In 2024, after 12 years and three albums, the artist previously known as King Charles decided it was time for a change. For the first time, he would start releasing music under his own name, Charles Costa, culminating in his new self-titled record.

Costa’s motives for switching monikers were as practical as they were artistic.

“King Charles taking over the British monarchy was one big thing – competing for Google search space was a bit of an uphill challenge,” he jokes. “At the same time, I was thinking I'd been doing King Charles for a long time. I was looking at what music I wanted to release, and how I wanted to present myself. I was ready for a change of direction. King Charles is such a big, noisy name. I wanted to let the music make the noise rather than the moniker.”

With the new name came a whole new field of possibilities.

I felt like I could release a debut album again and that was a thrill," says Costa. "It's given me a fresh excitement for my fourth record, which is now my first studio album as Charles Costa.”

One of the things that jumps out when listening to the record is a tendency for introspective longing – is it something that guides his personal life as well?

“It's a large part of where my heart is,” he nods. “But there's a balance between the longing and the lament. You can chase down one avenue and lament your missed direction, where you've got things wrong. Or you think something's going to solve a problem, but you misread the problem. Sitting on that fence between the longing and the lament – it's kind of what the album's about, really. “

Costa’s album is lined with those heavy emotions, exploring feelings of desperation, or anger on the track ‘Emilie’, but often against a backdrop of upbeat melodies and major chords. How does he reconcile his grave writing with the joyfulness of his productions?

“I think I've always been like that,” he concedes. “I really like combining what I want to say and how I want to feel. Maybe I am angry, maybe I am upset, but I don't want to feel angry or upset when I hear my music back. Ultimately, the way I see making music is that you start a writing process with a lot of complicated, sad, confused ideas that you want to represent.

"And what you end up with ultimately, simplistically, is a tune to hum along to. You can get the point across in your lyrics. But you don't want to over-beat the beast – you just say what you want, but let the tune guide the energy of the song.”

The idea of exploring difficult feelings through catchy melodies has the potential to be incredibly therapeutic.

"Being able to turn emotions into any kind of art is a very peace seeking operation," muses Charles. "If you can turn it into something you can sing along to, I think that's great.”

Back in July 2024, on top of preparing the release of his album, Costa also kicked off his 90 Marathons in 90 Days Challenge, running along the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Mexico, and raising £170,000 for the suicide prevention charity James’ Place.

“I was looking at a big blue sky for three months solidly, it was just heaven,” Costa recalls. “It changed my life. It was absolutely gorgeous – and it was really hard. Like, really, really hard and exhausting. But you learn things about yourself and about the world. It’s a great freedom. I think people are entitled to feeling free and chasing that feeling.”

Based in Liverpool, London and Newcastle, James’ Place offers immediate support for men struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideation – an issue that hits close to home for Costa.

“In 2024, I was hearing so many stories that someone had taken their own life, and it was like young men were just dropping like flies," he says. “I feel like James’ Place is similar to a lifeboat charity, where people are being rescued from drowning. They're reaching overboard and pulling people from a place where they are without strength, and without any ability to help themselves.”

Charles Costa is out now