Singaporean singer-songwriter Charlie Lim recently released his new single “Nobody’s Home,” an intensely vulnerable track that offers a taste of his upcoming album “DAYDREAM.” The album is set to release towards the end of this year and touch on themes of regret and responsibility. Beyond music, Lim is an active advocate for cancer, supporting organizations like Singapore’s Children’s Cancer Foundation and Make-A-Wish Singapore. To learn more about Charlie Lim and his upcoming album, read on.

Where are you based?
I’m currently based in Singapore.

What inspired you to pursue music?
I was exposed to music quite young, and it always felt like a very natural way to process things or express myself. Sometimes I don’t think it’s as much of a choice as it was a calling, as cliché as that sounds. I’ve actually wanted to quit several times in the last few years, but somehow or rather I tend to get nudged and pulled back in.

Congratulations on your new single “Nobody’s Home.” What inspired this song?
Thank you…the song came out of a pretty intense period in my life. It was one of those rare moments where everything just poured out in one sitting. I couldn’t have done it without my friend Will (better known as sugi.wa) who co-produced most of this upcoming record with me. Will was messing around with some clarinet orchestral samples and I was on the piano when it all sort of came together.

I wasn’t trying to write anything in particular, I was just reacting to what I was feeling. The song felt like it already existed and I just had to get out of the way and let it happen. I remember just collapsing in a corner and bawling my eyes out after writing it. Will gave me a big hug after. His mum popped by after dinner to see what we were up to and she heard the tune and she cried too. I hope she doesn’t mind me revealing that…

“Nobody’s Home” is your most emotionally raw work to date. How do you navigate the vulnerability that comes with sharing something so personal?
I don’t know. I don’t think you really “navigate” it. You just accept that it comes with the territory. I’ve sat on these songs for quite some time before finishing them, and there’s always moments where you wonder if something is too much to share, but I’ve come to realise that the things you’re most hesitant to say are usually the things that matter most. A lot of this record is about my own reflection on my own mistakes and regrets, but once the song is out, it stops belonging to me anyway. It becomes something other people can find themselves in.

You’re set to release your third studio album, “DAYDREAM,” sometime later this year. What’s the story behind the creation of this album?
This album came out of a period where a lot of things in my life fell apart at once. I went through a manic-depressive episode, a breakup of a long-term relationship, and just a deep existential crisis. I was very close to ending it all, let alone attempting to do any sort of music.

But over time, I found myself returning to these songs to make sense of what I’d gone through. Some of the songs were written during that period, but I could only finish them after I’d worked through a lot of it.

Without giving too much away, what are some themes we can expect to hear from it?
A lot of it revolves around regret, responsibility, and the idea of self-forgiveness — or whether that’s even possible.

It’s less about resolution and more about sitting with things honestly. The album lives somewhere between regret and acceptance.

There’s a quote by Jung, "Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes” that rings quite true throughout this record. It’s easier to dream than to deal with what’s actually in front of you, and sometimes we get blindsided by the chase. At the same time, you also want to be loved for who you are as a dreamer. A lot of the songs on the album sit in that tension.

What do you hope to inspire within listeners?
I don’t know if I’m trying to inspire anything specific. If anything, I hope the music makes people feel less alone in whatever they’re going through. I hope that is enough.

Your signature style is very melancholic and reflective. How has your style and identity as an artist grown over the years from project to project?
I used to be quite a maximalist — I liked building big arrangements and layering a lot of ideas. Over time, I’ve become more interested in restraint and deconstructing certain preconceived ideas about what makes something beautiful, dissonant and coherent.

On this record especially, I was trying to see how little I could do while still saying everything I needed to say. Minimalism is quite brutal; you can’t hide behind anything. But it also feels more honest.

You’re an ambassador for Make-A-Wish Singapore and have worked with the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF). Can you tell us about these organizations and your involvement? What inspired you to get involved?
Both organizations do incredible work supporting children and families going through really difficult circumstances.

Getting involved wasn’t something I overthought. When you meet the kids and hear their stories, it puts a lot of things into perspective for me. Music is one of the few things I know how to do relatively well, so if I can use it to contribute in some way, whether it’s raising funds or just creating a meaningful moment — that feels important to me.

Why is the CCF important to you?
I think what stands out about CCF is the long-term, holistic support they provide, not just for the children but for their families as well. It’s easy to underestimate how much emotional resilience that kind of journey requires, and organizations like CCF play a huge role in sustaining that.

Do you have any favorite stories from helping the kids?
There have been a few moments that have stayed with me, but I think what’s most striking is how present and resilient the kids are, even in really difficult situations. I co-wrote and released a song called Here We Are last year during Singapore’s 60th birthday, and we released a special acoustic version as a tribute to a very brave young boy called Elijah who suffered from a rare bone cancer. I’ll provide more details on the campaign that you can read about him here: https://give.asia/campaign/here-we-are-for-elijah#/story

Recently, I’ve been doing songwriting workshops together with a music therapist for the CCF, and it’s been very inspiring seeing how music has helped the kids express themselves. You might go in thinking you’re there to give something, but you end up receiving and learning a lot more than you expect.

What is one piece of advice you would give a young artist just starting out in the music industry?
Try not to rush into becoming a version of yourself that you think people will accept. Take the time to understand your own voice, even if it takes longer. Longevity comes from honesty and self-awareness, not from chasing trends. Everyone’s version of success is different, and relevance is so relative.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
My main focus right now is the release of DAYDREAM and eventually bringing the music into a live setting. I’m interested in how these songs translate on stage, especially with how stripped back they are.

It has been a crazy few years. How have you been staying positive?
I wouldn’t say I’ve been “positive” all the time. It’s been more about learning how to stay present and not avoid what I’m feeling. Things like therapy, and just slowing down have helped. I think I’ve become more comfortable not having everything figured out. I’m very thankful for my loved ones around me that have stuck around.

What is your motto in life?
I don’t think I’ve ever really had a fixed motto, but lately it’s been something along the lines of:
You cannot change the past or people’s perception of you, but try your best anyway.

To learn more about Charlie Lim, please check out the links below:
Instagram: @wherewascharlie
Website: https://charlielim.net/

Spotify / Apple Music: Charlie Lim

Organizations:
Make-A-Wish Singapore
Children’s Cancer Foundation (Singapore)

Charlie Lim: Intense Vulnerability