Charlie Curtis-Beard - CHI FROM THE CHI

CHI FROM THE CHI by Charlie Curtis-Beard refuses to freeze the artist into a permanent discographic monument, instead aiming to provide a functional soundtrack for the The Warehouse Phase scenes. Released on May 19, 2025 on UnderCurrent, this album has a specific purpose: to facilitate the broadcast of the series on Peacock.

CHI FROM THE CHI: an album as functional soundtrack

The "soundtrack" approach here imposes a musical style focused on groove and atmosphere, sometimes at the expense of the complexity of a pure studio recording. The production prioritizes the functional use of the soundtrack: it provides a varied backdrop to cover the different scenes of the series. The balance lies between the stylistic input required by television and the need to maintain a consistent identity, despite the risk of borrowing or sharing titles. With 49 minutes for 18 tracks, the density is high, potentially fragmenting the listener's attention on very short tracks. Despite this constraint, the project validates a new stage in the studio discography by offering a coherent audiovisual accompaniment.

Three-act structure: the narrative progression of listening

The album concludes with track 18, Take Care of Myself. This final track transforms the soundtrack from a simple audiovisual accompaniment into a personal dedication that resonates long after the performance. However, the narrative doesn't end there; it is structured around a rigorous architecture divided into three acts. Track 1, Chi from the Chi - ACT I, anchors the urban opening of the project. In the middle of this narrative structure, track 7, DREAM DATE - ACT II feat. Max Berlin, imposes a tight narrative rhythm. This division into chapters marks a progression where short, punchy titles, such as WIRED! or I want it like that, replace the ambition of a classic studio album. They create a rhythm and maintain a constant tension until the end of the disc.

Collaborations and Guests: grounding with Max Berlin and diverse vocal textures

The collaboration strategy focuses on recurring figures like Max Berlin to ground the sound in continuity, while diversifying vocal textures through various guest artists. Track 4, WIRED! feat. ego n friends, suggests a collaborative or choral approach, adding texture and energy to the track through its name in the credits. On Pretty Gold, Hyson expands the sonic palette of the track, making it more colorful, suggesting a melodic or rhythmic contribution.

Artistic Goal: functional sound versus the complexity of a studio album

The "soundtrack" approach often results in music that is geared towards groove or atmosphere, sometimes at the expense of the complexity of a typical studio album. The presence of numerous featured artists suggests a desire to highlight individual credits and stylistic diversity rather than a deep exploration of a single vocal group's sound. Max Berlin returns on track 13, PEP TALK - ACT III, confirming his role as a main vocalist or recurring guest on this project, anchoring the sound in a dynamic of ongoing collaboration. The album stands out for its ability to manage the tension between the broad stylistic contributions for the series and the need to maintain a consistent identity.

Review of a simultaneous release: studio album and TV series on Peacock

Charlie Curtis-Beard's discography is further enhanced by a strong narrative element, confirming his upward trajectory since Existentialism on Lake Shore Drive (2017), 22 in Eden (2019), Polaroids of Venice (2022), and the latest installment, love in LA (2024). This final work serves as an immediate anchor for the arrival of CHI FROM THE CHI, which marks a strategic shift by integrating the artist into the Creator Accelerator Program. The album not only accompanies a fictional narrative; it becomes the sonic backbone of a series, officially titled The Warehouse Phase, which is scheduled for the same release date as the album. The project's tight timing, with 49 minutes of music across 18 tracks, translates to an average of approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds per track. This hyper-dense format deliberately contrasts with the complexity sought on a traditional studio album, prioritizing groove and a purely functional atmosphere for audiovisual distribution. The musical architecture is therefore fragmented into short, impactful chapters, such as WIRED! or I want it like that, designed to maintain a uninterrupted narrative tension without weighing down the listening experience. The album thus establishes itself as a case study in music for series, where temporal constraints become the driving force of prolific and varied creativity. Published on May 19, 2025 by UnderCurrent, this Charlie Curtis-Beard opus has a specific functional purpose: to accompany the broadcast of The Warehouse Phase on Peacock. Released simultaneously with the project's entry into the original series category through the Creator Accelerator Program, the album abandons deep introspection in favor of an evolving backdrop. Despite its tight timing with 18 tracks across 49 minutes, the project validates a new stage in the studio discography by offering an evolving backdrop for the fictional universe. The conclusion of the narrative with Take Care of Myself transforms the soundtrack from a simple audiovisual accompaniment into a personal dedication that resonates after the broadcast.

Technical specifications

- Release date : May 19, 2025 - Label : UnderCurrent - Tracks : 18 - Opening / closing : Chi from the Chi - ACT I / Take Care of Myself - Guests : Ry Wittmore, ego n friends, GameboyJones, Hyson, Max Berlin, Nina Ann Nelson, Moorea Masa & the Mood, Anusha Savi, Stacey Ryan, MLLN, Sleeping Lion, Abhi The Nomad - Previous album : love in LA (2024)