Baby in EastEnders named after Charli XCX
The popstar – and former Crack Magazine cover star – is referenced in an episode of the soap opera which airs on TV tonight but is already available to stream already
CHARLI XCX
Charli XCX — born Charlotte Aitchison, in Cambridge, UK — is an artist built on contradictions. She is simultaneously a critically-acclaimed indie darling but mainstream enough to claim multiple Top 40 chart entries in the UK, and separate No.1s on both the UK Official Charts and the Billboard 100. She’s been signed to majors, but often operates like a DIY bedroom artist, chucking out singles and mixtapes as she pleases. At home in the underground, but enough of a household name to front documentaries and podcasts for the BBC, she makes pop music, but maybe prefers not to. There’s a disruptive, rebellious streak to her artistry that has defined the over ten years since she wrote the hit-making hook for Swedish duo Icona Pop, and perennial anthem I Don’t Care. (She’s also behind the hook and bridge for Iggy Azalea’s Fancy.)
Since releasing her 2016 EP Vroom Vroom, Charli has secured a reputation as one of the most voraciously collaborative and experimentally-minded pop auteurs working. Her full-length releases are studded with guests like Carly Rae Jepsen, Mykki Blanco, CupcakKe, Troye Sivan, Rina Sawayama and Yaeji — voices from the centre as well as the margins. Charli easily conducts energy between these two spheres. Across her albums and mixtapes, Charli has cultivated a gripping sound that’s instantly identifiable as hers alone. Ever since she started working with avant-pop producers like PC Music founder A.G. Cook and the late visionary SOPHIE, her recorded voice has gone through especially chaotic mutations — mangled, melted and crystallised by pitch-shifting and Auto-Tune.
In 2022 she released her fifth studio album, Crash. Self-described as her “sellout” album, Charli promised “ultimate pop music” inspired by the 80s as a chaser to the futuristic hyperpop of her Mercury Prize-nominated lockdown album how I’m feeling now. In the time since, she’s stepped into movie mode, contributing to the soundtracks of films Bodies Bodies Bodies and Barbie — with Speed Drive, her contribution to the latter, entering the UK Singles Chart at No.9.
Charli XCX responds to her face featuring in the live visuals for Aphex Twin’s set at Field Day
Aphex Twin headlined the London day festival on Saturday (19 August), playing a set that included live visuals featuring Charli XCX, the late SOPHIE, Stormzy and more
Barbie soundtrack to feature Charli XCX, PinkPantheress, Tame Impala and Ryan Gosling
Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj, HAIM and more also feature on the soundtrack, which lands on the same day, 21 July, as the live-action film
Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff are working on original songs for A24’s new pop film Mother Mary
The upcoming film will stay Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel
Charli XCX talks Crash, Kylie Minogue and more in new interview
The former Crack Magazine cover star also discussed new music, returning to old inspirations and future plans in her interview with the Sydney Morning Herald
A24 releases new Charli XCX track, Hot Girl
The track is the official theme song for new A24 film Bodies Bodies Bodies
Charli XCX to play Bristol show at Forwards Festival
The new festival will take place on Clifton Downs in Bristol from 3-4 September
Charli XCX’s Chicken Shop Date episode drops tomorrow
A new episode of Chicken Shop Date is coming out tomorrow featuring Charli XCX
Charli XCX: Crash review
Charlotte Aitchison sees out her major label contract with a self-proclaimed “sellout” album of ultimate pop music. Brace yourself…
Charli XCX on SOPHIE: “She changed my life and she changed all of our lives”
Charli XCX spoke about SOPHIE’s impact on her life and music in a new interview with Zane Lowe
Charli XCX dedicates new album, Crash, to SOPHIE
Crash is out this week
Charli XCX has released the new ballad ‘Every Rule’
The track is taken from the upcoming album Crash
Charli XCX responds to stan criticism: “This is undeniably my most coherent era”
Following the release of her new single Baby, Charli XCX took to Twitter to respond to criticism from stans
Charli XCX is releasing a new song tomorrow
The artist’s fifth album, ‘Crash’, lands on 18 March
Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama confirm release date for collaboration, Beg For You
It’s coming soon
The Cover Story: Charli XCX
Charli XCX talks death, rebirth and what could be her final album in our Collections Vol. 3 cover story
Charli XCX: The endgame
The clock’s running down on Charli XCX’s major label contract. For her final move, the pop auteur is making a play for superstardom
Charli XCX announces fifth album Crash
The album’s out on 18 March
Charli XCX to release song with Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek tomorrow
“This one is pretty good”
Charli XCX joined by Dev Hynes on Best Song Ever podcast
The former Crack Magazine cover stars talk Test Icicles, crying in music videos and funerals in the new episode
Charli XCX says new album will “make people dance and cry at the same time”
The ‘Good Ones’ artist is teasing her eagerly-anticipated fifth album
Charli XCX is launching a new podcast
She’ll be joined by special guests such as Caroline Polachek, Mark Ronson and TikTok star Addison Rae
Charli XCX to release new single Good Ones next month
“Get ready to surrender”
Charli XCX releases new artwork created from Vroom Vroom sound waves
A collaboration between the ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ artist and Soundwaves Art Foundation
Charli XCX teases possible collaboration with Rina Sawayama
The ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ singer hinted to a potential collaboration on Twitter
Charli XCX tapped for remix of Bladee and Mechatok’s Drama
The original track first appeared on Bladee and Mechatok’s collaborative project Good Luck. Charli XCX…
Charli XCX announces new “supergroup” with The 1975 and No Rome
The three already have a song together
Charli XCX’s quarantine documentary, Alone Together, to premiere at SXSW
The documentary charts the recording process behind Charli’s how i’m feeling now LP
Charli XCX pays tribute to SOPHIE
“I love you and I will never forget you”
SOPHIE, Charli XCX, Hannah Diamond to play A.G. Cook listening party
A.G Cook is giving fans a chance to hear 7G a day early. SOPHIE, Charli…
Charli XCX to perform how i’m feeling now live next week
Join Charli XCX and friends on the livestream next Thursday. Charli XCX has announced a…
Kano, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and Stormzy nominated for Mercury Prize Award
The shortlist for Albums of the Year has been revealed
Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now
On how i’m feeling now, Charli XCX refelcts on love, longing and loneliness under lockdown
Charli XCX announces new album How I’m Feeling Now
Charli XCX is using her lockdown to create a new record. Charli XCX has announced…
Rebecca Black wants to collaborate with Charli XCX and SOPHIE
Black told Dazed about her dream collaborations on Instagram live last week. Rebecca Black has…
Charli XCX announces Instagram broadcasts with Christine and the Queens, Clairo and more
Charli and friends come through to help ease your self-isolation boredom. Charli XCX has announced…
100 gecs share ringtone remix featuring Charli XCX, Rico Nasty and Kero Kero Bonito
Listen to the all-star remix of the 1000 gecs highlight now. 100 gecs have shared…
FKA twigs, Charli XCX and Blood Orange join Melt Festival 2020 line-up
The German event confirms more acts for its programme
Charli XCX and the Angels: Mission Complete
We caught up with Charli XCX and the Angels on their 2019 tour. Featuring interviews with Chris of Christine and the Queens, Brooke Candy and more
Sexorcists – Mixed by Brooke Candy
Brooke Candy’s latest album, Sexorcism, is reclaiming female sexuality in the most candid, certain terms with neon ultra-pop beats and an all-star cast of collaborators framing her singular vision. Here she picks her favourites by those peers
Charli XCX shares new video for White Mercedes
Charli burns cars, rides atop a 4×4 and pets a horse in the dramatic new video for ‘White Mercedes’
Charli XCX – Charli
While fans have prophesied Charli XCX’s ascendance to pop royalty for some time, she has never sounded so sure of assuming this role
Pop Zone #1: Planet 1999
Every month artists from the hyperactive corners of pop bring you an hour of captivating goodness. We kick things off with PC music’s latest signing
A. G. Cook releases new track Lifeline
A.G. Cook has shared new single ‘Lifeline’, featuring vocals from Caroline Polacheck
Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens share new video for Gone
Two modern pop icons come together in the video for ‘Gone’, the latest single from Charli XCX’s upcoming new album
Charli XCX announces new album featuring Yaeji, Tommy Cash and Christine and the Queens
Her next LP, Charli, is out later this year
Charli XCX to play show at London’s Heaven this Saturday
The star joins Tatianna at the iconic venue
Charli XCX teams up with Troye Sivan for new single 1999
Featuring lime green Matrix-themed artwork
Charli XCX: Pull Up to the Party
Charlotte Aitchison is taking pop on a thrilling joyride. Chal Ravens joins her as she powers into the future
The BBC World Service will broadcast a documentary about Charli XCX
A BBC radio documentary about Charli XCX will air on 11 September. Presenter Kate Mossman…
Charli XCX – Pop 2
Nathan Ma reviews the pop singer’s latest guest-heavy mixtape and finds a star who’s more firmly in control of her sound
Charli XCX announces mixtape POP 2, drops new track Out Of My Head
Over the weekend, the pop artist hinted at a new release featuring Mykki Blanco, Carly Rae Jepsen and SOPHIE
Charli XCX hints at mixtape with Mykki Blanco and Carly Rae Jepsen
A follow-up to ‘Number 1 Angel’ may be coming soon
Charli XCX – Number 1 Angel
Recruiting a PC Music all-star production team, this Twitter-released mixtape is saccharine-sweet and playful – just don’t look for anything too deep
Charli XCX drops Number 1 Angel mixtape
Featuring Uffie, MØ and former Crack cover star Abra
Blondie’s new album will feature tracks by Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, Dave Sitek
Listen to ‘Fun’, the first single to be taken from Blondie’s forthcoming LP ‘Pollinator’ now
Lil Yachty admirers discuss his unique style
Charli XCX, DJ Semtex, Liam Hodges and Ethereal discuss the Atlanta rapper’s opinion-splitting musical style
Lil Yachty and Charli XCX share new song After The Afterparty
Charli XCX has recruited Atlantat’s Lil Yachty for her new ode to early morning debauchery,…
6 New Videos
You Need To See
Horny bees, glitter to the face and cold-blooded murder all appear in this week’s roundup
Stream Charli XCX’s documentary on feminism
Charli XCX recorded The F-Word and Me to explore what feminism means in 2015 A…
Turning Points: Ty Dolla $ign
The LA singer/rapper breaks down his West Coast DNA
Ty Dolla $ign, Charli XCX and Tinashe share Drop That Kitty video
Following a performance of the club-friendly banger at the MTV Movie Awards, the video for…
Glastonbury announce 75 acts for 2015
Following the confirmations that Foo Fighters and Kanye West would perform headline slots, Glastonbury have…