Charley Stride Reflects on Time Lost to Our Phones in “WASTED”

Southampton singer-songwriter Charley Stride turns her attention to modern screen habits with “WASTED”, a reflective new single about the time people lose while looking at their phones.

Blending R&B, pop and soul, the track explores an experience that has quietly become part of everyday life. A quick check of a notification can easily become much longer, with hours disappearing into scrolling while the real world continues around us.

“WASTED” encourages listeners to think about how much of their time is spent behind a screen. It considers the conversations, connections and moments that can be missed when attention is constantly pulled towards a phone. Rather than treating the subject like a lecture, Stride approaches it through an emotional and personal lens.

The song also raises a simple but uncomfortable question: how much life is being wasted online? Phones help people stay connected, but they can also create distance from those in the same room. “WASTED” captures that contradiction, reflecting on the difference between being digitally present and genuinely involved in the moment.

Stride brings more than a decade of recording and live experience to the release. Her music moves between soulful ballads and accessible pop, with storytelling and emotional connection remaining at its centre.

Throughout her career, she has shared stages with Sir Tom Jones, Soul II Soul, Anastacia, Simply Red and Roachford. She has also worked as a backing vocalist for Sam Ryder and Eurovision contestants, demonstrating the strength and versatility of her voice.

Those experiences have helped shape an artist who understands how to communicate a message clearly. On “WASTED”, Stride takes a familiar part of modern life and asks listeners to reconsider their relationship with it.

It is a timely reminder to look up, put the phone down and make room for the people and experiences that cannot be replaced once the moment has passed.

“WASTED” by Charley Stride is out now.