Charlie Bramald

"I don't think I'm a very good flutist, but when you're on stage with a flute, everyone immediately thinks it's prog!"

Charlie Bramald is an emerging name in the English prog scene. Having served as the frontman for Yorkshire's prog rock tribute band Harmony of Spheres and flutist for ambient prog outfit Nova Cascade, his resume doesn't stop there. He’s contributed vocals to the latest album by Nine Skies as well as Drifting Sun, and performed live with ZIO. He is best known as the charismatic frontman for the acclaimed band Ghost of the Machine. Sadly, because of health problems he had to stop singing for the moment. This interview was written just before the release of the last Ghost of the Machine album. 

So, who is this rising star in the prog world?

Charlie: "Yes, I'm a singer, but I also play the flute. To be completely honest, I don't think I'm a very good flutist! I know a few songs, and when you're on stage with a flute, everyone immediately thinks it's prog. In a former cover band, I used to play Genesis' Firth of Fifth, along with some Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues."

At 34 years old, Charlie originates from Wakefield in the North of England and now lives in Sheffield with his Dutch partner, Celine. By day, he works as a pension analyst. His musical journey began in his twenties; prior to that, his heart belonged to the theater. A cover band served as his entry point into live music—a chapter that lasted until the pandemic hit.

Then came the invitation to join Ghost of the Machine.

Charlie: "I was a huge fan of This Winter Machine, and as many know, the guys in Ghost of the Machine are former members of Al Winter's band. Naturally, I couldn't say no to musicians I admired so much. I was an absolute fan of their style, and suddenly I was working alongside them.

I don't write the music, but I do write the lyrics. My older brother introduced me to progressive rock at a young age—especially Genesis—and I loved it. Being able to do this myself now is a dream come true, even if it takes up a lot of my time!"

How did you make the jump to becoming a lead vocalist?

Charlie: "I had been playing flute with Nova Cascade for a while when Dave Hillborn, whose project it is, encouraged me to do more with my voice. Al Winter gave me the same advice! So, I just went for it."

That leap of faith paid off handsomely. Their debut album, Scissorgames, received critical acclaim and continues to generate enthusiastic responses from fans.

What’s next for Ghost of the Machine?

Charlie: "We’ve just recorded our new album! It’s currently being mixed. The title is Empires Must Fall.

You can expect big synths, memorable hooks, and beautiful melodies again, but it’s definitely more intense, exciting, darker, and—thanks to some changing time signatures—more prog. We don't necessarily set out to be 'prog,' but that’s just how it turns out. Mark Hagan, our keyboard player who composes most of the music, brought some fresh sounds to the table, and I’m really excited about it. It’s still quintessential Ghost of the Machine, but next level." The band reunited with producer Bob Cooper, who also helmed their first record.

Charlie: "We were so happy with Bob's way of working on the first record. In many ways, you could call this new album a sequel to Scissorgames. While writing the lyrics, I realized that the story of the lady on the cover—a 'story of hope'—needed to go further.

As a band, we are genuinely thrilled with what we’ve recorded. While the exact release date isn't set, we’ll be finished by the end of August once the mix and artwork are finalized."

Are there any tour plans on the horizon?

Charlie: "We’d love to come to the Netherlands! So far, we’ve only played in England, where we've had considerable success. Because we all work day jobs, scheduling can be tricky, but we want to perform live as much as possible. And, of course, we love putting on a good, theatrical show!"

This is where Charlie’s theatrical background shines. Far from a static frontman, he is a captivating live performer who cites Peter Gabriel as his ultimate role model.

You also recently appeared on the Age of Distraction album. How did that come together?

Charlie: "That was special! I spoke to John Cook shortly after he joined This Winter Machine. I always try to stay on good terms with everyone in our tight-knit prog scene—we constantly bump into each other at festivals and gigs. John and I clicked right away, and he started sending me demos. They were great, but my initial thought was, 'Damn, I’m way too busy.'

But he couldn't resist, and he wrote a vocal line for one of the tracks. From there, it snowballed. John decided to turn it into a full band project, bringing in bassist Mark Gatland (Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate) and the brilliant multi-instrumentalist/drummer Dom Bennison (This Winter Machine).

It’s funny—a lot of people made comparisons to Arena, even though our actual influence was Pain of Salvation!"

Charlie Bramald is warm, engaging, a fine flutist, and an even better theatrical singer. One thing is certain: we will be hearing a lot more from him in the years to come.