Charlie Puth releases a sixth advance single from his sophomore album, “The Way I Am.” “The Way I Am” serves as the opener for the long-awaited ‘Voicenotes.’

Voicenotes has been a long-time coming for Charlie Puth.  “The Way I Am” marks the sixth single that Puth has released from his sophomore album, which arrives May 11, 2018.  It follows “Attention”, “How Long”, “If You Leave Me Now”, “Done for Me”, and “Change”. While most of the cards have been revealed with so many singles, Voicenotes did receive a late change in its cover art, not to mention an expansion in the track list. Focusing on the record at hand, “The Way I Am” continues to find Puth stepping up his game.

Like the majority of the Voicenotes singles, the maturation of Charlie Puth is the story.  On “The Way I Am,” Puth continues to play to his strengths vocally.  The record benefits from its quick-paced, rhythmic melodic lines, groovy, yet balanced production, and most of all a catchy chorus.

“I’ma tell ‘em all

I’ma tell ‘em all that you could either hate me or love me

But that’s just the way I am.”

Obviously, the chorus isn’t deep lyrically, but it sums up what this song is about – Charlie’s personality.  He kicks of the first verse singing, “Maybe I’ma get a little anxious / Maybe I’ma get a little shy.”  Later, on the second verse, he parallels what he stated in the first: “Maybe I’ma get a little nervous / Maybe I don’t go out anymore.”  On both verses, he addresses his desires for love as well as his insecurities and issues.  On the pre-chorus, he plans his ‘big reveal,’ aforementioned on the chorus.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Charlie Puth is in a much better place for his sophomore album compared to his first. “The Way I Am” is yet another example of this. Better-rounded production and more authentic, confident vocals.

Charlie Puth • Voicenotes • Atlantic • Release: 5.11.18

Photo Credit: Atlantic