Exclusive: Hovvdy’s Charlie Martin Shares “September” Video

Charlie Martin, one half of the Austin indie-folk outfit Hovvdy, launches his debut solo record Imaginary People today (April 30). The music video for the album’s second track, “September,” is premiering exclusively at Paste.

Imaginary People, a character-heavy work of light, fresh indie, came together from the surplus of music Martin has written both inside and outside of his partnership with Hovvdy’s other half, Will Taylor. With another Hovvdy record on the way, the time afforded to Martin by the life-halting effect of the pandemic allowed him to simultaneously create this solo work with the help of his friend and audio engineer, Evan Kaspar.

While Martin wrote a plethora of new songs specifically for Imaginary People, “September” is one ripped from a songbook from years ago. The song draws on Martin’s tendency to view his Sept. 1 birthday as a time to assess his life and progress toward his goals. While being driven and optimistic, the track deals with the pressures of trying to make it as a musician.

Martin elaborated on the lyrics to “September” in a conversation with Paste:

I feel like people in creative careers, especially something as dicey as being a musician, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to keep progressing and keep proving yourself to your family and friends, and people who are observing you and maybe having doubts […] Really all you can do is say, “I promise, I got this! I’m gonna do it! I can do it!”