August Charles
August Charles is an alt-soul singer born in Ndola, Zambia, and now based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. From a young age, August discovered his passion for singing and honed his vocal abilities as a member of a Doncaster high school choir. His discography has been influenced by Frank Ocean and the talent of Amy Winehouse. August Charles has had the privilege of sharing stages with renowned artists such as Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Emeli Sandé, Bilal, Gotts Street Park, and Adi Oasis. His debut single, “Take Me Away,” was released on May 22, 2020. In an interview with Sounds of Life, August stated, “My debut single, "Take Me Away," is the first song that I released to the world. Written at a time when I felt very depressed and alone. I wanted to fight against the world. I tell this story on occasion when performing live, depending on how I'm feeling. It's a song that divides opinions, as people can misconstrue the meaning, but I'm open to the interpretative nature of the song. I also wanted it to leave the production super raw, with it being just vocals and piano. The ambition was for it to grip you from the get-go. I tend to sing this one with a bit more pain and grit in my voice just because of how it makes me feel.”
Since his debut, he has collectively amassed over 9,000,000 streams. August's has been met with critical acclaim, with BBC Introducing listing him as one of the upcoming artists to watch. This recognition led to features on BBC Radio 1 and Jazz FM. In 2021, August Charles graced the stage at Tramlines and had the honor of supporting the likes of Richard Spaven. His single "Blessed," released on September 21, 2021, garnered widespread attention and was promoted on multiple Spotify playlists, cementing his place as a rising star in the neo-soul scene. In his career, he has managed to perform at the Love Supreme Festival, KITE, BST Hyde Park, Dot to Dot, and Deer Shed Festival.