8/10

When she broke through with her much-loved debut EP 'Mood Swings & Antidepressants' in 2017, Australian artist Charlie Lane was greeted as one of the more innovative names on the rise. But with the pandemic and extreme lockdowns across Australia affecting her mental and physical health, she took a step back from releasing new music, giving her an opportunity to take stock and figure out her next moves. And after a wealth of richly-received delights throughout the last few months, she now returns with her eagerly-awaited debut album 'I'm Okay Now But I Wasn't', a record that highlights those few difficult years.

As a queer and disabled artist, Charlie Lane's experiences certainly vary from many other emerging talents, but 'I'm Okay Now But I Wasn't' still manages to harness a warm and relatable direction. Combining a melee of heartfelt odes that stretch the length of her songwriting to date, her first full-length aims to cement the process which caused its conception, bearing her soul as often as possible. Marrying her sweet and tender vocal style with some truly alluring moments from start to finish, she has returned to the fold with some beautifully spellbinding offerings here.

It may have taken longer to arrive than she would have wanted, but 'I'm Okay Now But I Wasn't' is clearly a labour of love for the artist at the helm. Patiently taking her time in crafting some of her most enthralling material yet, Charlie Lane continues to shine as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.