Charles Costa – Emilie: A wistful portrait of love, loss & emotional rebellion.
Following the success of his stunning self-titled album, Charles Costa continues to cement his rebirth as a powerful, emotionally rich songwriter with Emilie—a standout cut from the project that now steps into the spotlight with a full release and new visuals to match.
Photos by Nick Illott
At first listen, Emilie shimmers with dreamy textures and light, breezy instrumentation. But beneath the surface lies something far heavier: a raw, poetic unpacking of what happens when societal pressure reshapes someone you love into a version you no longer recognise. It’s a song of longing and loss, yes—but also one of quiet defiance. Charles doesn’t just mourn what was lost—he honours it by confronting it head-on.
“This song is about spitting out pain and celebrating sadness,” he explains—and you can hear that contradiction in every note. It’s tender but biting, cinematic yet intimate, evoking shades of Bon Iver and RY X with soft synths, pedal steel, and storytelling that lingers long after the final chorus.
Shot during golden hour on the South Coast, the accompanying video mirrors the song’s sentiment: a perfect spring day shadowed by something deeper. Costa’s performance is understated but stirring, letting the space between the lyrics say just as much as the words themselves.
The release also follows Charles’ announcement of a special London headline show at The Grace on June 12th—a moment that promises to bring this new chapter of his artistry to life on stage.
And this is a new chapter. After surviving a traumatic brain injury, multiple rounds of medication, and a public-facing identity shake-up (thanks to sharing a name with literal royalty), Charles Costa is an artist who’s rebuilt from the inside out. The songs on his self-titled album—crafted during six weeks in a converted U.S. Air Force base—are soaked in vulnerability, nuance, and care. Emilie might be the most piercing moment of all.