Charlotte Church, the Welsh singer-songwriter who gained international recognition as a classical prodigy at age 12 and later transitioned into pop music, spoke about her evolving career and environmental concerns during a recent appearance at the Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons.

Now running a wellness retreat in the Welsh hills called the Dreaming, Church also leads Charlotte Church’s Pop Dungeon, a live cover band known for its eclectic and genre-crossing performances. At Green Man, the band incorporated elements ranging from opera and rap to mashups of songs from musicals and contemporary rock, creating a set list designed for energy and audience engagement. Church described the process as collaborative, taking input from band members to curate a joyful and dynamic show.

Church emphasized that while she has long been politically aware, her current focus has shifted toward spiritual and ecological themes rather than direct political activism. She spoke about the need to honor and nurture the Earth, describing it as a reciprocal relationship that requires “good vibrations,” song, and offerings to support the planet’s well-being.

During her set, Church criticized prominent technology entrepreneurs, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel, for their roles in shaping technology in ways she views as detrimental to human cognition and the environment. She highlighted concerns about how digital technologies impact brain chemistry and attention spans, as well as the environmental costs of data centers, such as water usage and mining activities. Church warned that despite their wealth, these billionaires remain dependent on the “web of life” and will face consequences if they fail to recognize this interdependence.

Church also shared insights drawn from Indigenous wisdom traditions she respects, referencing the Kogi, Dagara, and Shipibo peoples. She described a shared Indigenous perspective forewarning profound and imminent changes to civilization driven by climate-related crises—including wildfires, extreme weather, and resource scarcity—which she expects to unfold within the next few years.

In response to these challenges, she encouraged fostering close connections with the land by growing food and acting with reverence toward nature, applying one’s skills and spirit to heal both the environment and local communities.

Describing herself as an animist, Church expressed a deep spiritual bond with the natural world, pointing to the vitality and sentience of trees and rivers in her surroundings. Reflecting on her own journey from child star to environmental advocate, she acknowledged the difficulties of early fame and the alienation she experienced within the classical and pop music worlds. Yet she credited her resilience to a profound self-love and a commitment to staying rooted in her hometown of Cardiff, resisting pressures to relocate to major music industry centers.

Looking ahead, Church revealed that she recently completed the final mixing of a new album, her first in 16 years, which she anticipates releasing in 2027. She described the forthcoming record as genre-defying, ambitious, and courageous.

Charlotte Church’s End Time Pop Dungeon is scheduled to tour the UK in September. Tickets for the Green Man festival in 2027 will be available starting September 26.