Photo Credits: Rin Tachihara
Charlie Lim announces his third full-length album, DAYDREAM,
slated for release at the end of 2026. The album’s first single, ‘Nobody’s Home’, premieres on 3 April 2026, accompanied by a music video directed by longtime collaborator Jonathan Choo. Tender and unguarded in its instrumentation, the single draws listeners into the songwriter’s dark and quiet interior, setting the emotional tone for the forthcoming record.
On DAYDREAM, Charlie descends into a tender de profundis – an inward reckoning that marks a return to his signature singer-songwriter melancholy, now refined by years of lived experience and creative rupture. Having written, performed, and produced his own music throughout his career, Charlie approaches this album as both an act of alchemy and surrender, where breaking open becomes a prerequisite for transformation.
Since his debut album TIME/SPACE, Charlie has explored an evolving amalgamation of styles across the last decade. DAYDREAM emerges as his most delicately crafted body of work to date. Across eight tracks, moments steeped in pain and regret are held in balance with pockets of reprieve –a quiet surrender and acceptance that offers breath rather than escape. “It’s a delicate equilibrium,” he reflects, of both love and art. “This album taught me that clarity often comes from taking things away and trusting silence, space, and vulnerability to do the heavy lifting.”
While the album’s themes trace loss, longing, and a search for redemption, DAYDREAM is not a solitary journey. Charlie finds international company in the album’s collaborators, featuring Scottish singer-songwriter Tamzene, pianist and organist Chok Kerong, and Australian cellist Ng Pei-Sian. The album was produced with UK artist sugi.wa (aka Will Goldsmith), with additional production from Aneirin Wee, Ian Lee (PK Records, nkei, Rhyu), and Kin Leonn.
This takes his mind, too, to shores he hasn’t set foot on in a while. Charlie hopes to bring DAYDREAM to Manila, where he claims to have always experienced warmth and hospitality like no other.
“More than a decade ago, a friend helped me and my bassist organize a whole bunch of shows out of the kindness of his heart. He somehow managed to get me to open for Side A at 19 East, which was pretty crazy, and I guess even crazier realizing in retrospect that Joey Benin, their bass player, is Clara’s dad.” He speaks fondly of getting to know Clara Benin later and performing with her on his second Manila showcase in 2018. “Her song ‘Wine’, which I got to be part of, is still one of my favorite features to this day.”
His memories of the Philippines – which include getting to play Wanderland Festival in the same year as HONNE, Masego, Clairo, The Kooks, and Mac Ayres – are all precious, filled with great food and friends and music that he yearns to come back for. “It’s been such a long time, so I’m sure it’ll feel very different. I’d love to get to meet and jam with more artists and songwriters, and it’ll be great to see what’s been going on since the last.
Welcome to City Writer 
Leave a comment