Charlie Puth on How Joining TikTok Early Changed His Career: ‘There’s No Age Discrimination Anymore’

Lyndsey Havens
·5 min read
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On Sunday, Dec. 10, TikTok will host its first live global music event, TikTok in the Mix, with a slate of star headliners — including Cardi B, Niall Horan, Anitta and Charlie Puth.

In addition to the performances, the sold-out one-day event will bring to life TikTok’s famous For You page with a variety of in-person activities, inspired by the platform’s most-loved trends.

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“My first thought was, ‘I’m glad that I was one of their first calls,’” says Puth, “because it’s played such a huge part in my career. I think the app has been able to explain my musical process better than anything else.”

Plus, as he says, it’s provided a perfect place to show off his humor: “I’ve been a fan of internet meme culture for a very long time,” he says. “I was the kid on EbaumsWorld.com in like, 2003.”

Puth was in fact among the first artists to embrace the platform. And now, he says he continues to reap the benefits, from fans rediscovering his older hits to feeling like he can finally bring fans inside the creation of those songs – an experience he hopes to bring to the stage this weekend.

“What I really want to showcase when I’m on the stage is the creation of music, and how you don’t need a million-dollar recording studio — you can just have your phone and record sounds,” he says. “And maybe that’s doing my usual shtick that I do on TikTok, of building layers and consequently songs coming out of that … I know that there’s gonna be a lot of aspiring musicians and kids watching, and I just wanna show them that they have it within them to make music.” (Fans at home can tune in via livestream on TikTok.)

Below, Puth reveals why he was such an early adopter of the app, whether or not he’s an avid scroller (spoiler: he gives himself a time limit) and more.

What do you remember about joining TikTok and what excited you about it?  

I  thought it was an app just for memes, like, where kids would distort the s–t out of “See You Again” and make fun of it, and I wanted to see what it was like. I saw this – it was 2019 and I think it was a Tuesday – and there was this “Lottery (Renegade)” trend going on, it’s [a song] by K Camp, the rapper. I don’t know what people were doing at the time, but I thought it would be funny to make it musical, and I guess I was one of the first artists to hop on the app train early. I was on Musical.ly before — I’m just such a fan of the internet. And I woke up and my video had, like, 20 million views. So I was like, “Okay, they obviously like me.” That’s my first memory. It was my birthday, too.

You have quite a good memory. 

If I just tie something musical to anything, I can remember where I was, what I was doing.

So between then and now, how have you seen TikTok impact your career?

The music industry seems to be changing every month. And it is so high-paced now, it’s not as traditional as just going to a TV outlet and performing your song and being done. It’s kind of nice catching a vibe from real-life listeners and enjoyers of music. And not changing your music based around that, but just having a constant audience. Like, I love making music with people in the studio, because I feel like I’m performing for them in a way — and it kind of feels like that virtually [on TikTok]. So I think it’s enhanced my creative process.

How does that translate when you meet your fans in person?

It’s always evident, the divide in the age group. I think those who were born in 2008 know me from the app and the app only. But those who are a little older remember when I got signed and [released] “See You Again.” I’ll take it all. I love the fact that there are people who are just discovering the song “Attention,” and those who have known it for a very long time and are hearing a different version of it. It’s kind of a musical hodgepodge.

What are the benefits of being able to extend a song’s lifespan? 

Well, it is crazy, and it is because of this app. I remember when I first got signed, there was kind of unwritten scripture: When you turn 30 and you get older as an artist, you’re not gonna be played on top 40 radio as much. I never thought that was true — and I always thought it was kind of stupid, quite frankly. And I love radio. But I’m really glad that they’ve adapted to the times of playing artists who weren’t born in 2005. They’re playing Jelly Roll, they’re playing the “Running Up That Hill” Kate Bush song. It shows that all music can be appreciated and there’s no age discrimination anymore. So it kind of makes me relax a little bit, knowing that a song of mine that I wrote seven years ago might have a chance at showing its hand again.

Do you also use TikTok as a fan yourself?

To each one’s own, but I never scroll to get inspiration. I think the best inspiration you can get is by going for a walk and not having your phone on. And then going to TikTok and uploading and sharing your talent with the world. That’s usually what I do. Of course, there’s Sunday nights where I don’t feel like watching the Nancy Meyers movie that my fiancée wants to watch, and I just want to watch computer videos. But I try and limit it to an hour.

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