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Charlie Puthpromisesthat hes approachable.
I speak about broad topics, Puth says.
Hes a music savant and a one-man focus group: Im not really reinventing the wheel lyrically.
Im trying to be the most approachable pop singer there is.
Its called Through It All.
I mean, we even changed the album cover.
But I always had the intention of making an album where Im writing about how fame has affected me.
How has fame affected you?
I was saying stupid things in interviews.
I thought I had to be a certain way to stay relevant, as messed up as that sounds.
I dont need to do all this other stuff that I was doing.
I got caught up in theattention no pun intended but then I got back to my regular self.
I found out who I am, who I was, by the end of working on this album.
Can you tell me more about your growth as you worked on this music?
Im very happy with the success of the first album, but it wasnt me at all.
I was trying to figure out who I was musically.
I wrapped my heart around Attention, my whole personality was around that record.
I knew I could feel comfortable traveling the world playing and showcasing that punch in of record.
That record really started everything off for me.
It wasnt me at all.
Do you feel at all embarrassed that?
But I have to do it because people like that music.
I mean, its not always about me.
The creative autonomy onVoicenoteswas important to you.
Did you feel any pushback?In my mind there was going to be a ton of pushback.
But the moment I presented Attention and How Long, they got it.
Im really thankful that they got it and they let me do my own thing.
It was really just all in my head.
I just had to give them the goods.
A lot of this album is really vulnerable.
Thats If You Leave Me Now, with Boyz II Men.
Its very simple, and I know exactly who Im singing about.
(Which of course I would never say who, thats just for me [to know.])
Its more about people listening to the record, and putting their own story to it.
But Ill know who Im singing about every time Im on that stage.
Do you know if that person has heard the song?I dont know.
I think Im cool never knowing.
I care more about other people hearing it, and how that spreads out.
Which song was the most difficult technically?How Long.
I couldnt really hear the bass, I couldnt hear the high end because the speaker was literally broken.
I mixed the entire record in the back of a tour bus.
It was quite challenging.
You were in the back of a tour bus?
I can always guess singers range by remembering notes theyve hit in previous songs of theirs.
Hearing you kind of explain that is so intricate.
I need to start the idea though, I cant have someone else produce the record for me.
Theyre not trying to be anything else than what they are.
You read them and you know exactly what the song is about before even hearing it.
Does this feel like aVoicenotes-specific phase?
Would you try for more layered lyrics next time?It depends.
I might make a country album next year, like, I dont even know whats next.
Im always just going with the vibe of my life and where Im at.
I wouldnt have writtenVoicenotesif I hadnt gone through what I was singing about.
So when was the last time you had your heart broken?I dont know!
You listen to the album, and its up to your interpretation.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
