Built from scratch: Charlie & Margot return June 6 with self-titled album
I first stumbled into Charlie & Margot by chance when Matteo DeBenedetti opened for Washed Out at District Music Hall in Norwalk. No big declarations, no overreach. Just the quiet confidence of someone making music that lands exactly where it’s meant to. I even turned to my daughter during “Joyride” and said something like, “Yeah… I’m buying his vinyl at merch.”
Based in New Jersey, Charlie & Margot is DeBenedetti’s solo project, named after the two dogs he shares with his wife. That alone tells you a lot. It’s personal, familiar, and built from the ground up with care. The new self-titled album, Charlie & Margot, arrives June 6 and pulls all that creative energy into something sharper, bigger, and more fully realized.
Over the past two years, DeBenedetti recorded the self-titled album Charlie & Margot in his home studio. No deadlines. No outside producers. Just long nights and the freedom to get lost in the process.
Over the past two years, DeBenedetti recorded the entire thing in his home studio. No deadlines. No outside producers. Just long nights and the freedom to get lost in the process. It’s DIY in the truest sense. While the album includes contributions from Noah Sullivan (lead guitar), Britt Byrne (backing vocals), and Samir Tawalare (drums), it still feels like a singular vision. One person, figuring it out in real time.
“This album was the most fun I’ve ever had recording anything,” DeBenedetti tells RØKKR. “Since it was self-recorded, I had the luxury of changing things, rewriting things, and avoiding the pressure of feeling like the clock was ticking—which is something that happens pretty often in a traditional studio setting.”
Most of the songs, including “In a Glass” were released gradually over the past year and a half, but this album remixes and reshapes them into something cohesive. Sonically, it leans hard into 90s alt rock. Fans of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Weezer, or Fountains of Wayne will feel right at home. Tracks like “Bug” dig into the ache of going back to someone you can’t seem to shake, no matter the fallout.
While this album gives off a different energy than his debut album joyride, DeBenedetti’s strength has always been his songwriting. Honest, vulnerable, and deliberate in how it unfolds within each song. This isn’t just a collection of songs. It’s a snapshot of time spent chasing down meaning and maybe even a little peace. Whether you’re new to Charlie & Margot or have been following for some time, this record feels like a turning point. A little louder, a little sharper, but still rooted in the same heart that made joyride feel so personal. It’s worth sitting with—start to finish.
The self-titled sophomore album from Charlie & Margot drops June 6.
