ADRIAN MA, HOST:
The way in which that Charlie Puth describes his inventive course of is sort of like he is engaged in fixing some sort of sonic puzzle.
CHARLIE PUTH: I often hear the complete music fully finished in my head, after which it is a matter of reverse engineering it.
MA: He is what you would possibly name a musical polymath – a composer, a singer, a grasp of a number of devices and music idea. And along with being a chart-topping musician, Charlie Puth – or Professor Puth as he typically goes by on-line – he is sort of grow to be often known as a pop-star music instructor.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PUTH: Singing is rather like making a cake. The cake has layers. We’ll begin with the primary layer, the bass. And possibly you wish to add some strawberry puree to that spongecake. The added strawberries could be the electrical guitar. And now it is time to add our third layer, the piano. This is the complete music cake.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHANGES”)
PUTH: (Singing) There’s been some modifications in our life. I can really feel the gap…
MA: That monitor, by the best way, is off Charlie Puth’s newest album referred to as “No matter’s Intelligent!” And the extra you take heed to it, the extra evidently Puth is admittedly attempting to evoke a particular period.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHANGES”)
PUTH: (Singing) I do not know why there’s been some modifications…
MA: After I take heed to this album, I really feel like I’m plunged into the ’80s. It has that montage vitality, like, abruptly, all this stuff are occurring. You might have the snare drums that go, whack.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLIE PUTH AND KENNY G SONG, “CRY”)
PUTH: Yeah.
MA: After which it is echo for days, and you’ve got, like, gospel choirs.
PUTH: Yeah.
MA: Kenny G even makes an look.
PUTH: Yeah.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLIE PUTH AND KENNY G SONG, “CRY”)
MA: What is going on on right here?
PUTH: I’d describe the album as being delightfully on the nostril. What’s humorous is that the music often occurs first in my head. However for this album, it was about what I’d be singing about, which might occur first, after which the music would comply with. It simply felt good to – writing a – that music you talked about is named “Cry” that includes Kenny G, and it is about feelings and never being afraid to point out these feelings.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CRY”)
PUTH: (Singing) It does not matter. You do not have to ever maintain all of it inside. Cry, cry, cry.
And it simply, for no matter motive, felt actually good to place an enormous gated snare sort of nudging to that transitional manufacturing time of 1989, going into the ’90s.
MA: There’s, like, a robust present of, I assume, compassion or earnestness that comes throughout. It is as if you’re attempting to sort of put your arm round anyone and say, like, the whole lot will probably be OK, proper? And possibly…
PUTH: Yeah.
MA: …It is simply because I am selecting up on among the lyrics. Like, on one music…
PUTH: Yeah.
MA: Within the refrain, you say, do not beat your self up.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BEAT YOURSELF UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) …And on. Nevertheless it’s OK. Please do not beat your self up, oh, no matter you do ‘trigger it does not do nothing however simply break you in two.
MA: The place is all this coming from? Like, do you have got anyone particular in thoughts once you’re singing these phrases?
PUTH: Sure. That will be myself. That will be myself ‘trigger within the 10 years that I have been actually lucky to be on this music trade, there have been loads of errors alongside the best way and loads of unsuitable issues I mentioned in interviews as a result of I used to be simply so sure that my music wasn’t adequate to face by itself.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BEAT YOURSELF UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) You have received a voice, received a voice. It belongs on this world. So hear me out, hear me out, hear me out. How do you’re feeling now? Please do not beat your self up.
And I might beat myself up and be like that is – now you are 34, and it’s best to’ve acted the best way you act now. Nevertheless it’s simply – that is sort of ineffective pondering. I am right here due to errors I’ve made. Gosh, that music has an enormous fats snare drum in it too.
MA: (Laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BEAT YOURSELF UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) Reside yet one more day.
MA: There’s a robust humorousness all through this album.
PUTH: Yeah.
MA: Even once you’re singing about some darkish issues like dying. What’s behind that impulse?
PUTH: I do know you are asking me questions, however now I am asking you questions.
MA: Yeah, yeah.
PUTH: Have you ever ever seen the present “Mates” or “Seinfeld?”
MA: I’ve.
PUTH: Even “Full Home” there – after they had been speaking about heavy subject material at occasions, they might have the unhappy music enjoying. After which Uncle Joey would crack a joke and make all people really feel higher to interrupt the ice a little bit bit. That is – the rationale why I am saying that’s as a result of I do speak about dying. I do speak about organizing interventions for individuals who I like and who want them on the time and simply stuff I’ve by no means sung about.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WASHED UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) Even once you’re washed up on the bottom tide, you by no means ask for assist, even when it is time. If you happen to’re washed up on a lonely night time, I will be the primary one there till you say you are all proper.
To ensure that me to get there, there must be a little bit little bit of not ha-ha humorous comedian reduction, however, yeah, in “Washed Up,” a music about organizing that intervention, you have got some trumpets that sound like (imitating trumpet sound).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WASHED UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) And once you floor…
It is like sport present walking-out music. That is the nudge. That is the comedic nudge there.
MA: It is like a little bit little bit of catharsis, possibly?
PUTH: Sure. That is phrase. That is phrase to explain it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WASHED UP”)
PUTH: (Singing) …When it is time. If you happen to’re washed up on a lonely night time, I will be the primary one there till you say you are all proper.
MA: So persevering with in that vein, we should always set up that you just had been fairly cringe up to now.
PUTH: Sure.
MA: Which isn’t me saying that, nevertheless it’s truly you singing that.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I USED TO BE CRINGE”)
PUTH: (Singing) I, I was cringe simply so I might slot in.
You possibly can say that, by the best way.
MA: OK. We have confirmed that with Charlie Puth. You was cringe, and I believe lots of people, when they give thought to issues they’ve finished up to now that made them cringe, they might relatively overlook them. However you determined, no, I will immortalize them in music. What provides?
PUTH: Nicely, that is sort of what began off the entire album in that dialog. And I simply – I am lastly simply – I am not attempting to be cool anymore. I am attempting to point out the world how essential it’s to make music. And, yeah, I journey over my phrases typically, and I am not the perfect speaker in interviews. And I get enthusiastic about chord modifications and other people liking chord modifications, and I do not care anymore that that isn’t, like, the evasive artist. If – I am not that sort of artist. I am the passionate music instructor, and that is who I am lastly leaning into.
MA: So you are not cringe anymore?
PUTH: Nicely, I believe you are at all times cringe (laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I USED TO BE CRINGE”)
PUTH: (Singing) I burned a couple of bridge. Please forgive me when you’re in a position.
MA: We have been speaking with Charlie Puth, whose new album is “No matter’s Intelligent!” Charlie, thanks a lot for taking the time.
PUTH: Thanks for taking the time. It actually means so much.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLIE PUTH SONG, “I USED TO BE CRINGE”)
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts could fluctuate. Transcript textual content could also be revised to right errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its authentic broadcast or publication. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
