Charlie Puth recently opened up about his musical evolution in a new interview with Rolling Stone, giving insight into his songwriting style, production mindset, and personal growth. Known for his smooth vocals and intricate pop arrangements, Charlie also gave fans a surprise look at his biggest influences.
Eminem On the List
When asked to name his top five songs of all time, Puth included tracks that had impressed him as both a listener and a producer. He named “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G., Aerosmith’s “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”, and the classic “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” by Burt Bacharach. Having Biggie on the pop artist’s list is already quite unusual, but then Charlie followed it up with Eminem’s smash hit.
“When I heard ‘The Real Slim Shady’ produced by Dr. Dre, the snare drum blew me away”, Charlie said. That single choice echoed something he’s spoken about before.
A Long-standing Influence
Back in 2021, Charlie tweeted:
“Listen to The Eminem Show, and you’ll hear my main influence for drums in every song I produce…”
Yet “The Eminem Show” is not the only Em’s body of work that influenced Charlie, it goes beyond that. In fact, he is a fan, full stop. In 2024, when Eminem released “The Death of Slim Shady”, Puth left a heartfelt comment on Marshall’s feed:
“You’re the reason why I wanted to be an artist. Congratulations on the new album”.
Different Sounds, Same Spark
Though their musical styles are worlds apart, Charlie with his dreamy vocals and polished pop, and Eminem with his gritty, rapid-fire bars, the connection is undeniable. It is a perfect example of artistic influence that doesn’t follow genre lines. Sometimes it’s about seeing someone master their craft and feeling that pull to create.
For Charlie, it was Eminem who gave him that push.
