Charlotte Sands has never done things halfway. From her explosive choruses to her sky-blue hair, everything about the LA-based alt-pop artist radiates energy, defiance, and intent. With her new single “neckdeep”, which just dropped on August 1, she dives even further into the chaotic beauty of emotional release—and delivers one of her most cathartic tracks to date.

Blending bratty hyperpop with alt-rock grit, “neckdeep” is raw, volatile, and unapologetically loud. It’s the sonic equivalent of screaming into a mirror—part heartbreak, part fury, part dance-floor meltdown. Following the dark glam of her June single “HUSH”, this track pushes even harder, signaling a new chapter for Sands that’s as vulnerable as it is bold. “It’s a song about the realization you’re no longer a priority in your relationship,” she shares, “and the desperation that comes with wanting to be seen.” That desperation crackles through every beat, making “neckdeep” feel like a full-body exhale.

Coming off the momentum of her 2024 album can we start over?, which earned her critical acclaim and a sold-out global tour, Sands is more focused than ever—while still embracing the messy in-between moments that make her music resonate. She’s emotional without being soft, loud without drowning out nuance, and genre-fluid in a way that never feels calculated.

Naturally, her reputation for radical honesty has earned her a devoted following, but her work ethic and DIY spirit are just as much a part of the story. Sands designs her own merch, directs her own visuals, and remains fiercely independent even after charting in the U.S. Top 40 and sharing stages with icons like My Chemical Romance and 5 Seconds of Summer. Everything about her brand—from the songs to the styling—feels fully hers.

Now, the talented alt-pop artist is discussing her new music, stylistic influences, and more.

“neckdeep” hits with so much emotion and urgency. What made this the song you wanted to release right now?

Charlotte Sands: Now feels like the right time to release this song because it feels exciting and a little nerve-wracking, which is always a good sign to me. It's definitely different from the music I've previously released and feels like a new chapter of my story as an artist. I'm really enjoying the process of exploring new sounds and trying things that feel a little uncomfortable. In my opinion, that's the only way to evolve.

You’ve said the track comes from a place of feeling unseen in a relationship. Was writing it a way to process that feeling, or more of a release after the fact?

Charlotte Sands: I think this song was written as a way to express those feelings of being neglected or taken for granted, but I also feel like the process of recording the vocals allowed me to take some of the power back and shift the narrative. It changed from a story of sadness and desperation to something angrier and vengeful. The production made a huge difference in my vocal delivery which changed the entire experience of how I listen to it and the emotions I feel when I perform it.

Sonically, “neckdeep” blends hyperpop and alt-rock in such a bold way. How did you land on that sound for this one?

Charlotte Sands: I'm a huge fan of Charli xcx (as is the rest of the world) and I love her ability to write such catchy melodies and deep lyrics over really simple production. The listener is always aware of her vocals, no matter what else is going on in the song, but she's not belting or making her voice louder; she's just commanding the song with her confidence and her earworm melodies. I was super inspired by her last album, Brat, and wanted to try and experiment with mixing that sound with live alt/rock elements that would still make for a high energy show. We went into the sessions trying to combine the energy of a club and a mosh pit and this is one of the songs that came out of that process.

This new era kicked off with “HUSH” and now “neckdeep”—what connects these songs for you? Do they hint at a bigger project on the horizon?

Charlotte Sands: These songs feel connected because of the mesh between the hyperpop and alt/rock sounds. Both of these songs have always felt like they lived in a similar world to me. I have so much music right now that I love and I am definitely working towards getting it all out into the world!

Your live shows have always been high-energy, and now you’re in the middle of the Summer School Tour. How’s it been playing these new songs onstage?

Charlotte Sands: I've been having the best time performing these songs every night! I’m so grateful for the crowds that have been showing up and giving us so much of their time, energy, and attention. Performing the new songs has definitely been the highlight for me. It's so much fun to switch up the set and learn how to perform a new song, find ways to keep the energy up, and keep people entertained. I love the challenge of it all and feel really proud of the show we've created.

You’re involved in so many parts of your world—from designing merch to directing your visuals. What’s the creative side you feel most connected to outside the music itself?

Charlotte Sands: I've always felt super connected to the visual side of my projects. It all feels like a singular idea. Writing the song to me is like writing the script of the movie, you're creating the world step by step but all things are equally as important. I really enjoy music videos and coming up with concepts for them because I usually have an idea of what it would look like before I'm even done writing the song. I'm excited for the day where we have the budget to make videos that match my ideas for the visuals, but I'm really proud of what we've been able to accomplish independently. I’ve learned so much about the process from having to figure so much of it out on my own. There's a beauty in being able to pull something off with basically no budget and being able to walk away feeling excited about it.

Between your past projects and what you’re doing now, how do you feel your sound or mindset has shifted? Conversely, what’s stayed the same?

Charlotte Sands: I think my mindset has shifted from thinking that everything has to be perfect all the time before it can be released into the world. I think now a lot of the things that people gravitate towards are the things that feel organic and human. I'm trying to give myself some grace and be a little less precious about every single decision I make and instead put more into the world and learn from it at a quicker rate. Making mistakes, learning from them, and then redirecting instead of giving into the fear of failing is the key to growing, as a business owner, as a creative, and as a person.

There’s a distinct style to your work, both musically and visually. Are there other mediums—like fashion, film, or something else—you draw from when building the world around a new release?

Charlotte Sands: I love fashion and pull a lot of inspiration from artists and stylists I love. I think clothes are such a fun way to express your personality and it’s something I want to continue to explore more. I use Pinterest a lot to build vision boards when I'm trying to create the visuals around a song, create merch ideas, or even just narrow down the vision for my brand as a whole. I’m involved every step of the way when it comes to the merch, visuals, music, social media, and any other aspect of my business. I love being able to pour into each element and create a cohesive story that feels like an honest reflection of who I am.