A FORMER Colchester pupil has dropped his first official single after getting to the finals of the Australian version of The Voice.

Charlie Pittman, 25, attended Colchester Royal Grammar school and then Evolution Foundation College in Colchester from the ages of 11-18.

Charlie’s dad Paul Pittman, who always encouraged him to pursue his music dreams, passed away in February, 2023 which inspired Charlie to enter the Australian version of The Voice.

Gazette: Songwriter - Charlie PittmanSongwriter - Charlie Pittman (Image: Zac Bayly)

Charlie got all the way to the grand finale in October, 2023 of the popular Sydney-based show and the exposure also helped Charlie go from 3 to 36 thousand followers -with the British singer even being recognised on the street.

Charlie’s first single with his record label Island Records is called ‘I don’t want to be here’ and originally was about covid and moving back in with family.

Charlie said the theme of wanting independence was still relevant with the cost-of-living crisis and the single represents a more indie-pop and band-driven genre for him.