Charlie Puth embraces the “Hero” role

Charlie Puth has unveiled a new track titled "Hero." In a YouTube breakdown of his widely recognized song "Attention," he discusses the creative process behind it. An interesting revelation from the interview is Charlie's initial reluctance to prominently feature acoustic guitar in the track, despite acknowledging its effectiveness in filling rhythmic gaps in music.

Interestingly, in "Hero," acoustic guitar takes on a prominent role. Reflecting on his thoughts from the "Attention" interview, Charlie mentioned something along the lines of, "If you incorporate acoustic guitar, you instantly become 'that guy,' or the song instantly becomes 'that song.'" This comment underscores his consideration of how the identity of being an "acoustic guitar guy" can dominate the essence of the song itself, according to his perspective.

Even though the acoustic guitar takes up more space in this track than it has on previous records, it still feels distinctly like a Charlie Puth song. Perhaps it's about establishing your own identity first before incorporating the acoustic guitar? Either way, well played, Charlie. Well played.

The song showcases Charlie's hazy, captivating vocals harmonized throughout. He excels in crafting infectious melodies that linger long after listening. "Hero" leans more towards the style of a traditional singer-songwriter compared to his earlier works. It's fair to draw connections to artists like John Mayer and Alec Benjamin in this context.

Charlie has mentioned how Taylor Swift's acknowledgment on her latest album gave him the confidence to release a song like this, which diverges a bit from his usual style. It's a cool domino effect to imagine receiving recognition from arguably the biggest artist on the planet.

This track employs fewer elements, yet many would argue it achieves more than Charlie's previous releases. Charlie discusses his shift towards a style that feels more natural and stripped-down. The inclusion of laid-back, simple acoustic drums, acoustic guitar, and a variety of organic sounds contributes to the song's grounded feel.

I've been emphasizing this for some time now, but I truly believe audiences are gravitating towards songs with more organic, acoustic elements. Personally, I find it refreshing. I can’t wait to hear what’s more in store for Charlie.

I would give this 4 out of 4 stars.

To listen to the track, click here.