Charlie Straight are a Czech indie rock band formed in Třinec, Czech Republic in 2006. They combine indie rock with melodic and often electronic musical elements while also drawing on a Britpop influence. The band is named after a chat nickname that frontman Albert Černý used online one time. They cite influences from a number of other artists including Bat For Lashes, Yuck and Churches. The band have received a number of different awards. The current line up consists of Albert Černý, Jan Cienciala, Michal Šupák and Pavel Pilch. One of the band's current ambitions is to play the Glastonbury festival. The band broke up in 2013. Later on, frontman Albert Černý formed the group Lake Malawi who represented the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
History
In 2007, they were discovered by the owner of bandzone.cz. After the release of the debut She’s a Good Swimmer, Charlie Straight got three Czech Grammy Awards for the Newcomer of the Year, Best Music Video Platonic Johny and Best Album. In 2010 and 2011 respectively, the band won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Czech & Slovak Act. Charlie Straight performed at most major festivals in the Czech republic and Slovakia including Colours of Ostrava, Rock for People etc. They are building a solid fanbase in Germany too having played gigs in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. There's more than 58,000 Charlie Straight fans on facebook and up to 4,300,000 views on youtube.com. In April 2011, Charlie Straight flew to New York City to shoot a video for School Beauty Queen – the theme song of a prime-time Czech TV series. The video was directed by Yemi AD who has been working with Kanye West on the Runaway video and on tour around the world. Charlie Straight recorded the follow-up to She’s a good Swimmer with the UK producer Guy Fixsen. The new album entitled Someone With a Slow Heartbeat was recorded in Switzerland, mixed and mastered in London. The first single from the album entitled Coco was topping the biggest Czech radio chart t-music during 7 weeks in April–May 2012. In May 2012, The Guardian wrote about the band in an Charlie Straight played their first free gigs in the UK during the Olympics 2012. In August, they supported Red Hot Chili Peppers in Prague. In October the band played in Austrian festival and conference called Waves Vienna and they released new video Someone With a Slow Heartbeat. This video appeared on Coldplay’s website. Having been spotted by Adam Ryan at , the band have been confirmed for The Great Escape Festival 2013 . The first UK single I Sleep Alone features the Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Markéta Irglová. It was recorded at The Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík, Iceland. In March 2013 Charlie Straight won Czech Grammy Award for the bestsong of the year 2012, Coco.
