By: Tom White
Charles Moret didn’t arrive on the music scene in a blaze of viral fame. His story is quieter than that, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear the possible presence of a young artist who may have something real to say.
Raised in Venice, Los Angeles, in a neighborhood shaped by both privilege and poverty, Moret grew up straddling contrasts. His middle-class upbringing gave him a front-row seat to economic disparity, an experience that often informs his worldview and his music. “Success,” he says, “has never meant wealth to me. It’s about creating art that could mean something.”
Balancing Athletics and Artistry
His connection to music began early, almost before he could speak. At the age of two, his mother enrolled him in a music class, where a teacher noticed his apparent natural talent for music. By the time he was three, he was taking piano lessons. By four, he was writing songs. But for a long time, Charles kept that part of himself hidden, preferring to pour his energy into academics and basketball. This decision ultimately led to a scholarship at Oberlin College.
The duality of his identity as both athlete and artist was never easy to reconcile. “The hardest part wasn’t writing music,” he recalls. “It was being honest about it.” Even in college, his songwriting remained mostly private, a lifeline during bouts of depression, a practice in vulnerability that he wasn’t quite ready to share.
Choosing the Stage Over the Court
Everything began to change during his senior year of high school when he performed at graduation. The experience was encouraging, a spark of recognition that perhaps his secret self belonged on stage after all. Later, at USC, as the pandemic disrupted life across the globe, Charles decided to shift paths entirely. He began releasing music, gradually embracing the title of artist.
Dreammaker and the Sound of Authenticity
His debut album, Dreammaker, released last year, marked a quiet but assured arrival. Its introspective piano-driven sound stood in stark contrast to the bombastic production trends of the moment. Still, it found an audience. His LA shows began drawing small but devoted crowds, and listeners seemed to appreciate the authenticity in his songwriting.
His newest release, “Powder,” is another step inward. It’s a hushed and haunting piece that lays bare the emotional weight of transition: from athlete to artist, from silence to self-expression. Moret’s work tends to be without pretense. What you hear often reflects what he lived.
Photo Courtesy: Charles Moret
Building a Future Rooted in Purpose
Moret doesn’t prioritize virality. He writes, composes, and performs with intention. His background in composition and arrangement lends him technical fluency, but it’s his emotional honesty that helps distinguish his work. He aims to be of service: to himself, to others, to the moment.
“This 6’7” Gen-Z songwriter went from hiding his music to quitting basketball for it,” he says, summing up a journey defined by risk and revelation.
Looking forward, Moret envisions music as art but also as action. He talks about defending freedoms and using his platform with purpose. His songs aren’t slogans; they’re conversations and gentle invitations to reflect, connect, and feel.
Explore his work, beginning with Dreammaker and his latest single “Powder,” on his website, TikTok, or Instagram.
Published by Jeremy S.
