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.

 

Parklife reveals full line-up for 2025

Charli xcx will headline the 15th anniversary edition of the festival. Parklife Festival will return…

Flow Festival announces first names for 2025

Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C. and Beth Gibbons will play the Finnish festival next August.

Charli xcx joins LIDO Festival line-up

Charli xcx will bring party girl to Victoria Park next summer on Saturday 14 June.

The mountain of underwear from Charli xcx and Billie Eilish’s ‘Guess’ remix will be donated to domestic violence survivors

A note in its final credits announced that unworn pieces will go to global charity I Support The Girls.

Beth Gibbons and Charli xcx are up for this year’s Mercury Prize

Though there will be no ceremony this year, the winner will be announced in September.

Glastonbury Festival 2024 through five key performances

From grime classics and 00s pop-punk nostalgia to a rock’n’roll coming-of-age show, a halcyon disco era celebration and Charli xcx’s locked-off Partygirl rave, look back on all the best sets from Glastonbury 2024.

In Photos: Glastonbury 2024

From a Banksy stunt at Idles to standout sets from Tems, Little Simz, PJ Harvey and a Charli xcx ‘Partygirl’ takeover, look back on the most memorable moments from the field this weekend.

A stan’s guide to: Charli XCX

Our favourite artists according to their biggest fans.

“A marmite, love it or loathe it shade”: we asked a colour analyst about Charli XCX’s Brat green

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”

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 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 Rina Sawayama

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