ARA’s morning host Charles changes channels with folk project ‘Strange Traffic’

Charles aka Strange Traffic

If you tune into Luxembourg’s ARA City Radio weekday mornings, you are undoubtedly familiar with the voice of Charles Goodhew. As the station's Morning Show presenter, he is a staple of local airwaves. What he hasn't broadcast quite as loudly, however, is his secret life as a singer-songwriter.

Operating under the intriguing - if admittedly random - guise of Strange Traffic, Charles is stepping out of the radio studio and into the spotlight as a true one-man band. His debut album, Side by Side, is out now, revealing a deeply thoughtful, stripped-back musical project that has been quietly brewing for years.

1960s folk with a touch of soul

When asked to pin down his musical style, Charles points directly to the giants of acoustic storytelling. "I would say it’s folk music. I suppose it takes a lot from 1960s folk revival stuff like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, as well as earlier stuff like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger," he said.

This influence shines through in both his intricate acoustic fingerpicking and his socially conscious lyricism. However, listeners can also expect a few pleasant surprises; subtle harmonies inspired by soul and jazz occasionally creep into the mix. As Charles puts it himself, he is comfortable with whatever style or label listeners choose, singer-songwriter, folk, or something in between.

Side by Side artwork by Bianca

 Raw, radical, and hopeful Side by Side is an incredibly raw release. The album features no big production or backing bands. It is 100% Charles: one guitar, one voice, recorded entirely "live" with the singing and playing captured simultaneously.

The tracks are completely original, save for a cheeky, 12-second reworked Beatles nod, and an appearance by the late anthropologist David Graeber, whose voice is sampled on the track "Circle A."

The title points toward "breaking down hierarchical power structures and building community with others" explaind Charles, instead building communities based on horizontal relationships, so it's about people standing “side by side” rather than above or below one another. That idea quietly threads its way through the album’s emotional and lyrical landscape.

While the lyrical themes blend intimate vulnerability with libertarian socialist politics, the ultimate takeaway of the album is decidedly optimistic. "Overall I was conscious of trying to create something that remained hopeful," Charles noted.

From archives to studio

Though Strange Traffic officially launched as a project in the spring of 2025, some of the songwriting dates back years. When Charles finally booked time at Punkat Studio in Steinsel with producer Tansel Günay, the floodgates opened. The process took about a year, and the momentum of recording actually inspired an entirely new wave of songs that made the final cut.

For those wondering if they will hear Side by Side on Charles' own morning show, don't hold your breath just yet. He keeps a firm line between his professional radio life and his personal musical output.

He did, however, recently drop by Radio ARA’s Time Trapped with Alex Kuzmina for a chat and a sneak preview ahead of the launch, "which was great!" he exclaimed. "We played a few of my songs ahead of the album launch and talked about the songwriting process". For now, Side by Side stands apart from his radio persona, a private creative space that is only now becoming public now that scene.lu is helping to reveal it!

 What’s next and where to listen

Side by Side is currently available on most major streaming platforms. True to the album’s community-first ethos, Charles is planning a CD release in the near future and has offered a refreshing alternative for listeners: "If you prefer not to support streaming sites or prefer not to pay then let me know and I will send you the files directly".

As for the future? A release party and live concert are currently in the works while he scouts out the perfect local venue. Beyond that, there are plan

s afoot for Strange Traffic as Charles concluded. "I have lots of other songs written so more recording dates will be happening soon as well!"

Get in touch: You can find and contact @strange_traffic on Instagram .