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.
The popstar has said that the album artwork – which has caused contention online – is intended to be an “offensive, off-trend shade of green to trigger the idea of something being wrong”
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
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
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
The upcoming film will stay Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel
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
The track is the official theme song for new A24 film Bodies Bodies Bodies
The new festival will take place on Clifton Downs in Bristol from 3-4 September
A new episode of Chicken Shop Date is coming out tomorrow featuring Charli XCX
Charlotte Aitchison sees out her major label contract with a self-proclaimed “sellout” album of ultimate pop music. Brace yourself…
Charli XCX spoke about SOPHIE’s impact on her life and music in a new interview with Zane Lowe
Crash is out this week
The track is taken from the upcoming album Crash
Following the release of her new single Baby, Charli XCX took to Twitter to respond to criticism from stans
The artist’s fifth album, ‘Crash’, lands on 18 March
It’s coming soon
Charli XCX talks death, rebirth and what could be her final album in our Collections Vol. 3 cover story
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
The album’s out on 18 March
“This one is pretty good”
The former Crack Magazine cover stars talk Test Icicles, crying in music videos and funerals in the new episode
The ‘Good Ones’ artist is teasing her eagerly-anticipated fifth album
She’ll be joined by special guests such as Caroline Polachek, Mark Ronson and TikTok star Addison Rae
“Get ready to surrender”
A collaboration between the ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ artist and Soundwaves Art Foundation
The ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ singer hinted to a potential collaboration on Twitter
The original track first appeared on Bladee and Mechatok’s collaborative project Good Luck. Charli XCX…
The three already have a song together
The documentary charts the recording process behind Charli’s how i’m feeling now LP
“I love you and I will never forget you”
A.G Cook is giving fans a chance to hear 7G a day early. SOPHIE, Charli…
Join Charli XCX and friends on the livestream next Thursday. Charli XCX has announced a…
The shortlist for Albums of the Year has been revealed
On how i’m feeling now, Charli XCX refelcts on love, longing and loneliness under lockdown
Charli XCX is using her lockdown to create a new record. Charli XCX has announced…
Black told Dazed about her dream collaborations on Instagram live last week. Rebecca Black has…
Charli and friends come through to help ease your self-isolation boredom. Charli XCX has announced…
Listen to the all-star remix of the 1000 gecs highlight now. 100 gecs have shared…
The German event confirms more acts for its programme
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
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 burns cars, rides atop a 4×4 and pets a horse in the dramatic new video for ‘White Mercedes’
While fans have prophesied Charli XCX’s ascendance to pop royalty for some time, she has never sounded so sure of assuming this role
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 has shared new single ‘Lifeline’, featuring vocals from Caroline Polacheck
Two modern pop icons come together in the video for ‘Gone’, the latest single from Charli XCX’s upcoming new album
Her next LP, Charli, is out later this year
The star joins Tatianna at the iconic venue
Featuring lime green Matrix-themed artwork
Charlotte Aitchison is taking pop on a thrilling joyride. Chal Ravens joins her as she powers into the future
A BBC radio documentary about Charli XCX will air on 11 September. Presenter Kate Mossman…
Nathan Ma reviews the pop singer’s latest guest-heavy mixtape and finds a star who’s more firmly in control of her sound
Over the weekend, the pop artist hinted at a new release featuring Mykki Blanco, Carly Rae Jepsen and SOPHIE
A follow-up to ‘Number 1 Angel’ may be coming soon
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
Featuring Uffie, MØ and former Crack cover star Abra
Listen to ‘Fun’, the first single to be taken from Blondie’s forthcoming LP ‘Pollinator’ now
Charli XCX, DJ Semtex, Liam Hodges and Ethereal discuss the Atlanta rapper’s opinion-splitting musical style
Charli XCX has recruited Atlantat’s Lil Yachty for her new ode to early morning debauchery,…
Horny bees, glitter to the face and cold-blooded murder all appear in this week’s roundup
Charli XCX recorded The F-Word and Me to explore what feminism means in 2015 A…
The LA singer/rapper breaks down his West Coast DNA
Following a performance of the club-friendly banger at the MTV Movie Awards, the video for…
Following the confirmations that Foo Fighters and Kanye West would perform headline slots, Glastonbury have…
