After years of introspection, songwriting, mixing, re-mixing, starting again and finishing his songs, Charlie Gradon has emerged from his home studio, ready to return to the Sydney Music Scene. Although looking back, its hard to say he ever left, while he was locked away he was also drumming and singing in one of Sydneys most innovative psych rock acts ‘Turtle Skull’. Before his hiatus, Gradon could be found selling out “little features” @ Hibernian house once a month, playing solo or with a band. He was playing emotionally charged, captivating folk to pin drop effect, but Gradon then became enfactuacted with the electrifying nature of psych rock. Over the past few Years he could be found playing bass in Salvador Dali Llama, or fronting and producing Sydney favourites Smaal Cats. His various projects have led him to perform at some of Australia’s most prestigious venues such as The Metro, The Enmore, The Howler , The Gasometer and the Factory Theatre. But as these projects faded, as so many good ones do, his focus shifted back to his solo project. Returning to his folk rock roots, he brought psych infused progressions and a deeper understanding of music production to his work. ‘Self Doubt’ is a record produced, mixed, and performed entirely by Charlie Gradon. It explores the insecurities of living the life of an artist, the inability to stray from that life path, and also social issues such as gender and technology addiction. Lead Single ’Smart Humans’ sees Gradon channel Courtney Barnett, with tongue in cheek lyrics and laid back delivery. 2018 is shaping up to a be a break through year for the 26 year old who claims to have two finished records with a couple more left over. ‘Last time I seen this fellow and his band, they transformed the entire population of the normally serene Chai Temple of Peats Ridge Fest from a motionless trance to a full-blown outbreak of boogie, with their intense Folk/Soft Rock stylings and raw, energetic knack for storytelling taking toll on an unexpecting crowd. And, although there were no sudden grooves this time around, there was certainly no denying the return of that motionless trance. "What Your Hands Have Done", "Money Well Spent", and "Go Now" dispersed an emotional vivacity inescapable to the human soul, the quintessential aftermath to any Charlie Gradon experience.’ -au review ‘It’s a total joy when an unknown band flicks the switch on their set and blows you away. It’s a combination of surprise, delight and adrenalin that’s hard to beat, and Smaal Cats dished that out with casual aplomb. Their bright, detailed arrangements, their KISS-informed psych jams and the frantic yelping of magnetic lead Charlie Gradon’ -the music