Renowned NYC songwriter-producer Charlie Nieland presents ‘Stories From The Borderlines’, a dazzling and deeply personal album that explores themes of connection and severance. These cinematic soundscapes are shaped by a reverence for pioneering ’80s and ’90s synth and guitar-driven music. More than music, these meticulously crafted songs—a geography of intention—are an act of imaginative resistance, passionately mining for light and truth in a darkening world.
Nieland’s backstory is extensive, having written, performed and produced music for decades. He has written for and produced such artists as Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie and Scissor Sisters, as well as scoring the feature film ‘The Safety of Objects’ (with Glenn Close), Showtime’s pilot episode of ‘The L Word’ and the VH-1documentary ‘NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell’.
“This set of songs is a kaleidoscope of styles. They are luminous secret rooms that reflect one human’s heart in a world at the precipice. Staying creative is resistance. As authoritarians attack culture, they make the mistake that imagination can be controlled when it actually emerges from the bottom up. Culture is not imaginary. It’s is rooted in imagination but it’s more real than what can be measured,” says Charlie Nieland.
“These songs tell stories of growing up, of how we got severed, and how we connect. I burrowed into each idea over several years that were filled with love, uncertainty and family drama. The time allowed me to create and explore sound worlds with a cinematic eye; finding contrasts in texture and time. To create an experience that shifts with each listen. These songs are a geography of intention and intuition, mining for light in a dark world. Let’s find the switch.”
Nieland also presents ‘Shame’ with a firecracker video, directed and edited by multi-faceted NYC-based artist Hypnodoll, and filmed by Alice Teeple. Fueled by the obsessive lust and repulsion that has been weaponized against the queer community, this song explores how fascination runs like blood from all sides, our own self-loathing driving us into the unknown.
‘Stories From The Borderlines’ is inspired by my deep love of David Bowie, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Cocteau Twins, Thomas Dolby, Love & Rockets and The Cure. I played and sang most everything here; guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion. Besides spiritchild’s contribution, drummer Billy Loose and guitarist Dan McAssey, my musical friends of 20 years, were both pivotal in shaping these songs. It’s a joy to be collaborating with them,” says Charlie Nieland.
“Keyboardist Joe McGinty (of The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf and many more) also contributes. I’ve gotten to know him singing in his popular NYC tribute series, The Loser’s Lounge and Joe brings the song ‘Today’ vividly to life with his stunning synth work.”
Previewed the epic lead track ‘Win’ featuring Staten Island activist / rapper spiritchild and by ‘The Ocean Understands’ EP, released earlier this year, ‘Stories From The Borderlines’ presents a visceral blend of post punk, glam, dream pop and progressive rock. With sweeping melodies and restless rhythms, these unique soundscapes promise an immersive journey, showcasing Nieland’s continued evolution as an artist and producer.
Nieland has established himself as an artist rich on nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration, releasing ‘Ice Age’ (2014), followed by ‘Hopeful Monsters’ (2016) and ‘Divisions’ album (2021). After 20 years with Her Vanished Grace, he is half of the literature-inspired duo Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, and both produces and co-hosts the podcast ‘An Embarrassment of Prog’.
Charlie Nieland was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie’s ‘Greatest Hits Sight & Sound’ and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry’s single ‘Two Times Blue’, which he co-wrote and produced.
As of October 24, ‘Stories From The Borderlines’ is available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 5, Nieland will hold his Record Release Show at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Jessie Kilguss, who is releasing her album ‘They Have A Howard Johnson’s There’.
CREDITS
All songs written by Charlie Nieland, except ‘Win’ (by Charlie Nieland & spiritchild)
Charlie Nieland – vocals, 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic and e-bow guitars, lap steel guitar, fretted and fretless electric basses, upright piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Korg MS20 analog synth, virtual Mellotrons and string machines, autoharp, glockenspiel, percussion
Billy Loose – drums
Dan McAssey – guitar on ‘Brutalist Monuments’ & ‘You Fell Down’
spiritchild – Vocals on ‘Win’
Joe McGinty – keyboards on ‘Today’
Recorded at home and at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, NY
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland
© 2025 Athame Music, xspiritmentaleyez Music (Win)
Album cover art by Hypnodoll™
Videos for ‘Redshift’ and ‘Drown’ by Hypnodoll™
Video for ‘Shame’ by Hypnodoll™ and Alice Teeple
Artist photos by Alice Teeple and Bob Krasner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
ALBUM TRACK LIST
01 . Cease To Turn
02 . Brutalist Monuments
03 . Win (feat. spiritchild)
04 . Drown
05 . Hypnotized
06 . Back To Life
07 . Redshift
08 . Sentinel
09 . Shame
10 . Today
11 . You Fell Down