Introducing Cj Pandit… Alt-Pop’s Charismatic New Talent
Leicester born, Liverpool living singer songwriter Cj Pandit unleashes his debut album ‘One Lost English Boy’, a kaleidoscopic alt pop record that explores identity and brims with nostalgia – ingesting everything from Aphex Twin, to the Bee Gees to Carole King and Bend it Like Beckham.
Co-produced by Cj and Mike Halls (Clean Cut Kid), the album was recorded to tape over a period of thirty days and glimmers with his life experiences; his French, English and Indian heritage, life affirming relationships and gut wrenching breakups, alongside personal growth and development. SPINDLE sat down with Cj to find out more…
How has 2024 been for you so far?
Real nice thank you! My creativity and excitement for music and art has reappeared at just the right time. It’s been filled with joy on the most part, and now we’re rolling into album world it feels good!
Your debut album ‘One Lost English Boy’ is out now, can you talk us through the album title?
It’s been the name of the record before it was written. I’ve always felt a little lost or a little outside of things and have always been searching for something. What that is I’m never quite sure. I had the names for the two EPs that preceded the record and OLEB in my head for a long time and they feel like some sort of trilogy. Searching, seeking, wondering.
How was working with Mike Halls (Clean Cut Kid) to create the record?
A real experience, life changing. Me and Mike met 6 years ago now at a crossroads in my life and he’s shone such a light on my creativity over the years, been a brilliant friend and always pushed towards being better in so many ways. The album took a long time to come together and him and his wife Ev, who also co-wrote the record have really guided it towards what it’s become.
We heard you recorded the album to tape over a period of 30 days. What was that like?
In a word, intense. The most full-on, committed and maybe insular thing I’ve ever done. Everything else pretty much zoned out and life revolved around these 10 songs and 30 minutes of music for a chunk of time.
Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?
Either of the two great Bruce’s. Springsteen or Hornsby.
Your latest single is ‘Pop Music’. If you could claim any pop song (past or present) as your own, which would you pick and why?
Purple Rain (Prince) or Vroom Vroom (Charli XCX). Both defined an era and pushed everyone to be infinitely more interesting in their approach to pop music.
When did you first realise that you wanted to pursue music?
I got hit with the classic wave of mind-blowing music as I was growing. It was the first thing that I couldn’t understand or work out or explain and then I started playing guitar as a teenager and somehow fumbled through to find my own language and a tool to express things I didn’t always have words for.
How would you describe your sound in 3 words?
Meandering Odd Pop
What’s in store for the rest of this year?
It’s outta my hands. It’s up to the record and fate to decide. More shows, more music and more art, I hope. And maybe a short film about a puddle at some point too…
Check out Cj Pandit’s new album ‘One Lost English Boy’ here or below.
