Charley (singer)

Claire Howell (born 16 September 1997), professionally known as Charley, is a Sydney-based, Australian singer and songwriter. She is best known for entering The Voice Australia in 2016 and 2017 and for winning the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition Unpublished Australasian Songwriter Award/ Emerging Songwriter Prize in 2022 and 2024.

Early life

Howell grew up in a musical family on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Career

The Voice

In 2016, Howell auditioned for season five of The Voice Australia, and chose to sing coach Jessie J's "Who You Are" in her blind audition, where she received a four chair turn and joined team Jessie J. She was defeated in the first of the Battle rounds.

In 2017, Howell returned for season six of The Voice Australia and sang coach Seal's "Crazy" for her blind audition. After another four chair turn, Howell coach team Delta Goodrem and made it to the last of the live shows before being eliminated in 9th or 10th place.

Following The Voice, Howell relocated to Sydney and was signed to EMI Music Australia in 2020 changing her performing name to Charley.

2021-present

On 5 March 2021, Charley release for her debut single, "Hard for Me".

In 2022, Charley entered "I Suck At Being Lonely" into Eurovision – Australia Decides with the intend to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest. She came 4th out of 11 contestants.

She won the Emerging Songwriter Prize at the 2022 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition saying, "I'm so stoked to have won this award – this song means so much to me as it's my first queer song and having had so much support from my fans and music community/industry after coming out means the world. This song came from such a sad moment in my life so having some type of reward for it is very bittersweet. Thank you so so much."

Charley's debut EP, Timebombs was released on 23 June 2023. At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, the EP was nominated for Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist.

In January 2026, Charley announced the forthcoming release of debut album The Chronicles of a Serial Idealist. Upon announcement, Charley said, "This album captures some of the most defining moments of my life so far, and releasing it feels equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Where Timebombs came from, trying to hold things together as they fell apart, this record is about finding hope in the mess - being honest, reflective, and learning to let go."

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Awards and nominations

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry.

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.