King Charles (musician)
King Charles (born Charles Costa) is a singer-songwriter from West London.
King Charles | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Costa |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Alternative rock, folk rock, surf rock, indie |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | Universal Republic, Island, Buffalo Gang |
Charles plays the guitar, piano, and cello. He is also a classically trained singer and performer.[1] He began writing songs when he was 17.
In 2009, he became the first British person to win the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, Tennessee, for his song "Love Lust".[2] The competition was judged by Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis, and following this victory King Charles was signed by Universal Republic/Island.[3]
In 2012, he teamed up with the record producer Matthew Wilder and released his first album Loveblood,[4] to critical acclaim and charted at No. 36 in the UK Albums Chart.
After an extensive international touring period he released his second album, Gamble for a Rose,[5] in 2014. Produced by Marcus Mumford, it saw Costa return to his folk roots whilst keeping a modern edge to his sound.
In 2020, Costa teamed up again with Matthew Wilder on Out of my Mind.[6] In April 2020, Clash) magazine noted "They say the freaks shall inherit the earth, and it will be King Charles who was ordained by god to rule over them".
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [7] |
FRA [8] |
SCO [9] | ||
LoveBlood[10] |
|
36 | 168 | 78 |
Gamble For A Rose[11] |
|
— | — | — |
Out Of My Mind[12] |
|
— | — | — |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [7] |
BEL [13] | |||
"Bam Bam" | 2011 | — | — | LoveBlood |
"Love Lust" | — | — | ||
"Ivory Road" | — | — | ||
"Mississippi Isabel" | 2012 | — | 84 | |
"Lov Madiba (feat. Katie Amelia & Shingai Shoniwa)" | 2013 | — | ||
"Loose Change for the Boatman" | 2016 | — | — | Gamble for a Rose |
"Gamble for a Rose" | ||||
"Freak" | 2019 | — | — | Out Of My Mind |
References
- "Glastonbury 2009 – King Charles". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- "International Songwriting Competition | The #1 Song Contest for Songwriters". Songwritingcompetition.com. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- "Why we're watching… King Charles". The Guardian. London.
- "LoveBlood". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "Gamble for a Rose". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "Out of My Mind". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "King Charles" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "Discographie King Charles" (in French). lescharts.com. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
- For "LoveBlood": "Chart Archive > 13 May 2012 - 19 May 2012". Official Charts Company.
- "LoveBlood". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- "Gamble for a Rose". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- "Out of My Mind". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- "Discografie King Charles". ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2015.