Singer-Songwriter Charlotte Lawrence Just Wants to Dance

This is SOUND ADVICE, a weekly destination for playlists curated by Interview’s friends, enemies, and lovers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered playlists by Ethel Cain, Daniel Fisher, a.k.a. Physical Therapy, and Alex Anwandter. This week’s installment is brought to you by singer-songwriter Charlotte Lawrence, whose dark yet catchy sound is a harbinger of the next generation of American pop music. In her newest earworm, “Boys Like You,” released last week, Lawrence writes a summer anthem for the young gays whose object of desire will never truly reciprocate. For SOUND ADVICE, the Los Angeles native crafts a playlist of her most beloved tracks and answers our questionnaire, in which she reveals her favorite stoner songs (before she quit weed altogether) and tells us who she trusts most with the Aux cord.

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Where do you dance? Anywhere they’ll let me.

What’s on your bedroom playlist? “Champagne Coast” – Blood Orange.

Favorite genre? Maybe alternative rock/indie folk but I truly do love (most) all genres.

Bluetooth or wired headphones? Anything in front of me that isn’t lost or broken.

What was your first concert? Camp Rock live.

What song on this playlist, if any, makes you cry? “Between the Bars” by Elliot Smith.

Name your favorite artist no one knows about. People know about them. They’re excellent and getting some well-deserved love right now but Leith Ross! Or Critter! I love finding these rad musicians on TikTok and being able to say I knew their work before they were famous.

Do you play an instrument? Guitar and piano and I can party play the drums. To a non-drummer, I’m decent; to a drummer, I’m shit.

What’s your favorite club? Europe has fun dance clubs, L.A. does not (imo, unless it does and I just don’t know of them, pls let me know).

What song do you have on repeat? Forever and always “Instant Crush” by Daft Punk and Julian Casablancas. Or anything by Adrianne Lenker. Orrr if I’m being honest, this song I just wrote called “Dog”? or “I’m just a dog”? “I’m ur dog”? Something with “dog.” I don’t even have a title yet but it scratches a really nice part of my brain, I’m a little obsessed with it.

What do you listen to when you’re high? I quit weed. Almost 7 months clean. But it used to be either Radiohead on shuffle or Bon Iver on shuffle. ‘Twas a sad stoner.

What’s your favorite album cover of all time? Of all time is too much of an ask it’s overwhelming me but off the top of my head I love Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers and Daniel Johnston’s 1990 or “Hi, How Are You.” All sick covers.

Who’s the queen of pop? Madonna.

What’s your favorite movie needle-drop? “Hallelujah” – Shrek.

Where’s your favorite place to listen to music? My car.

Who do you trust most with the aux cord? My boyfriend or Charlotte D’Alessio.

What song makes you dance? “1901” by Phoenix.

What song reminds you of your childhood? “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne or “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush (first two songs I learned on the piano).

Who was your top artist of last year? Sufjan Stevens.

What’s the last song that made you cry? “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley.