Singer/songwriter Charlotte OC, hailing from Blackburn, possesses a distinctive flair for slow-building tension, expressing her raw emotions atop a cinematic, bluesy rhythm in her track “Cider and Black.”
Right from the start, the song carries a bold energy: with a sultry bassline, thick brass notes, strings that sweep in reminiscent of the beginning of a spy movie, and a laid-back drumbeat that hints at someone ready to unleash their thoughts. The brass blasts while the guitars tremble with a psychedelic rock vibe.
“Cider and Black” is an upfront and captivating track, not something you’d casually play in the background unless you prefer a dose of intensity with your morning brew.
Charlotte OC’s newly launched EP ‘Seriously Love, Go Home’ includes lines like:
Bathtub Friday
I’ll be honest
I’m indulging myself
You don’t even cross my mind…
Keys on the dresser
Like a bruise on skin
I thought you’d realize
by now that it’s him
You don't cross my mind...
Her vocals enter with an unexpected impact, akin to a partner breaking a silence without warning. She starts softly, almost daring you to look away, then explodes into the chorus. Charlotte openly shares her truths, shifting her voice between comforting and disquieting, at times within the same line. The vibe feels both nostalgically soulful and dramatically theatrical, especially when she reaches those high notes, transforming the song into a performance that feels grand.
With lines that resonate powerfully, she commands the scene:
Bang, bang goes the drummer
I’ll be gone by the summer
Like a punch delivered in passion,
there’s no turning back
Now I’m tearing it down
like cider and black.
Charlotte herself noted: This represents her moment of self-destruction. Every lyric hits hard, but not in a dejected manner. She conveys a sense of defiance, offering a playful yet chaotic energy. The lyrics hint at catharsis, filled with imagery of gilded knives, slammed doors, and confessions that carry an edge. “Everything that’s bad feels right / Hit me like a hook to the right tonight.” Beneath the surface turmoil, she manages to craft something celebratory.
This song needs a powerful musical backdrop, and producer Dimitri Tikovoi ensures the band follows her lead. Strings rise, brass punctuates, while two guitars engage in a playful exchange: one stays steady, while the other breaks away, creating a somewhat wild atmosphere. Shimmering keys and a haunting vibraphone emerge just before the conclusion. Charlotte remains the focal point, her strong vocals commanding the stage.
“Cider & Black” is featured in Charlotte OC’s latest EP, Seriously Love, Go Home.
Everything that’s bad feels right
Hit me like a hook to the right tonight
I’m decorating my golden knives
Slam the door
As the song fades out, it leaves only Charlotte’s voice and the last remnants of smoke. “Cider and Black” does not tidy up after itself; it abruptly sets down its shot glass, spills whiskey across the bar, and slips out before trouble arrives.
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:: Stream or purchase Seriously Love, Go Home here ::
:: Connect with Charlotte OC here ::
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Listen: “Cider and Black” – Charlotte OC
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© Stewart Baxter
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Charlotte OC Reclaims Herself on ‘Seriously Love, Go Home,’ a Record of Reckoning, Release, & Hard-Won Clarity :: FEATURE ::
Charlotte OC Explores Her Darkest Depths on Sophomore LP ‘Here Comes Trouble’ :: TRACK-BY-TRACK ::
Charlotte OC’s ‘Oh the Agony, Oh the Ecstasy’ EP Is a Passionate, Soulful Surrender :: FEATURE ::
Love, Loss, and Hope in Her Darkest Hour with Charlotte OC :: INTERVIEW ::
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Blackburn-born singer/songwriter Charlotte OC has a knack for slow-building tension, delivering her raw emotions over a cinematic, bluesy rhythm in “Cider and Black.”