Charly Oakley performed their new single for a short but sweet Rolling Stone AU/NZ In My Room session.
Oakley is emerging as one of Australia’s most intriguing new pop voices, building a world defined by honesty and emotional clarity.
At just 22, the up-and-comer sees pop as not only a genre but a space for freedom, one that allows them to evolve and experiment without constraints.
That freedom is evident in their music, which is marked with emotional honesty and philosophical depth. Their songwriting weaves personal reflection with universal concerns, exploring themes of community, resilience, and the sometimes fragile nature of human relationships.
Oakley released their debut single “Against the Odds”, last month, offering a powerful meditation on friendship, community, and choosing love in the face of hardship. The song was produced in collaboration with LA producer Xandy Barry and long-time friend and creative partner Jordie Tomas.
Describing the single as the “long-lost sonic sibling” of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer”, Oakley says: “It is an anthemic ode to both the suffering and the solidarity that is occurring simultaneously on the planet.
“I have always been fascinated by the duality of the human experience – how there can be pain and pleasure; how we laugh when we cry; how we can discover something sacred in the sewer of our darkest emotions; how we manage to persevere and band together in some of our bleakest hours as a species. That’s what this song is about.”
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Watch Oakley’s In My Room session above!
Going into 2026, the rising star is hoping to play more shows and integrate how they express themselves more into their writing and music. “‘Against the Odds’ is the first peak into the next chapter of what will be a sonic undertaking of what it is to be human,” they say.
Charly Oakley’s “Against the Odds” is out now.
