- YouTube
charlieonnafriday is living the dream. Many grow up yearning to be a singer, some even go as far as making music in their garages with their friends...and while he did both of those things, his dream has extended a bit longer than most.
Thanks to his fun-loving, genre-bending tracks, fans quickly became enthralled with charlieonnafriday's music. Quickly amassing a social media following that most only dream of: 2.9 million TikTok followers alone, where he's constantly teasing new tunes, or showing viewers a little peek inside his hectic life, or even interacting with fans. And that's not to mention his 2.5 million monthly Spotify listeners or 763k Instagram followers.
charlieonnafriday is one of the examples of how social media can take your life and change it forever...but he's completely deserving. After spending his high school years making music with his friends in his basement in Seattle, and by 2022, charlieonnafriday had released his debut album, OnnaFriday, with Island Records.
What's refreshing about his sound is that it's not to be pigeon-holed into one category. charlieonnafriday's music can span from rap, to pop, to country, without missing a beat. He's staying authentic to himself by making music that he can relate to. One instance, he mentions, occurs with writing songs for his new album.
During a stint in Nashville, Charlie was not in the mood to write about heartache and breakups. What was resonating with him was having a good time with your friends, and when he overheard the words "Bottle Go Down," he knew he had a song within him. His new album, Wild Child, is a summation of his life right now: some fun-loving party anthems, some country influence, and a lot of heavy hitting anthems. You can listen to the album here:
We knew he had the star power, with previous songs like "After Hours" from his debut album going platinum...but his sophomore submission is possibly even better than his first. It's proof that charlieonnafriday, who has now toured with Tate McRae, Macklemore, and more, has found his stride in the music industry.
For our second episode of Popdust On Record, we spoke to Charlie about Wild Child, his current solo tour, and more! Watch the full episode here:
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TV Features
Ryan Murphy Is Back At It Again With Trauma Fest “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
After Dahmer became one of Netflix’s most-watched but most controversial shows, Ryan Murphy’s second installment, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is getting mixed reviews. (And What Does Kim Kardashian have to do with it?)
10.01.2024
One thing about Ryan Murphy, he’s going to try to make true crime sexy. From Glee to tackling the world of true crime, Murphy has a lot of awards under his belt — for better or for worse. After his highly acclaimed American Crime Story series, which included the incredibly done The People vs OJ Simpson and the Darren Chris epic of The Assassination of Gianni Versace, he hit big with Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
The show became one of Netflix’s biggest hits and won Evan Peters an 3mmy for his starring role. Now, Murphy is tackling one of the most captivating trials of the 80s and 90s — the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
For those of us who weren’t alive while this sensational case was being tried, just know: it captured the nation for years. Long story short, the case saw two California rich boys, Erik and Lyle Menendez, stand trial for murdering their parents with shotguns in cold blood.
Not only was it one of the first major television trials, it was also rocked Americans to their very core. Here were two handsome, rich boys who had it all. Everything about the boys was contrary to their belief about killers — mind you, this was before movies like American Psycho. The American public were fascinated, yet unmoored. How could those two boys, perfectly normal looking boys, do something so heinous?
This is the question Ryan Murphy is trying to unpack in the ambitious Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Delving deep into the murders, the boys, their motivations, and the history of the family, Murphy’s epic is a study in scale. It takes us through decades, then zeroes in on crucial minutes of the case, then zooms back out again.
I have to admit, it’s an impressive watch. First of all, it does what good TV should do: keeps your eyes glued to the TV. Just like the real trail itself, you can’t look away. From the standout performances to the directorial decisions, Monsters is a feat of television — so why is it so controversial?
Monsters has been criticized by both Menendez brothers, some viewers who found it too “sexy,” and critics of true crime as a whole. But is it worth the watch? And what does Kim Kardashian have to do with it? Read on for the full scoop.
What is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story about?
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story follows the titular brothers from the murder of their parents through both their trials and eventual convictions. But it isn’t a chronological version of events. It’s a campy adventure that places you right in the 80s and 90s, immersing the viewer in a world of excess and, somehow, empathy.
Murphy and co-creator Ian Brennan have taken the already sensational tale of the Menendez brothers and cranked it up to eleven. The murder scene? Worthy of a Quentin Tarantino revenge fantasy. The brotherly bond? Very Game of Thrones in the incest-innuendo department — which is one of the major criticisms of the series (I mean, did the boys really kiss in speedos and dance provocative together at parties? Or did Ryan Murphy just imagine they did?). It's a campy spectacle that’s like Beverly Hills, 90210 meets Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as José and Kitty Menendez. Bardem, channeling his inner No Country for Old Men energy, is terrifying as the abusive patriarch. Sevigny, meanwhile, is not the cool girl we know and love but instead someone horrifyingly hatable in her portrayal of the complicit mother.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle) and Cooper Koch (Erik) lead the charge as our murderous duo. Chavez, fresh off his run on General Hospital launches us into the series’ intensity with his unflinching performance in the very first scene. He doesn’t waste a second, managing to be both intimidating, frustrating, and quietly funny — who didn’t chuckle at the toupee scene? His Lyle is a Patrick Bateman-esque concoction of charming and chilling.
Koch, meanwhile, brings a vulnerability to Erik that will undoubtedly win him an Emmy. Notably, his performance in Episode 6: “The Hurt Man,” is a single shot, a single take, where he delivers a chillingly devastating monologue that solidifies him as one of the greatest working actors of the moment. This will no doubt propel him to superstardom — not to mention his good looks and abs.
But this is exactly the problem. Murphy is constantly reminding us how hot these guys are. Part of it is to underscore their vanity. The scene where Lyle asks for self tanning lotion in prison shouldn’t have been relatable but I couldn’t help but think: he’s so real. Half of the series sees them shirtless, either lounging by the pool in speedos or playing tennis a la Challengers. Ryan Murphy makes many cases for the viewers to empathize with the brothers. But his main argument seems to be: they’re hot.
What is the controversy about Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story?
The show’s shameless horniness is made more complex because of the serious themes of sexual abuse and violence explored in the show. Murphy has never been one to shy away from controversial topics, but "Monsters" pushes the envelope even further. The series depicts the brothers' alleged abuse at the hands of their father in graphic detail, while simultaneously playing up the homoerotic tension between Lyle and Erik.
It's a choice that's bound to raise eyebrows. On one hand, it could be seen as an attempt to explore the complex psychological effects of abuse. On the other, it often feels like it's veering into exploitation — and for what? To get more views. Every scene is shot like a Calvin Klein ad from 1991, all sun-kissed skin and smoldering glances, which doesn’t feel appropriate for the storyline.
The controversy is so profound that the real life Menendez brothers heard about the show from their detention at Donovan Correctional Facility in California, where they don’t even have Netflix. But they seem to know enough to slam the show. Despite speaking to members of the cast and crew in preparation for the show, Erik called it a “dishonest portrayal.”
His main point of contention, like many others, is the portrayal of their abuse — or any doubts about its validity. His statement called out Murphy, saying he had “taken the painful truths several steps backward — back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
But Murphy, in a rare move, responded to this criticism directly. Though he expressed empathy, he stood by his choices. “We give them their day in court, and they talk openly about it. In this age, where people can really talk about sexual abuse, talking about it and writing about it and writing about all points of view can be controversial,” he said.
And what does Kim Kardashian have to do with it?
One thing about Kim K? She’ll pull that lawyer card when she needs to — like father, like daughter. Though headlines make it seem like Kim was paying a visit to Erik and Lyle personally, that’s not exactly true.
Kardashian was reportedly speaking about prison reform at San Diego County's Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility, where the Menendez brothers are currently serving life sentences. Maybe it was just a coincidence that she did this speaking engagement just days after the show premiered — especially since she, too, was once featured in a Ryan Murphy adaptation (her father was a major character in The People vs OJ Simpson).
Kim wasn’t alone, which complicates the story. Her entourage included her sister Khloé, her mother Kris, and — surprisingly — the actor who plays Erik, Cooper Koch.
“Kim and Scott Budnick do a lot of prison reform work and she had seen the show,” said Koch to Extra. “We went down and we went to this gymnasium where we sat around with 30 or so incarcerated individuals, who all shared their stories and it was very emotional and inspiring,” Cooper added. “I got to meet both of them and just tell I believe them and I support them and I did everything I could to portray them authentically.”
So, where does that leave us? Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is undeniably compelling television. It's beautifully shot, expertly acted, and paced like a thriller. But it's also problematic, especially in light of Erik’s comments — Erik who comes out the most sympathetic in the script. The show's treatment of sexual abuse, its glamorization of violence, and its loose relationship with facts all raise serious ethical questions.
Will it win Emmys? Probably. Will it spark heated debates about the ethics of true crime entertainment? Definitely. Will you be able to stop watching once you start? Not a chance.
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News
POPDUST ON RECORD: Pauli The PSM
An exclusive interview with Pauli the PSM on his new music, touring with Harry Styles, and more!
09.25.2024
- YouTube
Pauli the PSM radiates positive energy as he enters our scheduled Zoom call. It's going to be an easy conversation, something you can tell with interviews right away. We banter about New Jersey and the legitimacy of Pauly D as a DJ, we go through my residency at Harry Styles' MSG run, and then it's time to talk about him.
Fans may recognize Pauli as the joyous member of Harry Styles' mega-talented band, who follows him on his successful 173 show run spanning 22 months, LOVE ON TOUR. He plays multiple instruments throughout the show, captivating fans and interacting with the crowd on his side of the stage...but he's also the musical director for Styles, a relationship that's been growing for years now.
And it's not just Styles he's worked with. Previous accolades include Maggie Rogers, FKA Twigs, and Jamie xx for musical direction. He's highly regarded as one of the most prestigious musical directors in the game for a reason.
Pauli's prowess in the music industry is unmatched. His appreciation for all genres, all types of music, all walks of life is awe-inspiring. As we talk, I learn that he's constantly switching genres in his own music because it's about whatever is inspiring him in the moment. He's never boxing himself into one specific category, because that's not what music is about.
He puts it perfectly: "If you eat the same thing everyday, you're going to get tired of it." It's the same thing with music, he says. You don't want to listen to the same exact song, or genre, everyday of your life. It's about switching it up and trying new things.
With his new single, "I Don't Deserve You (Sunshine)", Pauli works with fellow LOVE ON TOUR member, Ariza to deliver an introspective dive into his own soul. The song itself deals with the idea of Imposter Syndrome, and feeling you aren't worthy of something or someone.
As we delve more into his creative process and his already prolific career in the music industry, I realize that Pauli looks at music as a genuine gift. That's what makes him so special, and have the success that he has. He's grateful for everything that has come so far, but he's driven to keep digging into his soul and creating special music.
That's why "I Don't Deserve You (Sunshine)" feels like a breath of fresh air. Pauli may have perfected dance tracks like "Saucy," or even spoken word with Idris Elba in his debut album, The Idea of Tomorrow...But, with his ever-evolving, fluid approach to making music, the single reigns as one of his best yet.
There's a lot to learn from Pauli the PSM, who takes me on a journey for this episode of Popdust On Record. Check out the full interview on YouTube!
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