Exclusive Premiere: Sri Lankan-Australian Songstress Charlotte Dirckze’s Sugary Single ‘Strawberries’

Think strawberries. Think chocolate-coated strawberries. Think chocolate-coated strawberries submerged in a bathtub full of strawberry ice cream.

Sugary. Sweet. Goodness.

Now you might begin to understand the flavour explosion that is Sri Lankan-Australian Charlotte Dirckze’s latest record, Strawberries—a vibrant, summer (…autumn?) anthem. 

The Melbourne/Naarm-based 19-year-old artist is a certified genre-hopper, or “musical chameleon”, as Charlotte explains. Inspired by various musical and artistic influences, Charlotte’s eclectic sound seamlessly shifts genres, emotions, and threads.

Strawberries is an effervescent, sun-soaked sonic delight, a diversion from her moody ballad Broken Boys, which has amassed over 400,000 streams on Spotify. Taking cues from star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, the track explores the bittersweet beauty of love, longing, and the universe’s role in keeping people apart.

Today, ahead of Strawberries’ release to the masses, Brown Boy Magazine is thrilled to premiere the record to our community exclusively. Strawberries is slated for release on Friday, 28 April 2023. Stream it now below.

While you listen, dive into our colourful conversation with Charlotte as she opens up about her journey, her refusal to be pigeonholed, and her experiences as a South Asian Australian singer-songwriter in the Aussie music industry. 

Our conversation has been edited for clarity and concession. Strawberries is best enjoyed with a p-h-a-t tub of Connoisseur Camarosa Strawberry Gourmet Ice Cream.

Brown Boy Magazine: Who is Charlotte Dirckze? Can you tell us about your background? How did you get started in music, and what role did music play in your upbringing and in shaping your identity?

CD: Hey! I’m a 19-year-old Sri Lankan-Australian artist. I grew up surrounded by various musical influences, thanks to my family. Whether singing around the piano or exploring different genres together, music has always been integral to our household. As a child, my parents introduced me to the world of musical theatre, and from then on, I’ve always been involved in the Arts. For the longest time, I thought that to pursue a career in music, I would need to be discovered by a scout or have an agent. But one day, when I was 15, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make a career out of music on my own. So, I taught myself how to write and produce songs, and I’ve never looked back. 

I’m very spiritual, so when I had a dream at 14 that told me that creation and inspiration were my soul’s urge, I listened. It was a transformative moment that set me on a path of self-discovery and self-expression. I am grateful daily for the opportunity to live my truth and pursue my passions.

BB: Your sound seems to shift between different genres—there’s not any one strong sound. Your latest track, Strawberries, is really different to Broken Boys for example. How would you describe your music? And which artists have you been inspired by the most?

CD: I’m glad you’ve noticed! I feel so often, as artists, we can feel pressured to be pigeonholed into one genre, and to that, I say, not me; y’all stay safe tho! My music is so deeply situational, so when it comes to moods and vibes, it’s really just me notating musically what kind of energy I’m in. I’m definitely a musical chameleon, if you could call it that—I just make what I feel. If I had to pinpoint who has influenced my work the most, I’d probably say Childish Gambino, Madison Beer, and Jaden Smith.

BB: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new single, Strawberries? What’s it about—there are references to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (“You live like a Montague, and I live like a Capulet”)? What are you hoping your listeners will take from it?

CD: As a girl who lives for love, I enjoy nothing more than writing about it! As I say in Strawberries, “it’s been months” since I’ve seen this person, but I still think about them all. The. Time. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, which is both amazing and frustrating all at once. I’ve tried to write about them so many times, but nothing seemed to come out right–until one lazy Sunday afternoon, in the space of an hour, Strawberries was born. 

And all those Romeo and Juliet references—that tragic love story is my absolute favourite. I couldn’t help but draw some parallels to my own situation, but in a less dramatic sense. It felt like the universe was conspiring to keep us apart, but maybe we just needed some time for self-growth and reflection. Who knows what the future holds? 

While I hope all of my songs speak to each listener in their own unique way, I think everyone can relate to the naive and blissfully ignorant undertone of Strawberries on some level. At the end of the day, I hope my music can provide a safe space for people to feel 100% of what they’re feeling.

BB: You’re part of Converse All Stars (along with another feature of ours, Caisha Sprout).  Can you give us the inside scoop on what that’s all about? 

CD: First of all, I love Miss Caisha Sprout. She is just so incredibly talented, and I adore her and her craft. She’s the real deal. And YES! I feel so incredibly excited and lucky to be able to start my journey with Converse this year. Being a Converse All Star, I have the privilege to access a community of creatives from around the world, so I feel very special to have been chosen to represent.

BB: Your track Broken Boys has amassed over 400,000 streams on Spotify—tell us a bit about the story behind that. And what advice would you give to other South Asian Australians who aspire to make music?

CD: So Broken Boys is another song I wrote and produced in two days—it totally doesn’t speak to my impulsive personality! The song came to me in a moment of sheer inspiration, sparked by a certain TikTok trend taking the world by storm during the height of the pandemic. I never expected it to become the viral sensation that it did, but I’m forever grateful that it struck a chord with so many listeners. 

As a brown person in the creative industry, I feel like I am constantly trying to prove myself. The pressure to live up to my community’s expectations of academic success and try to break the cycle of generational trauma can be slightly overwhelming. I genuinely don’t think we talk about this enough. 

Although I am super lucky to have an amazing relationship with my parents, it wasn’t always like that. It took years of hard work and dedication to show them that music was more than just a hobby. Even now, I know that as much as they believe in me, they worry about the stability of a career in the Arts, and for them—rightfully so.  

My advice to fellow South Asian Australian artists would be: TAKE UP SPACE. Be loud and proud. Be obnoxious even. Make your presence known. This is our time. If you want to do something, what’s stopping you? (Spoiler alert: nothing!)

BB: Who are you listening to right now? Any South Asian artists you’re obsessed with?

CD: I mean, who’s not obsessed with Joy Crookes? She’s just so funky. And don’t even get me started on Raveena. They’re both just so groovy and ethereal. Also, I don’t know if anyone else has said Weston Estate yet, but their stuff is sick!

BB: What’s the most unexpected track on your playlist right now?

CD: I like to do an annual playlist, so let me have a look; I have Love You Like a Love Song by Selena Gomez & The Scene sitting next to Life’s Incredible Again from the Incredibles Soundtrack—that’s too good. 

BB: If you could listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

CD: I’m going to be smart and say the Euphoria Season 1 Soundtrack because it’s already soundtracked for so many different moods and moments. Also, I just love Labrinth—he’s a genius! 

Brown Boy Magazine (@brownboyau) celebrates worship-worthy tastemakers and changemakers in the South Asian Australian diaspora (without taking itself too seriously).