Charlie Puth has always been known for his catchy pop hits, but with his latest album and new role as a father, he’s showing a softer side. In a recent Variety interview, the singer opened up about fatherhood and ‘Whatever’s Clever!’ talks about the raw emotions behind his fourth studio album.‘Charlie Puth and his wife, Brooke Sansone, welcomed baby Jude a few days ago, adding joyous chaos to their lives in the midst of a world tour. She shared heartfelt stories to sing to her unborn child, drawn from her own childhood.
Charlie Puth on fatherhood, music and family traditions
“I sing James Taylor’s ‘Something in the Way She Moves,’ because that’s what my mom sang to me,” Puth told Extra Magazine, adding a light-hearted twist: “And I sing my music, because if the baby doesn’t get to know my entire discography, I’m going to be a sad dad. I’m just kidding! The baby can be whatever the baby wants to be.”
This family tradition runs deep for Puth, who remembers his mother putting big headphones on her stomach in the ’90s, playing to artists like James Taylor and Luther Vandross. Now the father himself, he plans to continue. “I’m going to do what my mom did for me, whether Brooke likes it or not,” he said on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Fatherhood has also revolutionized his creative process. “It’s different because I put life first and then I let the music follow,” he explained. “Usually, I come in with the motif of the music and then I go into life. Honestly, the way each song was written, it was almost like a therapy session.”
Charlie Puth’s ‘Whatever’s Clever!’ the album reflects a personal journey and fatherhood
The album, inspired by moments like his Super Bowl anthem performance and impending fatherhood, moves from polished radio tracks to deeply personal ones. Puth revealed the irony of the title in his appearance on Fallon: “None of these songs are clever. They’re real. By naming the record ‘Whatever’s Clever,’ I wanted to say goodbye to a previous mindset where I felt like every song had to be flawless for radio or meet certain expectations. They are really personal songs for me, and creating this album has been very therapeutic.’He emphasized his sincerity in a fan post: “What’s up… the funny thing is that i don’t consider any of these songs to be clever, i consider them to be real. I have never opened up so much to all of you, and I owe it to you to do so. I had to take a close look at myself first.” Puth also confirmed his baby bump on Jimmy Fallon’s show: “I’m going to be a dad,” joking, “I hope the baby likes music because that’s the only thing I’m good at.“
Charlie Puth and wife Brooke Sansone: a new chapter in their lives
Balancing tour dates, family and music feels like “when it rains,” as Puth said on Today Show Australia. However, he seems to be invigorated by everything. In chats like the Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, he reflected on Taylor Swift’s screams and self-discovery.
