Charly Bliss

Charly Bliss, fronted by the brightly distinctive vocals of singer-guitarist Eva Hendricks, draws from the hook-driven alternative rock of nineties groups including Weezer and especially Veruca Salt. Early attempts to reconcile their gritty rock foundations with a pull toward buoyant pop melodies gave way to an integrated approach on the band’s first full-length, Guppy, which surfaced in 2017. Later albums Young Enough in 2019 and FOREVER in 2024 tilted further toward pop while pairing weighty emotions with a required lightness of touch.

Eva Hendricks and guitarist Spencer Fox first crossed paths as high-school students in Westport, Connecticut. Their partnership began with shared cover songs, after which they recruited Eva’s brother Sam Hendricks on drums and Dan Shure on bass, both known from prior youth-theater and arts-camp settings. Once they started performing in the New York area while Eva attended NYU, Charly Bliss self-released the EP A Lot to Say in 2013. Soft Serve followed in 2014 on Father/Daughter Records. Remaining based in New York City and gaining notice for their live shows, the group soon opened for Veruca Salt as well as Sleater-Kinney, Tokyo Police Club, Glass Animals, and others.

After early recording setbacks, the band finished Guppy, issued by Barsuk Records in April 2017. They promoted the album on tours with Death Cab for Cutie and Wolf Parade. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli, the more pop-focused Young Enough arrived on Barsuk in mid-2019 and reached number 21 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. Before the year closed, Charly Bliss released the companion EP Supermoon, containing tracks from the Young Enough sessions that had not made the album.

Following the Young Enough touring cycle, the members paused activity, an interval extended by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Eva Hendricks relocated to Australia. When they resumed writing remotely without deadlines, Charly Bliss returned in late 2022 with the single “It’s Christmas and I Fucking Miss You” on Barsuk, then issued the non-album tracks “You Don’t Even Know Me Anymore” and “I Need a New Boyfriend” on Lucky Number Music in 2023. Their third album, FOREVER, continued the pop direction of its predecessor yet addressed themes of heartache, jealousy, and change; produced by Sam Hendricks, Hippo Campus’ Jake Luppen, and Caleb Wright, it marked the band’s first full-length for Lucky Number Music upon its August 2024 release and proved their brightest work to date.