An emerging talent blazing her own path, 17-year-old Charlotte Jade is on full display with her reflective new single, ‘????’. The English-German singer, songwriter, and producer, who hails from Liverpool but now calls Western Australia home, has continued to build on her unique blend of emotional pop with a distinct 80s flair, channelling the bittersweet sting of a lingering break-up.
Leaning into the melancholic glow of 80s synth-pop, ‘????’ feels like a late-night drive through city lights, drenched in the bittersweet ache of a relationship’s aftermath. The song immediately establishes its mood with a gorgeous string of synth tones, a textural soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. This is the foundation for Charlotte’s vocals, which enter with a pristine and heartfelt clarity. As the song opens, her voice cuts through the atmospheric haze with the arresting honesty of the chorus: “How did it end? When I was holding onto us / Holding onto you / Must’ve lost your touch.” It’s a raw confession that immediately draws you in, showcasing a vulnerability that is rare to find in such a polished pop track.
Charlotte has cited The 1975’s ‘Somebody Else’ as a key inspiration for this release, and the influence is undeniable in the production. The track shares that same shimmering melancholy, blending dreamy textures with raw lyrical confessions about watching someone slip away. It’s a sonic world where glossy pop meets the kind of lingering heartbreak that stays with you long after the final note. As she puts it, "I wrote this song after a complicated break-up with my now ex. We had broken up, but for a couple of months, we would still talk to each other, on-and-off. The song narrates the cycle of checking in on someone who no longer belongs to me but never fully leaves my head." This sincerity is what makes the song so relatable and compelling.
As the track progresses, Charlotte builds a luscious soundscape, complete with gentle, progressive beats and a cascade of melodic synths. Her delivery is consistently stunning, recounting the post-break-up thought cycle with a rare honesty. Echoes of The Weeknd’s moody sophistication and the vibrant retro stylings of Dua Lipa can be heard, but Charlotte Jade's artistry is undeniably her own.
‘????’ is not just another song about a break-up; it’s a reflective pop anthem that perfectly captures the feeling of a love that's lost its way while still holding on to its ghost. With this track, Charlotte Jade solidifies her place as a rising star, a young artist with an old soul for synth-pop and a bright future ahead.
You can stream ‘????’ on Spotify now, and for more from Charlotte, be sure to follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
