Vancouver-based rock singer Charlie PS has a sound that can be described as a sonic melting pot. Inspired by a wide variety of rock and blues from legends of the 20th century such as Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson, to modern rock artists that include Grace Potter and ZZ Ward, Charlie borrows elements of strong vocals and energetic riffs and uses them to create her own blended sound rooted in modern-rock.

Her latest single, “Even If It Kills Me,” takes its dynamic chorus, layered with an ensemble of vocals and live horns and its modern rock inspired instrumentation and calls out to the risk takers and the secretly insecure, reminding them that sometimes it’s okay to just be you. “Even If It Kills Me” is the second of three singles to be released this year from her five song EP, also titled Even If It Kills Me, later in November.

“Even If It Kills Me” is inspired by Charlie‘s journey through COVID after much self-work and going from a chronic overthinker to being in a much more peaceful and carefree head space, as well as the notion of persevering through things that you love to do, even if they aren’t always easy – for Charlie, this situation is about the music industry and being a musician.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?

I chose to visualize “Even If It Kills Me” not only because it’s the title track from my upcoming EP but because I’d had the vision for the video in my head from the very beginning of writing the song.“Even If It Kills Me” highlights all of my flaws and insecurities in a very ‘loud and proud’ way and I wanted to create a video that came across that way visually as well. It was very freeing to just let loose and allow myself not to care how I looked on camera – whether I was letting out a huge double chinned laugh or I was posed in a way that wasn’t what I consider to be the ‘most flattering’, I wouldn’t have to act, I wouldn’t have to play a character, I would just get to be my authentic self and that’s exactly what happened.

2. What was the inspiration behind this video(visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I was inspired by The Beaches music video for their song “Grow Up Tomorrow” and I wanted to create my own version of it. “Even If It Kills Me” is, in a way, my anthem to myself and serves as a reminder that being 100% yourself is a much freer place than being weighed down by that self-appointed shame of being ‘too loud’ or ‘too annoying’. So many of my friends and I have talked about our bad habit of going home after a social event and overthinking and overanalyzing what we said and did, and I just wanted to be free of that mindset and preserve that mindset in a visual way that I could back on and think “Oh yeah! That’s what not giving a damn feels like!” and I hope those who watch the video come away with a similar sentiment.

We had a pretty loosely mapped out storyline, with most of the concrete ideas shot in my apartment in the morning but once we got to our second location and my friends arrived for the evening portion, we just let 90% of things be completely in the moment and unplanned because we wanted everyone to just let loose, have fun and be themselves.

3. What was the process of making this video?

I’ve been incredibly lucky in connecting with ‘Ranch Boy Productions’ because they are just so good at what they do. In the pre-planning stages, each team member had a job to do and everything fell together so quickly and easily, we were 100% prepared about a week before the shoot and there was no last minute scramble to get anything done. Once we had found a location I called up as many friends as I could, found some local alcohol sponsors and on the day of the shoot, made sure everyone was comfortable, fed and watered and it was pretty much a straightforward good time from there!

I feel that a lot of people agonize over their flaws and insecurities or just care too much and want to change into a version of themselves they think will make them happier. But I hope that “Even If It Kills Me” will help remind people that being the realest version of yourself and showing the world the good, the bad and the ugly is a much more freeing place to be in.