Charli XCX, real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison, is a rarity in the music industry. Unlike other Brit hopefuls (the beauty was born and lives in Hertfordshire) she cracked the US market well before becoming a force to be reckoned with in the UK.
Charli (the XCX stands for “Kiss Charli Kiss” – her old MSN Messenger username) wrote and sang on the smash electropop hit ‘II Love It’ for the Scandinavian duo Icona Pop. The track sold more than 2.5 million copies in the US and was such a catchy song it became known as “the US soundtrack to the Summer.” She also co-wrote and provided vocals for the Iggy Azalea track, ‘Fancy’ which sold 7 million copies worldwide and became the most streamed track on Spotify in the States at the time.
Americans definitely got Charli XCX first. In 2015, her breakthrough single ‘Boom Clap’ featured on the soundtrack to the US box office film ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and catapulted her to further superstardom. As a result she toured the US with her own headline show, ‘Girl Power’, and was awarded “Hit Maker of the Year” at the 9th Annual Billboard Women in Music Awards. Not that the Brits and Europeans missed a trick here…they were soon to follow.
Charli then had a few years out partying in Brazil and dating a producer 11 years her senior. It was her time to “grow up” away from the media spotlight she recalls. It wasn’t until after being out of producing, writing and performing that the singer acknowledged her real calling and came straight back to the UK and spent 4 months in the recording studio.
“I realised that I just wanted to be a f***ing boss. I decided I didn’t have to choose between being an artist and being a songwriter and just started to do both. I felt ready to go and make songs and not feel worried about making a cool record or getting a hit. I just wanted to make songs that I really like. “I figured out who I was; it took me ages but was so liberating and amazing. I think it’d be cool for young girls, especially, not to worry about what people think of them and not try to replicate what they think is the right thing to do.”
Despite being only 31 now, Charli XCX has 6 albums under her well styled belt. Charli made her first album aged only 14, back in 2007, with money she was loaned from her parents – which she was quick to dismiss as an “experiment!” To this day, she is slightly annoyed that her early tracks, including the strangely titled ‘I Wanna Be Darth Vadar’ and ‘Dinosaur Sex’ are still easily found online. “I don’t count that as the beginning of my career. But whatever. Everyone did embarrassing s**t when they were 14. My mistakes are just live online for everyone to hear!” she admits.
However, it was exactly this and her hugely successful My Space page which alerted industry music moguls to the young, raw talent. Charli also interestingly used to perform at Warehouse raves in London when she was too young to even have a drink at them! She was briefly signed by Asylum Records in 2010 but Warner Music was the label that catapulted her to success. Her second album and first proper studio album signed as an artist, entitled ‘True Romance’ was released in 2013 and the third, ‘Sucker’ released the following year to critical acclaim. Last year she got critical acclaim for her 6tth studio album ‘Crash’ which featured her lying on a car bonnet covered in blood! It
Charli XCX’s stock was starting to rise at home. She opened for Katy Perry on the European leg of her Prismatic World Tour and later headlined her own UK tour. She also featured alongside R&B artist Tinashe on rapper Ty Dolla Sign’s single ‘Drop That Kitty.’
Other highlights of her career include performing at Coachella in 2023 and she was such a huge success with the crowd, they got her back this year. Last year she got critical acclaim for her 6tth studio album ‘Crash’ which featured her lying on a car bonnet covered in blood on the album artwork. It As well as her edgy new album ‘Brat’ being released on June 7th this May she received a much sought-after ASCAP Global Impact Award which were previously awarded to powerhouse singer and songwriters, including the likes of Lana Del Ray. In the music industry it is at the pinnacle of your career when you are awarded an accolade of this esteem. It’s like winning an Oscar!
Whether you’re a fan of Charli XCX or not she does tick all the boxes! A talented writer, lyricist, singer, dancer, director and she knows the direction she wants to head in. Whilst she was embarrassed about her pop heritage she has now firmly embraced it – and blends a perfect mix of electropop, breathy singing and clever lyrics to provide mass appeal in the US, Europe and the UK.
You can catch Charli XCX on the main pyramid stage at Glastonbury this year and she’s also touring to promote her new album called ‘Brat.’ We love the cool mix of punk/rave and beats that will get you all on the dancefloor this Summer. Check out the album review in Chill In page 22.
CHARLI XCX TOUR & FESTIVAL DATES
1st June – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Barcelona
7th June – London, England – Here at Outernet
11th June – Queens, NY – Knockdown Centre
12th June – Chicago, Ilinois – Radius
15th June – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Expo Hall
19th June – Mexico City, Mexico – LooLoo tudio
22nd June – São Paulo, Brazil – Zig Club
26-30th June – Worthy Farm, Somerset – Glastonbury
27th November- Manchester, England – Co-op Live Arena
28th November – London, England – The O2
11-19 Birmingham, England – Resorts World Arena
12-02 Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro Arena
