Charlie Powell: The Soundtrack to My Life
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Charlie Powell is the voice of dance music you already know. Whether she’s lighting up the airwaves on Capital Dance & Capital FM or dropping infectious Deep House grooves on Toolroom, she’s got an instinct for music that moves people.
An unapologetic champion of upfront dance sounds and LGBTQ+ representation, Charlie’s career spans broadcasting, DJing, and now producing, making her a multi-faceted force in the scene.
Ahead of her set at XOYO on 8th March—where Toolroom’s Love & Other sub-label takes over with Joshwa, CHANEY, TCTS and Raphi—we caught up with Charlie to explore the tracks that have shaped her journey.
The Song That Got Me Into Dance Music: MK Featuring Alana ‘love Changes’ (MK Mix)
Possibly one of my favourite tracks ever! The moment I heard those MK keys alongside Alana’s vocals I was hooked. It’s got everything I love about house music. Even now, it still gives me that same buzz, and it’s easily one of my all time favorites!
The Track That Inspires Me Daily: Shadow Child & Doorly – Climbin (Piano Weapon)
So many to choose from, but this one has to be up there! It is a true uplifter, Shadow Child samples Nikita Warren’s ‘I Need You’ and lays down a fresh vocal from Doorly. If you’re ever feeling low, throwing this on can flip your mood instantly. It blends nostalgic rave elements with a modern house donk perfect! Plus, there are so many elements in here that inspire my own production style. I love playing this in the mornings on Capital Dance too!
A Track That Reminds Me of My Childhood: Inner City – Good Life
I wasn’t born when this was first released in 1988, but my dad owned it on vinyl. I found it in the garage and would endlessly spin it as a kid. It was a track that defined an era. I’d never heard anything like it before and it made me feel something completely new, something that music hadn’t made me feel before. This was also the first track I ever played in ibiza!
The First Track I Dropped in the Club: Maya Jane Coles – What They Say
It was in a bar in Harrow called AREA 51, and I played it four times in a row because nobody was there. I wanted people to hear it! She was also one of the first female dance producers I really came across which made it even more special. An absolute tune that still holds up today!
The Song I Played When I Got My First Gig: Magnetic Man & Katy B – Perfect Stranger
My first gig marked my move to London, and I had this on repeat. It was part of the early 2010s wave where dubstep was evolving into a more radio friendly, accessible sound something Skream, Benga & Artwork (Magnetic Man!) absolutely perfected. Skream, in particular, was one of the pioneers of dubstep, and I loved everything he released. This track was a prime example of that shift, and hearing it at that moment made it feel even more special.
A Track That Always Makes Me Cry: deadmau5 & Kaskade – I Remember
I’m not usually a crier, but this track gets me right in the feels. It’s been 16 years, and it still has the same emotional pull every time I hear it! There’s something so powerful in the way it builds, the atmosphere, the vocals it’s almost impossible not to feel it deeply. It’s on my bucket list of songs to hear live by KX5 too!
The Song That Epitomises My Uni Years: Chase & Status, Delilah – Time
This track takes me right back to when I started properly raving for the first time. Growing up in Cornwall, the only real thing we had was Boardmasters Festival, hearing Chase & Status play Time was the moment everything clicked.I remember absolutely losing it to this tune one of those unforgettable moments. Fast forward a bit, and I ended up moving to Uni in London and interning for them alongside when they had their label MTA Records. A full-circle moment for sure.
From club anthems to nostalgic classics, Charlie Powell’s selections tell the story of her life in music—one beat, one lyric, and one dancefloor moment at a time.
Catch her in action this Saturday at XOYO, delivering the vocal-driven Deep House energy she’s known for.
