Charli xcx currently stands out as one of the most captivating artists, especially for Gen Z people. The production and performances of pop music were more absent than present during the last several years due to the lack of music production resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic. After the release of her sixth studio album brat, however, fans began to recognize the pop star phenomenon's return. Since the album's release in June 2024, fans have praised Charli for her innovative sound, distinct style, and vibrant stage presence. Not only do these aspects of her artistry garner charts, they also resonate on a personal level with young people.
Although Charli xcx has received global recognition for her album brat this past year, she released five other albums prior beginning in 2013. Charli xcx, born Charlotte Aitchison in 1992, kicked off her career as a teenager when she started posting covers on MySpace and was later signed to Asylum Records in 2010. She then released a series of singles and mixtapes during 2011 and 2012, which led to her first album True Romance. Although the album received positive reviews, it unfortunately failed to meet commercial expectations. In 2013, however, Charli was able to gain prominence through collaborations with hitmakers like Icona Pop and Iggy Azalea. The single "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea amassed one billion views on its music video, with "I Love It" by Icona Pop receiving 200 million views. "Fancy" emphasized confidence, fashion, and trendsetting, which gen z people found inspiring.
In her sophomore album sucker, Charli was able to rank high on the charts on her own, which was a critical moment since her previous rankings were only with collaborators. Two songs on the album that received the most praise were "Boom Clap" and "Break the Rules." Between 2013 and 2020, "Boom Clap" alone amassed over 100 million views on YouTube, showcasing her significant impact.
Following sucker, Charli xcx had several hits on her albums from 2017 to 2022, but it wasn't until brat that she had an entire critically acclaimed album. brat has been nominated for multiple Grammy awards in 2025, including Album of the Year and Best Dance or Electronic Album. The album has represented Charli as a cultural trendsetter visually, lyrically, and musically. With a vibrant, lime green album cover, it emphasizes "party animal antics, cool-girl style, and everything in between." Her lyricism shares her raw, honest introspection about the nuances of being a woman in the music industry, reflection on her personal relationships, and self expression through unfiltered confidence and the party girl lifestyle. Musically, the album is quite versatile "from pulsing club beats to twinkling synth arrangements," according to music publication Off the Record.
It is Charli's commitment to authenticity in her music that captures the hearts of fans. Her blend of personal storytelling and adventurous sound has attracted a strong following, causing her raw honesty sets her apart. This includes her mental health struggles and her quest for creative freedom. The candidness of her work inspired gen z individuals to start the brat summer movement that extends into pop culture and politics. Brat summer emphasizes enjoying life and accepting imperfections throughout the chaos in our daily lives; themes that fans especially resonated with as the 2024 presidential election was approaching. With a vast amount of Charli's fans being in the LGBTQ+ community or identifying with feminism, they advocate for their rights by using brat summer to express their actions of voting and campaigning for Kamala Harris.
The brat summer movement extended into collaborations on its album, such as the song "Girl, so confusing" featuring Lorde. The song explores her and Lorde's conflicting relationship over the years and comparisons that both of them face in the music industry. At the beginning of the song, Charli expresses that the two did not have much in common despite people always telling them they were alike. When they spent time together, she wrote: "we talk about making music, but I don't know if it's honest. Can't tell if you wanna see me falling over and failing." On Lorde's verse, she expresses the mental health struggles she was experiencing and that she found it difficult to communicate that at the time with Charli since she didn't want to burden her. When they did talk to each other about the misunderstanding, though, they gained trust and clarity in their friendship.
Lorde's famous lyric on the song "let's work it out on the remix" singlehandedly changed the discord surrounding cancel culture in the media, as it proved that artists and their relationships with others can change and improve. Over the past several years, gen z people have been quick to "cancel" celebrities or artists without considering if they changed or if this was deserved in any way. I am by no means saying that artists shouldn't be held accountable, but many young people turned against artists who made mistakes years ago who since apologized for them and never engaged in those actions again. Ever since "Girl, so confusing" was released, though, young people have been sharing their thoughts on social media on which artists they'd like to see reconcile who have dealt with interpersonal conflict. Many young women also shared their inspiration after listening to the song and how they would like to recover past friendships. For instance, people have been wishing for artists Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter to reconcile, who both dated musician Joshua Bassett and faced grueling comparisons online.
TikTok edit by @swiftsvngs of Sabrina Carpenter
and Olivia Rodrigo with the song "Girl, so Confusing"
and the user's wish for them to both "work
it out on the remix."
In addition to Charli's powerful influence on the party girl aesthetic, her Boiler Room performances foster the presence and significance of live music and a community in club culture. Boiler Room shows feature a wide variety of artists who DJ close to the audience in a lively, intimate setting.
Charli xcx performing "365" from her album brat at her Boiler Room set.
Looking ahead, Charli xcx's influence might expand beyond music. For example, her bold fashion choices resonate with many young people. By flaunting unconventional looks, she inspires her audience to break fashion norms. For instance, her "360" music video features bold runway looks while expressing self confidence.
Charli's ventures into fashion and candid discussions about mental well-being create a multi-dimensional figure for her audience. Charli embodies this versatility, encouraging young audiences to pursue their passions fearlessly. Gen Z is known for its dedication to self-expression, and Charli's willingness to embrace diverse styles fuels their imagination. Charli xcx mirrors a cultural shift where spontaneity and innovation are crucial. Through her music, she encourages young fans to take creative risks. As traditional norms crumble, her progressive approach to artistry resonates profoundly with a generation that values diversity and individual expression.
Charli xcx’s influence on young people is extensive and multi-faceted. Through her authenticity, innovative music, and community-building efforts, she has established herself as a pop star and positioned herself as an inspiration for young people. As Charli continues to push boundaries, her impact will evolve along with Gen Z as their identities and behaviors change. Challenging conventions and promoting self-acceptance, she paves the way for future artists and encourages youth to celebrate their uniqueness
Citations
BOILER ROOM: Watch - Listen - Dance.” BOILER ROOM, boilerroom.tv. Caldwell, Sophie. “What to Know about “Brat Summer,” the Trend Taking over Pop Culture and Politics.” TODAY.com, 24 July 2024, www.today.com/popculture/music/what-is-brat-summer-charli-xcx-rcna163061. Charli XCX. “ Charli XCX - Boom Clap Official Music Video.” YouTube, 2 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPMlIIg_38. Charli XCX.” Wikipedia, 31 May 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charli_XCX. Dudenhoefer, Nicole. “Is Cancel Culture Effective?” Pegasus Magazine, University of Central Florida, 2020, www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-cancel-culture-effective/.
Goldstone, Violet. “Charli XCX and Lorde Go Sheer in Yves Saint Laurent Looks.” WWD, 25 Sept. 2024, wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/charli-xcx-lorde-in-sheer-yves-saint-laurent-fall-2024-looks-1236645543/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
swiftsvngs. “TikTok @Swiftsvngs.” Tiktok.com, 2024, www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYxfyAgD/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Wettergren, Maggie. “The Reign of “Brat” Summer.” The Simmons Voice, 2024, simmonsvoice.com/13990/showcase/the-reign-of-brat-summer/. xcx, Charli. “Charli XCX - 360 (Official Video).” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJW-VvmRKsE.
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