Charlie Puth Hints at New Album and Reveals What Taylor Swift Encouraged Him to Include (Exclusive)
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The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter reveals that he’s drawn inspiration from the “Anti-Hero” artist for his forthcoming album.
Charlie Puth is gearing up to explore new musical territory, inspired by a well-known pop star.
The Grammy-nominated artist, 32, is currently working on his upcoming album, following the release of his recent single “Hero.” He hints that this new project will feature some fresh elements.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Puth discussed his collaboration with BIC for the back-to-school season. He shared that while his music will continue to include his signature chord progressions, key changes, and innovative rhythms, he aims to elevate his storytelling. “I always reflect on areas where I can improve with each new project,” he said. “This time, I want to enhance the depth of the lyrics, making them more complex and nuanced.”
Although this approach is a departure for Puth, he’s drawing inspiration from an artist renowned for emotional expression in their songs.
“Taylor Swift has been a bit of an influence on me in this regard,” he reveals. “Her approach to songwriting is something I’m adopting for this next album.”
Puth adds that he intends to handle the entire project on his own for now, which he finds “challenging” since it involves navigating his daily routine and waiting for melodies to emerge.
“But when everything finally falls into place, it’s incredibly rewarding,” he confesses.
The buzz surrounding Charlie Puth and Taylor Swift’s connection started months ago when Swift mentioned Puth in her album The Tortured Poets Department. On the title track, Swift sings, “You smoked, then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.”
After the album’s release, Puth unveiled his new single “Hero,” describing it as a departure from his previous work.
On Instagram, Puth shared, “It’s one of the hardest songs I’ve ever had to write, but I hope it resonates with you in the same way it did for me.” He expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming album, noting that “Hero” is a glimpse into the new direction of his music. “I’ve never released a song like this before—it’s a big change for me. I’m grateful to @taylorswift for encouraging me to share it and not just keep it on my hard drive,” he added.
Puth told PEOPLE that although he and Swift don’t know each other well, their shared love for music has been their common ground.
Puth reflects, “I’m sure if we met in person, it would be great, but I really appreciate that with music, you don’t need to interact with someone daily.”
He adds, “Music creates a strong bond between people, and it’s wonderful when artists support one another, like Taylor does with Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Ice Spice, and Aaron Dessner.”
Puth also mentions his desire to support fellow artists, linking this to his partnership with BIC. “That’s part of why teaming up with BIC made sense for me—they support both teachers and artists,” he explains. This collaboration is leading up to the BIC Creativity Camp he’s hosting with the brand for students and teachers in New York City on Wednesday.