CHVRLI BLVCK - Why Did You Go | Single Review
April 7 | Written By Emily Whitchurch
Stylised as CHVRLI BLVCK, Charli Black is a singer-songwriter from London living in the New Forest. Since he started releasing music in mid 2022, Black’s style has become recognisable for its raw, vulnerable lyrics, quickly attracting fans as he has amassed over4,800 monthly Spotify listeners so far. Influenced by the likes of The Maccabees and JeffBuckley, Black’s new single Why Did You Go? was released on March 3rd, triumphing as a wistful breakup ballad with strong vocals and stripped-back guitar.
Describing it as ‘the most painful song I have ever released’, Black’s yearning voice and raw lyrics are not hidden behind extravagant instrumentals, but are laid bare to invite connection with his listeners. The opening line ‘people are already walking in my house’ creates an immediate hopelessness, amplified by soft guitar strums. The lyrical craftsmanship of WhyDid You Go? feels similar to that of Black’s 2022 single Keep Smiling (and nobody will notice), which also shares intimate reflections on despair through lines such as ‘if there’s a barbed wire jacket, why not try it on for size?’.
The theme of home continues throughout Why Did You Go?, with Black grieving a relationship with simple yet poignant imagery against the ebb and flow of guitars. Visions of ‘the furniture walk[ing] itself outside to someone else’s home’ is particularly emotive, pairing perfectly with Black’s rich vocals. Abandoned by his furniture, there is a sense of loneliness and isolation that many listeners will, ironically, relate to, with Black himself favouring music that ‘makes you feel less alone’.
At the heart of Why Did You Go? is its pleading refrain, with gently layered vocals creating arising sense of desperation and an ache of misunderstanding at the loss of a lover. This culminates in the song’s ending - instrumentals fade out and Black’s voice stands alone as he earnestly sings ‘I feel like I missed my train, saw you waving at the window, watching you go home’. These lines are especially crushing, leaving the listener with a lasting understanding of Black’s loss - perhaps his lover has found ‘home’ in somebody else.
Asking ‘why’ instead of ‘where’ with a tinge of bitterness, Why Did You Go? is packed withmelacholia throughout, proving popular with listeners as the single has accumulated almost41,000 Spotify streams so far.