 14 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714224642/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trans-pride-london-photographs-nonbinary-b2371845.html . live .
  36. Web site: charlieeeee - Discography . 2024-06-18 . Spotify . en . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620082251/https://open.spotify.com/artist/06a7x2F8Yi3TARax1iFKIp/discography/all . live .

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