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Charlie Hickey is a born and raised Los Angeles artist who has been making music for as long as I can remember. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Hickey’s hometown of Pasadena was just a drive away. When we were all just kids in high school trying to figure out who we wanted to be, Hickey was playing shows and releasing music SoundCloud. He’s been sure of his direction from the jump, penning folk-tinged, emotive tracks that still stand tall, even from their teenage vantage points.

Now navigating his mid-20s, Hickey’s music demonstrates new levels of maturity, depth, and risk while still honoring the inner child that’s inextricably linked to his artistry. “Death Grip” is his latest release written about craving control and seeking comfort in the ever-changing adult world. It tackles the big, abstract emotions that surface while searching for our purpose and the relationships that make us feel whole where we’d otherwise be empty. Hickey is a voice for young artists who grapple with the urge to paint their own big picture and “Death Grip” is about dropping the paintbrush and surrendering to the unknown.

Intricate vocal transpositions, choppy riffs, and rustling percussion add contrast to the cathartic chorus that drives the track. Hickey sings, “I’m holding onto you so tight / I’ve always had a death grip on my whole life.” The electric riffs that course through the undercurrents complement Hickey’s frustrated state of mind, making it feel like he’s unearthing a truth about himself that he doesn’t want to admit, yet needs to be said. That’s what makes “Death Grip” so liberating; It speaks volumes to the unspoken fears of Hickey’s generation. He’s always been that voice. From his early work as a teenager, now forging ahead into adulthood, you can always count on Charlie Hickey to say what you’re thinking and not leave you out there to face it alone.

Watch the "Death Grip" lyric video below: