Charlie Puth Joins Switched On Pop at Berklee NYC

Charlie Puth Joins Switched On Pop at Berklee NYC The Berklee alum spoke with host and Berklee NYC professor Charlie Harding for a live taping, answering audience questions about authenticity, the industry, and his new album.

March 17, 2026

By

Tara Bellucci

Charlie Puth and Charlie Harding at Power Station

Image by Ryan Nava

Fresh off his Super Bowl performance of the national anthem, Charlie Puth BM '13 joined Charlie Harding, associate professor and host of Switched On Pop, for a live taping of the podcast at Power Station at Berklee NYC.

Puths fourth studio album, Whatevers Clever!, drops on March 27 ahead of his US tour. During the hour-long conversation, he walked through the different arrangements-including Whitney Houston-that inspired his version of the national anthem, and shared some of the '80s and '90s influences that show up on the new album.

The event ended in a Q&A where Puth talked about everything from breaking into the industry to musical manifestation. Check out the highlights below.

Overcoming Creative BlocksHow do you keep yourself inspired when you feel like you are facing a creative block?

Puth acknowledged that staying inspired is very hard to do sometimes. His practical advice was to step away from doom scrolling on social media. Instead, he recommended a reset through active listening-spending time with high-quality, foundational music (citing John Mayer, Alicia Keys, and the Yellowjackets) to remember why you fell in love with music in the first place.

Authenticity and Breaking Into the IndustryWhat is the most important piece of advice for a student trying to get their music heard in today's saturated market?

Dont pretend to be anybody else, Puth said. He shared his own failure story of being signed and dropped at age 19 because he was trying to fit a mold that wasnt his. He emphasized that your musical thumbprint is your greatest asset. He also encouraged students to be less precious about their work, suggesting they post unfinished mixes or demos to TikTok to find their audience through transparency rather than perfection.

The Concept of Musical ManifestationYou mentioned that you manifested the Super Bowl. How does that process actually work for you?

For Puth, manifestation isnt just a thought; its a creative action. He explained that if he wants something to happen, he makes a demo of it. He created a specific arrangement of the national anthem long before he was asked to perform it, essentially preparing the art for the opportunity. He noted that this requires immense patience-sometimes years-before the music manifestation actually lands.

Balancing Technical Skill with Pop SimplicityComing from a rigorous technical background like Berklee, how do you stop yourself from overcomplicating pop songs with too much music theory?

He admitted that while he failed those theory classes, the knowledge is now under his fingers. His philosophy is to keep the core message simple: Just say in one sentence what youre trying to do. He views theory as a tool to add crunchy or gospely textures (his Berklee chords) to a simple foundation, rather than using it to prove how much he knows. He cautioned against making music a competition of knowledge.

The Emotional Toll of the IndustryHow do you handle the emotional highs and lows of a career that started while you were still a student?

Puth stressed the importance of vulnerability and emotional honesty. He told the students, Its okay to cry, and explained that being an artist requires a level of emotional openness that can be exhausting. His manifestation and patience are his ways of navigating the industrys volatility without losing his sense of self.

The full episode of Switched On Pop drops April 7.

Tara Bellucci is Berklees director of content strategy. She has been a writer, editor, and digital media consultant for over a decade.

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