Photo Credits: Benji Allen
Charlotte Sands is proof that alt-pop can bleed. She’s the artist who designs her own merch. Who stitches together outfits when inspiration outpaces budget and who thrives in the restless life on the road. She’s a mythmaker of independence, turning every DIY survival tactic into art. Her new album Satellite is her cosmos, a record that insists on feeling everything, even when it hurts.
We always start by asking artists to introduce themselves in their own words, or in the words of someone talking about them in a bar – so, time to introduce yourself!
Charlotte Sands: Hi I’m Charlotte! I was born in New Jersey, raised in Boston, and currently live in California making alternative pop / rock music for anyone willing to listen (hopefully you reading this)!
You’ve been called an “alt-pop it girl”. Do you ever feel like that label flattens you – or is it something you’ve reclaimed and redefined? What does it mean to you?
Charlotte Sands: I feel very honored to ever be considered an “it girl” so I will proudly wear that label! I think people’s experience and perception of genre is always so different, so I’m never too concerned with what boxes people put me in. I think creativity, inspiration, and art should be fluid—it’s supposed to be able to shift and change, as will other people’s opinions. All I have control over is making things that I like and that I’m proud of, and I’ve tried to focus on that my entire career.
You’re a hands-on artist in every sense. What’s something about your process that fans might not see but is essential to your art?
Charlotte Sands: I think people would be surprised to know how involved I am in every pocket of my career. I think it’s important to know how to run a business, market your music, design ideas for posters or merch, and be able to vocalize your vision. I like being part of the process. I think when you know how much work goes into everything, you’re able to be so much more grateful when you make progress or reach your goals. Instead of these moments of success randomly appearing, you’ve witnessed every ounce of effort and energy that the entire team has put in. I’ve been independent my entire career which has forced me to learn so many skills I probably would’ve avoided if I could afford it. I now know how to do my own hair and makeup for photoshoots, style myself, make my own clothes if the inspiration for the outfit is out of budget, create graphics for merch, visuals for my tours, come up with marketing strategies, make affordable music videos, create content calendars, and really anything else makes sense for me to execute.
You’ve toured with giants and headlined your own shows. What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself on the road?
Charlotte Sands: I think it was unexpected how much I love it all. I could be on the road forever, it’s truly where I thrive and I think that surprises me sometimes. I’ve also learned how important it is to stick to some sort of routine. Even though everything is changing from day to day and you’re constantly surrounded by people, it’s so important to prioritize your health mentally and physically and to make sure you have moments where you can be alone with your thoughts and check in with yourself.
Your new album Satellite drops March 6th – which song is your personal favourite, and which do you think is going to be a fan favourite?
Charlotte Sands: This question feels so impossible to answer, it feels like I’m picking a favorite child! I really love the song “Sunday” because it feels very peaceful and meditative to me. I think the fan favorite will be “None of My Business” which is also the one I’m the most excited to play live. I can’t wait for the others though, “half alive” is one I’m really, really excited about as well. And all the other ones!
What’s the first thing that usually arrives when you’re writing – a lyric, a melody, a feeling, or a visual? Tell us about your creative process!
Charlotte Sands: It really does change every time I’m writing! Sometimes there’s a single word (like “HUSH”) that I have written down in my notes and I start from there with nothing but the want to write a song with that title. Other times I start with a melody and fill in the lyrics (I wrote the melody of “one eye open” at a gas station on the way to my session but then we filled in the words later that day). I try to leave myself open to inspiration at all times, in any form, and follow that path through the woods. It’s good to get lost!
Which track on Satellite scared you the most to release and why?
Charlotte Sands: I think the song “water me down” is probably the most vulnerable one on the album. It’s a topic I’ve been trying to write about for a long time and it’s something I’ve experienced a lot throughout my life. Being around people who always want you to be smaller or confined in the borders of their expectations. Loving you for all the loudness and wildness, and joy but then resenting it because it feels threatening to them and their power over you. I’ve always imagined this song with the visuals of people picking flowers because they find them beautiful and they want them to themselves but then slowly the flowers die only because that person wanted their beauty all for themselves. And then they do it all over again. To love something is to let it grow and this song is about the many, many years my life before I knew that.
If you had to name the emotional spine of Satellite – the one lyric or moment everything else hangs on – what would it be?
Charlotte Sands: The goal was to make an album that felt like my entire human experience. The highs and the lows, the light and the dark and everything in between. I think the overall emotional spine would be that there is power in letting yourself feel all of it. We are so lucky to get to experience so much. It is only when you love something to such an extreme that you care enough to grieve it. I wouldn’t trade a single moment I’ve had on this earth. I’m so grateful for every second and every emotion.
We know you’re about to go on tour with Simple Plan (incredible & we hope you have so much fun!) but what else is next for you in this chapter? Anything you can share?
Charlotte Sands: I am so excited for that tour!! I can’t wait to be back in the UK & Europe. I can guarantee there will be a lot more shows after that too, and there will always be more new music! I hope you all love the album and I can’t wait to sing it with you all!!!
SATELLITE OUT NOW.
Words by
Marie Müller, 2026