Carlie Hanson Transforms On New EP ‘too late to cry’
Carlie Hanson Transforms On New EP
‘too late to cry’
[January 31, 2025 | Onalaska, WI] Today, alternative pop singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Carlie Hanson drops ‘too late to cry’, her debut EP with Fearless Records. The 7-track release is accompanied by the official music video for her standout single “covering faces,” a vibey song that has struck a chord with fans for its unfiltered emotional depth and cathartic power.
A bold reflection of personal growth and newfound creative independence, ‘too late to cry’ is a powerful testament to Hanson’s evolution as an artist. Written and produced by Carlie herself, the EP explores themes of loss, self-empowerment, and resilience. The journey that led to the project was anything but smooth. After parting ways with her first record label, Carlie found herself at a crossroads. She embraced the challenge, channeling her experiences into creating a body of work that’s deeply reflective and sonically vibrant. Signing with Fearless Records provided Carlie with the perfect platform to continue her journey, giving her the creative freedom to fully realize her vision and take complete control over her music.
On signing Carlie Hanson, Fearless Records President Andy Serrao shared, “Carlie Hanson is an incredible artist, and we couldn’t be happier she’s chosen Fearless Records as her home. She brings a unique point of view that adds depth to our roster – we’re excited to begin this partnership with her.”
“The creation of my EP ‘too late to cry’ started back in 2023,” Carlie explains. “I was in that gray area of writing, being about 98% finished with my album ‘Wisconsin’ and starting to think about songs for whatever project was coming next. Shortly after the release of ‘Wisconsin’, I was dropped from my first record deal and became independent. It was a difficult thing to understand, because I thought I had just brought my best work to the table. But times were changing, and I accepted that.
“At first, I was frustrated and let down”, she adds. “But I soon came to find out that this was not an uncommon thing artists go through, and it could be a blessing in disguise. I was excited to have more creative control. It’s too late to cry really is the theme of this project. You can’t dwell on loss forever, you gotta keep moving forward, continue to grow, and move past the hurt.”
The EP reflects this mindset, turning moments of vulnerability into empowering anthems for anyone who’s faced personal struggles. From the ethereal introspection of “how many hours?” to the vivid storytelling of “sinking,” the ‘too late to cry’ beautifully blends Carlie’s personal reflections with her genre-blending sound, encompassing atmospheric synths, soulful guitar work, and electronic beats.
One of the EP’s defining tracks, “covering faces,” is a bold, cathartic release about shedding the weight of toxic relationships. Describing the inspiration behind the track, Carlie shares, “I wish I could say this song is as deep as everyone thinks it is. When I wrote it, I free-styled most of it, it all just subconsciously fell out of me. There are a lot of people who are no longer in my life that once were, and I thought they were sticking around forever. This song is kind of that ‘f*ck you, I never needed you anyway’ song of the EP.”
The music video for “covering faces” was shot in Japan and directed by Erik Rojas, capturing Carlie in solitude as she navigates different settings — sitting beneath a tree, riding the subway, and walking through bustling streets. The melancholy tone of the video shifts when she makes a connection with a stranger on a bench. This moment of unexpected camaraderie mirrors the song's middle finger vibe, adding a layer of hope and transformation to its otherwise raw and introspective energy.
The choice of Japan as the location was symbolic for Carlie, representing her feeling of being a “nomad” in her current phase of her life. After spending almost seven years in Los Angeles, Carlie returned to her hometown of Wisconsin, only to later find herself seeking something beyond any one place. Japan, a land she had never been to, became the perfect backdrop for her exploration of self-discovery. “It just felt fitting for the attitude of the song… to go across the world on this journey. To continue to find out and learn more about myself and the world around me. Move forward from the past,” explains Carlie.
With ‘too late to cry’, Carlie Hanson marks a new era in her career, taking full control of her creative process while delivering a deeply emotional, yet empowering message. As she says, “When you listen to this, I want you to feel hope, sadness, nostalgia, inspiration, or just anything at all. If my music can help you be motivated or sit with your feelings for a second, there would be nothing better. I’m not as depressed as I was as a 17-year-old girl. I’m taking charge. I’m growing up. I’m writing the music I want to write.”
ABOUT CARLIE HANSON:
Carlie Hanson’s music is the sound of tears drying, acceptance cementing, and confidence growing. The Wisconsin-born alternative pop singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer processes raw emotions with a combination of acute Gen-Z empathy, wisdom beyond her years, and a penchant for timeless songcraft. Proudly hailing from Onalaska, WI, Carlie quietly broke through at 17-years-old with “Only One” in 2017. She nabbed the ultimate co-sign when Taylor Swift added the tune to an Apple Music playlist of favorites. It eventually amassed over 77 million Spotify streams. The rising songstress only accelerated her momentum with “Us,” “Mood,” “Toxins,” “Numb,” and “Back In My Arms,” which gathered over 25 million Spotify streams. She emerged as the rare phenomenon equally comfortable on a bill with either Yungblud or Troye Sivan and Kim Petras. Meanwhile, she evolved across Tough Boy [2022] and Wisconsin [2023]. Alternative Press hailed Wisconsin as “an enthralling ode to growing up in the Midwest and her journey to Los Angeles.” After generating hundreds of millions of streams and garnering acclaim from PAPER, V Magazine, FAULT, OnesToWatch, Billboard, Consequence of Sound, and more, it’s easy to hear a musical and personal transformation take hold on her 2025 debut EP for Fearless Records, too late to cry. Parting ways with her previous label and reorganizing her team, Carlie carefully pieced together the EP in her Los Angeles apartment. By gaining strength to hold her head up and pushing forward through pain and challenges, she encourages listeners to do the same.
CARLIE HANSON ONLINE:
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Photo Credit: Stefan Kohli
