CHARLOTTE SANDS BLENDS POWER AND PAIN IN THRILLING NEW SINGLE “NECKDEEP”
With “neckdeep,” Charlotte Sands delivers a swirling blend of vulnerability and power that cements her place as one of alt-pop’s most thrilling shape-shifters. Based in Nashville, Sands continues to defy expectations of what a Tennessee singer-songwriter “should” sound like. Like with her viral hit “Dress” — inspired by Harry Styles’ Vogue cover — she’s breaking musical norms and helping pave the way for genreless, emotionally-driven pop-rock. Sands not having a definitive sound has ironically become her most authentic, recognizable trait, and we’re lucky to witness it with this newest track, released on Aug. 1.
Graphic by Emma Ransom (Crave Music Magazine)
The song opens with a brief dream-like, hazy soundscape that eases the listener in, only to plunge into a bass-filled, tone-altering atmosphere that’s absolutely gripping. The way Sands manipulates the sonic terrain, constantly keeping the listener on their toes with subtle electronic accents or instrument drops, showcases a clear musical intuition.
There’s a stomach-sinking ache that lingers in the lyrics as Sands navigates the contradictions of longing for someone who is giving less than nothing: “You make it look so hard to want me.” The emotional confusion of when someone’s disinterest only pulls you in deeper fuels the entire track. Her words claw at the desperation for clarity where none seems to exist: “Why would you tell me that you’re neck deep when you’re really one foot out?”
But despite the painful vulnerability in her lyrics, the song is laced with a fearless grit. It’s this defiance, paired with her booming vocals and bold genre-blending, that makes “neckdeep” hit so hard. The dark, heavy drops of electric guitar in the verses,“You make me wanna take this car and drive into a ditch,” underscore the rage and raw emotion she’s channeling. An emotional experience in which I’m sure many listeners, including myself, can reassuringly relate to.
Sands’ refusal to be pinned down to a single genre is what gives her music its magnetic edge. She’s an intoxicating combination of a 2000s alt-it-girl and an EDM rockstar, mixing rock and electronic elements into something uniquely her own. The EDM accents don’t feel like a gimmick, they inject vivid life into the already expressive guitar work, making for an explosive sound that never wavers.
In the final moments of the song all instrumentals are pulled back for just Sands’ unfiltered voice, which makes for an everlasting impression. It’s a sharp inhale before silence, and it leaves the listener jaw-dropped and in awe. Her dominance over her own emotions is nothing short of alluring. Sands uses this power to portray the multitude of contrasts that come with toxic love, such as the power in pain and the clarity in chaos. With her fresh combination of genres, unbreakably raw voice and emotionally aware lyrics, Sands has created an absolute standout of a song with “neckdeep.”
