To touch the soul through sound. That’s what it’s all about, right? Truly connecting through the music and letting every single second provoke natural thought and emotion. Nobody encapsulated this better than Charles Elias Ingalls, better known as CharlestheFirst.
The Lake Tahoe-based musician was an absolute pillar in the scene. A pillar of light, creativity, positive influence, and pure artistry. Every move he made felt as genuine as could be and it shined through in his music and social interaction.
Carefully threading the needle and weaving together an incredible bass-heavy, yet gentle ambiance, CharlestheFirst was able to create music that transcends far beyond the average listening experience. Born in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Charles found a great amount of inspiration through nature and his own experiences.
After putting down the skis as a young teenager, Ingalls shifted his focus towards music production and soon after, the Charlesthefirst project. With each release being a master class in self-expression, you can feel every sound as if you’re sharing the same moment.
And that’s a beautiful thing.
It’s now been just over two years since the heartbreaking loss of CharlestheFirst, but his music continues to spread his energy and inspire others. With his debut full-length album, The Ascent, turning five this month, we thought it’d be appropriate to dive back in and listen.
2018 was a spectacular year for the young, enigmatic artist. That year saw the first-ever Lab Group tour, Charles’ first Red Rocks set, and appearances at notable festivals such as Coachella, The Untz, Sonic Bloom, and Electric Forest.
To close out what was already a very productive year, and with less than two weeks’ notice, Charles announced his debut album, The Ascent, would be dropping on December 18th, 2018, along with a tour announcement shortly after.
Toting album artwork that takes inspiration from natural landscapes, The Ascent’s album cover was originally a photo by Michael Melford depicting mountains in Glacier National Park that have been edited by Charles to give a vibrant and distorted look.
Complimenting the cadence of the album art, this body of work gives a vibrant and distorted feel. It gives you moments of quiet ambiance and clarity, as well as darker sections to reflect on. It gives you confidence and it gives you sadness. It gives you acceptance, strength, and hope. It gives you healing. This album has aged like a bottle of the finest wine, and it will only get better with time.
”A veil of clouds separated the summit from base camp. I took one last look at the valley below, and we began the ascent into uncharted terrain.” -Excerpt from CharlestheFirst’s bandcamp page for The Ascent.
Known for sprinkling natural sounds and soft foley all over his tracks, The Ascent is no exception. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Charles, it is littered with a specific texture and tough basslines. The 11-track album takes you on a well-thought-out journey for 38 minutes.
Each track possesses its own perspective that demands respect, but combined, it exists as a 38-minute journey through space, time, and the psyche of CharlestheFirst.
Orchestrating what can only be described as a euphoric dreamscape, Charles starts with “Crossing The Threshold.” This track feels careful and overcoming and we are even treated with a hawk. verse to guide us through the tail end.
“No matter where you at, just know- gotta get up in the river if you wanna catch the flow.” This felt like a nice reminder that we must seize life when we can. If we want the chance, to take the risk.
We then get into “Breathe,” a calmer, meditative vibe for the first half leading into what feels like a relieving release of tense emotion in the drop. This comes complete with some more hawk. lyrics and a relaxed aura.
It closes out with another vocal sample where we hear, “..local guides lead them into uncharted terrain..” which is exactly what Charles is doing, taking us into the unexpected corners of his psyche and letting us emote with him.
“Won’t Always Be” is one of the more mysterious tracks on the album. Starting calm and cool, we soon drop into some aggressive and punchy basslines that are paired with those trademark CTF chords we know and love. This one is short and sweet; ending with soothing chords that help tie the calming nature of this track together.
Slowly fading in, next up is “Balance.” Balance is the perfect example of organized chaos. Initially very calm and serene, it quickly builds towards a bass-heavy drop that takes you over and refuses to let go for the duration of the song. The abrasive and distorted bass do justice to the duality that this track displays with “Balance” being quite a fitting name.
The title track, “The Ascent,” is an absolute masterpiece. The heartfelt intro is one of nostalgia and hope. We can hear birds chirping, light foley, and some calming vocals by Arya Fae. Blended with some of Charles’ signature-sounding chords, this all works together in harmony building to the first drop which is pure emotion via bass.
At the midpoint of the album, “The Ascent” is titled perfectly. It feels warm, like you’re being sonically washed, and reminds you of the light. You will prevail, and this track pushes you to remember that.
Next on the album is “Nightfall.” Like “Balance,” this track shows a great duality between tranquility and chaos. With some more light foley and ambient pads sprinkled over some fat bass lines, this track really knows how to give. Setting the stage for a crisp winter night, the calm before the storm is depicted through the light ambient ethos while the storm is personified by the chaotic low end that follows.
“Into the Abyss” is the interlude on the album and suitably feels like a break in the journey. With a dark and somewhat foreboding energy, this track leaves a lot to be thought about. It’s mysterious and almost ominous, keeping you strapped in for the ride.
Continuing the mysterious theme, “Unseen” packs a deep punch that keeps you surprised at every turn. Co-produced with friend and fellow Lab Group collaborator, Potions, “Unseen” takes us on a ride through cavernous low ends, sharp sound design, and careful percussion. This one feels precise in direction and carries a deep and wavy motion throughout.
Coming towards the end of the project, “South Face” brings the tempo up a bit. Beginning with a slow and wandering intro, we quickly drop into a quicker rhythmic pattern than we’ve seen on the album. Focusing heavily on percussion, the drums guide us through what is reminiscent of a fast-paced dream state with some ambient chords to remind us of the comedown.
Along with “The Ascent” and “Breathe,” “See You Again” is another standout track on the project. With vocals from Sibel Yalin, this track has so much to offer. Like most tracks composed by the SOLUS artist, a lot is packed into this three-minute delight.
Containing sections that are made up of downtempo dreams, it also has high energy and crisp feeling drops that come together nicely with melodic chords and delicate vocal samples sprinkled throughout. “See You Again” succeeds in lifting you up and out of discomfort and locking you into a comfortable and bold mentality.
Wrapping up this beautiful debut album is “In Pieces.” Opening this one we have some signature CharlestheFirst chords over a sample taken from a Kendrick Lamar interview. You can hear the artist explaining his inspirations rand how they’ve been taken from everyday experiences.
In a way that’s how “In Pieces” feels. Changing from a lighter tone and soothing melodies, we are then slowly enveloped in a ripple of distortion that sends us to another realm of sound with a low end sonic that drives like an 18-wheeler. This one helps cement the overall tone of the album and finishes the project off with a polished coat.
CharlestheFirst continues to be an inspiration to everybody in this community. With the love and help of his dedicated fan base, friends, and family, his story will continue to be told and his vision shared.
The Ascent is a work of art not comparable to anything. The perfect blend of nature and electronic, downtempo, and hard-hitting bass. Thankfully, Charles left us with quite a bit of music not only under CharlestheFirst but also under his hawk. moniker, and of course his work with close friends and collaborators, Potions and Supertask, under the Lab Group project.
Gone but never forgotten, we miss you Charles.
You can continue to support Charles and his family by supporting his music, or by checking out Crown The Foundation.
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