Charlotte Sands is back and better than ever. The pop-rock songstress just dropped her new single, “use me,” which takes listeners on a journey of self-love and acceptance. Marking the lead single off of her highly-anticipated debut album, can we start over?, Sands opens up about the never-ending treadmill of the music industry: the highs and lows of trying to please everyone, all while trying to fulfill your own wants and dreams. The expectations of others carry a lot of weight, especially as an up-and-coming star. But through cathartic lyrics and powerful imagery, Sands releases herself of the pressure and learns that the most important voice to listen to was her own all along.
In a statement, Sands further delves into the meaning behind “use me.”
“We wrote ‘use me’ at a time where I was constantly trying to please everyone around me and felt like I was continuously coming up short of their expectations,” Sands reflects. “No matter how hard I tried or how much I gave, it never felt like I was good enough. This song is about finally letting go of that pressure and accepting myself for who I actually am instead of the version that other people want me to be. Creating this song was a really therapeutic experience and I felt a million times lighter afterwards. I hope it makes you feel powerful and reminds you to not put too much weight on other people’s opinions of you. Only you truly know who you are.”
The music video for “use me” shows Charlotte Sands and her band performing in a dark studio space. Focusing on the emotion of her lyrics rather than the scenery, the video is a beautifully simple representation of accepting yourself for exactly who you are rather than covering it up with the picture-perfect mask everyone wants to see. When Sands opens the first verse with “You burned me at the stake without a trial/Watching through the flames I see you smile,” the listener immediately craves to hear more of her story.
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2024 is sure to be a massive year for Charlotte Sands. With her debut record dropping on January 24, the Nashville-based artist is excited to share a whole new chapter of her growth as a person and artist. The lead singer proves that Sands is not holding anything back emotionally or sonically, representing the next generation of female artists in the scene.
“I hope this album conveys strength, confidence, and power within vulnerability,” she says. “It feels like holding a mirror to myself and reflects exactly how I feel right now in this phase of my life. I feel more secure in who I am as a person and as an artist than I’ve ever been.”
You can catch Charlotte Sands on tour with The Band Camino and Bad Suns for six more shows! Then, the blue-haired star is headed to Europe to support 5 Seconds Of Summer. Check out below and grab tickets here.
Tour Dates:
- Sept 22—Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena *
- Sept 24—Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre *
- Sept 26—Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre *
- Sept 27—Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall *
- Sept 28—San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield *
- Sept 30—Orem, UT @ UCCU Center *
- Oct. 3—Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro ^
- Oct. 4—Manchester, UK @ AO Arena ^
- Oct. 5—London, UK @ The O2 ^
- Oct. 7—Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Rockhal ^
- Oct. 8—Paris, France @ La Seine Musicale ^
- Oct. 10—Budapest, Budapest @ Laszlo Papp Budapest Sports Arena ^
- Oct. 11—Gilwice, Poland @ Arena Gilwice ^
- Oct. 12—Prague, Czechia, @ Sportovni hala Fortuna ^
* Supporting The Band Camino
^ Supporting 5 Seconds Of Summer