Charlie Sparks has officially stepped into a new chapter. Last Friday, the London producer released Power Up, a fast, tightly wound techno cut that arrives alongside a bigger announcement. The track marks the first glimpse of his debut album, also titled Power Up, set for release on May 29 via his own label, ELEKTRA. After years of relentless touring and a steady rise across global dance floors, the record positions itself as his most complete project so far, built across ten tracks and a run of singles leading up to the full release.
For Sparks, the record slowly came together over the past few years, shaped by touring and the constant movement that comes with it. “The album became a big canvas for me. I simply followed my feeling at the time without trying to restrain myself to any style or hype,” he tells us when we speak with him. Much of it was produced while travelling between shows, in hotel rooms, airport lounges, and anywhere he could open a laptop.
After releasing the LP’s first single, Sparks also hinted at how the project will unfold over the coming months. Power Up is the first of several tracks that will arrive ahead of the album, gradually introducing the world he has been building around the record. As he shared on social media, “Track 1/10, next release is yours on March 20th.”
Charlie, how has the year started for you, and where are you answering us from today?
The year is off to a great start: my first album is coming up and multiple collabs with excellent artists! And I’m speaking to you today from London, my hometown.
You kicked off the year by releasing Get Loud with T A N E. What did it mean for you to start 2026 by putting new music out straight away?
I wanted to get straight to it! 2026 is going to be a full-throttle year with no time for messing about. That’s why the two-track EP with T A N E was the perfect way to build the momentum I'm looking for — pure, high energy.
With just over a month to go before the release of the Power Up single, what headspace are you in right now?
I feel much clearer, to be honest. Over the past year, my thought process, in both my production and live performance, was a bit clouded or confused, with all the changes in the scene and the natural evolution of my own sound as I played new music every weekend. The album became a big canvas for me. I simply followed my feeling at the time without trying to restrain myself to any style or hype. It’s exactly what I wanted to create in this moment to best represent me as an artist and a person.
A few days ago, you shared: “This project has been in the works over the last few years, and it’s finally getting close to the time where I can show you all! Who’s ready for the whole album?” What does it feel like to finally be able to say that out loud?
It feels amazing, but also scary (laughs). It’s a joy to finally have new art coming out, especially since it’s my first album. I deliberately didn’t follow any trends with this record. I believe it’s always best to produce from the heart. Even if it’s not the exact sound I pursue in the future, it’s an important part of the journey that leads to where I’m headed.
Why did Power Up feel like the right track to introduce this new chapter and open the door to the album?
For anyone into anime, fantasy, or superheroes, they understand the feeling you get when the main character is in battle, training, or finally breaks through and powers up. The enjoyment and happiness I feel for the character in that moment are unreal. It’s a perspective that shows hard work does pay off, and you should never lose sight of your goal.
“It’s a joy to finally have new art coming out, especially since it’s my first album. I deliberately didn’t follow any trends with this record. I believe it’s always best to produce from the heart.”
Sonically, the track feels fast, physical, and very focused. What were you most determined to get right when building it?
I wanted to create a pure, forward-facing direction. High-energy, non-stop pace, the feeling of always moving forward, where you don’t have time to look back.
You’ve said nothing in your music is accidental. When you’re working on a track, what comes first? Can you tell us more about your creative process?
I always start with the kick and bass as they form the foundation and body of any track. From there, I try to feel the sound and build a base that can support the pillars, which will mould the track into the emotion I’m experiencing. Usually, next comes a minimal synth line and percussion to shape the final emotion I’m trying to portray. Then, it naturally leads me in the right direction for the main drop and lead sound.
Looking back at the album as a whole, which track took the longest to finish, and why?
Spiritual Power was one of the first tracks I produced back in 2023, but I couldn’t give it the energy it deserved then. So I finally thought it was time to revisit it and give it a new life, incorporating all the experiences I’ve had since then.
Is there any specific moment or anecdote from the album’s development you want to share with us?
I wish I could show you some of the places where I produced these tracks. Most of them were created during my heavy tour schedule. That meant questionable kitchens, squashed plane seats, hotel rooms, airport lounges, and many places other than a proper studio. But I think that actually adds to the authenticity of the album.
Growing up between London and Tokyo, and later studying architecture, clearly shaped how you think about space and structure. How does that way of thinking translate into sound?
The brute force of the English mindset, mixed with the calm, collected, and precise thinking of Japanese culture has really intertwined in my music, creating what feels like a highly organised, crazy energy type of sound (laughs).
Your tracks often feel engineered to guide movement on the dance floor. Do you think about the listener’s body as much as their mind when producing?
Yes, sound is heard, which then makes the body move; they work in unison. Just as architects engineer the space around you through materials to impact you visually and move your body in a certain way, I do the same thing with sound.
“I think hitting rock bottom in my personal life was a big push for my creative side. I prefer to be in the storm rather than heading into it, because I know I’m one step closer to a sunny day.”
A lot of this record seems tied to years of touring and personal battles. Was there a specific moment when everything started to align creatively?
I think hitting rock bottom in my personal life was a big push for my creative side. I always say you can only go up from rock bottom, so it’s not a bad thing. I prefer to be in the storm rather than heading into it, because I know I’m one step closer to a sunny day.
What do you enjoy most about touring? Do you keep any routines while travelling?
I enjoy the inconsistency in the scheduling. The fact that there are always new flight times, new countries, new set times, and new surroundings keeps things fresh. As exhausting as it sounds, I think it’s better for your brain and body in some sense, though trust me, it’s not a lot better for your body (laughs).
Launching ELEKTRA as your own label adds another layer to this project. What kind of freedom did that give you while finishing the album?
It gave me complete freedom. I was stuck for some time at the start of the album because I wanted to please so many people and appease the scene in its current state, but then nothing came out. I was always stuck until I took a step back and decided to just make what I felt, not to box myself in or confine myself to anything other than what I wanted to create in that current time.
When people hear Power Up for the first time, what do you hope they feel?
I want them to immediately feel that it’s a Charlie Sparks song. I want them to feel the power, the energy running through them, and that urge to move and smile.
Looking beyond the single and the album, what excites you most about what’s coming next?
Making more music. This album has shown me that it’s just a step forward, it’s only the beginning. I was able to explore a lot of creative possibilities through the album, but in the future, I’m excited to make some smaller bodies of work that focus more directly on a specific sound or emotion.
