Charlie Puth drops ‘Whatever’s Clever!’ and calls it his most personal album yet

Charlie Puth has released his fourth studio album Whatever’s Clever!, unveiling what he describes as his most personal and revealing project to date.

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The album dropped on March 27 via Atlantic Records, arriving during a major moment for the singer, who recently became a father and performed at the Super Bowl.

Puth said the new record pushed him out of his comfort zone, both musically and emotionally.

“I had to take a closer look at myself to make this record and sing about things I normally wouldn’t sing about,” he said. “Audiences knew my music more than they knew me. This is the chance.”

The album was co-produced with BloodPop, who encouraged him to explore new sounds and themes, resulting in a more experimental and layered project.

Whatever’s Clever! features a wide range of collaborators, including Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, alongside Jeff Goldblum, whose spoken-word contribution adds a unique element to the album. Other features include Kenny G, Ravyn Lenae and Hikaru Utada.

In the lead-up to the release, Puth gave fans a preview of the album’s sound with a performance of Sideways on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside Coco Jones.

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The singer described the album as “incredibly honest” and influenced by jazz, signalling a shift from his earlier work.

Despite the album’s title, Puth said he does not view the songs as clever, but rather as real and reflective of his personal experiences.

The release also sets the stage for his upcoming Whatever’s Clever! world tour, which begins on April 22 in San Diego before moving to Europe later in the year.

With more than 35 billion career streams and multiple chart successes behind him, Puth’s latest release is expected to draw significant attention as fans react to a more unfiltered version of the artist.