Benjamin Charles - “Real”
Benjamin Charles‘ latest release, “Real,” is a stripped-back indie folk song that features a healthy splash of psychedelia. The music immediately draws in the listener with a hypnotic, repeating acoustic fingerpicking melody. “Real” is beautifully sparse at first, allowing you to focus on the vocal and lyrics.
The first hint of psychedelic tinges to this song comes from the sudden panning of the guitar and another acoustic joining in on the fingerpicking pattern. This is done really well and doesn’t feel disjointed, lending the song more depth and enhancing the hypnotic qualities of the arrangement. The soft and emotive singing wonderfully complements the minimalist music. But the dynamics of the vocal grows as the song progresses.
The song’s major lyrical hook is when the tone of the song beautifully shifts. Benjamin Charles soars effortlessly into falsetto ranges and sings the word ‘real’ whilst gently declining his pitch down an octave. An organ layer beautifully mimics and compliments this. Backing vocal layers add to the song’s hook, thickening up the expression and strings make an appearance, giving the song a real moody and psychedelic feel.
The song’s lyrics provide perplexing questions that urge the listener to consider their own life experiences, worldviews, and existence. Charles’ lyrics promote reflection and introspection, making “Real” a very significant and unforgettable song.
“Real” is a masterfully composed song that brilliantly displays Benjamin Charles’ talent as a musician and singer-songwriter. The blending of psychedelic influences and indie folk have been beautifully done with this song.