CHARLIE JEER ON STYLE, SOUND & SELF-EXPRESSION

For Charlie Jeer, music and style have always been part of the same conversation. His sound moves between genres and eras, with seventies disco and eighties funk currently shaping both his music inspiration and aesthetics. The same instinct informs the way he dresses. 

Think timeless pieces, subtle details and the occasional flare of a trouser leg, rather than anything that feels overly considered. His influences are just as eclectic, stretching from John Coltrane and Jamiroquai to Michael Jackson and Harry Styles, while inspiration can just as easily come from someone passing on the street or a piece borrowed from a friend’s wardrobe.  

For Charlie, getting dressed is less about constructing a look than finding whatever feels right in the moment. It’s an approach that mirrors his attitude towards making music: experiment, get it wrong, try again and see what sticks. As conversations around authenticity continue to shape both fashion and music, that instinct feels particularly relevant.   

Now, with a debut tour spanning Europe, the UK, Australia, China and India from October to November, Charlie’s taking that distinctly personal approach on the road, bringing together the sounds, references and clothes that have come to define his world. 

 You’ve built your career by genre-blending and creative exploration. Looking back, what were some of the defining moments that shaped the artist you are today? 

The moments that predominantly shaped me to be the artist that I am today are as much what happens in the studio as what happens out of it. I think that being able to work with other creatives and people with different musical styles to absorb that knowledge has definitely shaped me; but also, the time spent living my life and having experiences to give me a unique perspective on life is a massive factor in shaping me as a human and artist. 

How has your personal style evolved alongside your music? 

I think that music has held a mirror to my personal style. Music is an expression of oneself and as my taste in music has refined so too has my fashion style. I favour effortless, timeless pieces that don’t scream at you, but quietly accentuate and elevate what is already there. 

Is there any particular music or fashion era that you draw inspiration from? 

Recently I have found myself falling back to the seventies and eighties musically, referencing classic disco and funk. In my music videos I have echoed this and I find it spilling through into my day-to-day life, but in a way that feels more authentic and truer to myself rather than imitative of a time that can’t be brought back. 

Who or what inspires the way you dress? Whether it’s musicians, films, subcultures or everyday people, where do you find yourself looking for ideas? 

I think inspiration finds me rather than it being the other way round, be it a person walking past in the street, or a stolen piece from a friend's wardrobe. I try not to look too hard but to notice and run to wherever entices me. 

Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand. How do your outfits influence the way you perform or step into a creative mindset? 

I’ve always found it to be true for both music and clothing that it can bring out different parts of you. Whether it’s strutting through a tube station to a vintage funk record or having an extra attitude in your walk from the subtle flare in a trouser leg - the attitude was always there but the clothes can draw it from inside of you. That’s what I’ve learnt to love about pushing myself out of my comfort zone both with music and fashion, it lets me discover parts of myself that already exist. 

When you’re getting dressed for a festival, show or event, what’s the first piece you build a look around? Are you led by comfort, confidence, or making a statement? 

I try not to try too hard. I think it’s a case of looking at my wardrobe and picking one thing that feels the most “me” for the day and building around that. Some days it feels right to make a statement with my fashion, even if it's just for myself, but sometimes the biggest statements are made not through what you wear but how you wear it. 

You’ve developed a distinctive creative identity. How important has experimenting with fashion been in finding your own voice? 

I think I’ve definitely made mistakes in the past with fashion, just like with music. Yet making these mistakes is key to finding what is truly you, and I try not to shy away from those errors through experimentation but embrace them. 

What excites you most about the current landscape of music and fashion? 

I think we are entering a cultural era where authenticity is the most important thing. With social media and the constant, relentless nature of the industry being to put yourself out there - there’s no space to be inauthentic anymore, the world is too smart for that. With this comes the blessing that is: there is only one you, embrace it and shine a light on it and the people that love it will stay, and the rest will move on. 

What artists have always influenced and inspired you? 

Artists like John Coltrane, Kenny G, Jamiroquai, Michael Jackson and Harry Styles have all contributed to my palette of artists who inspired me. 

If you could raid anyone’s wardrobe, past or present, whose would it be and why? 

Hmmm, I’ve not thought too hard about this but maybe John F Kennedy Junior’s wardrobe just because it shows a timeless self-expression that is still relevant and exciting to see today. 

What’s currently on repeat in your headphones, and are there any emerging artists you think everyone should have on their radar? 

I love a massive range of artists, to give you a few songs that are exciting for me right now I’d say: “since you” by loopgarden, “the boss” by James Brown, and “my way” by Venna. 

What’s something coming up for you that you’re most excited about? 

I’m going on my debut tour from October to November this year. I’ve never been on tour and so getting to travel across the world, including Europe, the UK, Australia, China and India to meet all the people that have supported my journey so far is going to be really special.