Charli XCX Is Pushing the Boundaries of Pop
She's one of the main artists responsible for bringing hyperpop into the mainstream
Words and art by Ryan Quan
Musical Artist of the Month: This monthly column is JoySauce social media editor Ryan Quan’s attempt at getting you to love these underrated and under appreciated API artists as much as he does. The series will combine fun facts, conceptual graphic work Ryan’s created as an ode to his favorite lyrics, and a few of each musician’s songs, to give you a crash course on these talented rising stars.
Did you know that Charli XCX is a member of the AA+PI community? I didn’t until I started working for JoySauce, and by then I had already been listening to her for years. Her British Indian heritage doesn’t change the way I feel about her music, but it does mean I get to write about one of my favorite artists for this column.
Charli XCX is probably the biggest name in hyperpop. Though, not all of her songs fall under the maximalist microgenre. I like to describe Charli as the tip of the hyperpop iceberg. When introducing people to my taste in music, I’ll start with a few of her hits before delving into the likes of Alice Longyu Gao, SEBii, and 100 gecs.
While some of Charli’s music can also be categorized as dance-pop, electropop, and even pop punk, her influence and roots in the hyperpop world are undeniable. Without her, this seemingly niche community wouldn’t have the cult-like following it has today.
Charlotte Emma Aitchison grew up an hour north of London, and her interest in music began at an early age. She started posting her songs on Myspace in 2008, which caught the attention of a local promoter, who brought her to perform at underground warehouse raves. And in 2010, she signed her first contract with a record label.
It was in 2012 when Charli XCX was catapulted into the spotlight with the viral sensation “I Love It” alongside Swedish duo Icona Pop. That same year, she released her debut album, True Romance. The album was received well, with Pitchfork rating it 8.4 and placing it under the “Best New Music” category, and The Guardian giving it four out of five stars. But the debut didn’t see extreme commercial success. While critics saw True Romance as a personality-infused passion project from a soon-to-be star, the album wasn’t embraced by the general public.
In 2014, Charli XCX released several singles, including “Boom Clap” and “Break the Rules,” as well as her more punk-inspired second album SUCKER. She also contributed to Iggy Azalea’s hit single, “Fancy,” which was nominated for two Grammys. This was a huge year for Charli, but she had yet to find the unique perspective she’s known for today.
When she started working with producers from the London-based record label and art collective PC Music in 2015, she started experimenting further with her sound and aesthetic. This is when she really started to delve into the hyperpop scene, especially by working with legendary music producer SOPHIE (R.I.P.), the true pioneer of this movement. In 2016, they released the Vroom Vroom EP that changed the trajectory of Charli’s career. While her music was already experimental, her first few projects stayed close to existing genres like bubblegum pop and pop punk. With this EP, Charli had finally found her unique voice that would earn her a devoted fanbase.
SOPHIE’s dissonant synths and maximalist approach to music production combined seamlessly with Charli’s rule-breaking, anti-mainstream attitude and carefree vocals. Despite being a perfect pairing, Charli and SOPHIE didn’t impress everyone. Pitchfork notoriously rated the Vroom Vroom EP a measly 4.5, but fans didn’t let this slide.
Later, in 2021, the music publication would rescore the EP, giving it a 7.8. “To a certain, very melodramatic, very online type of Twitter user, there was nothing more homophobic than our humble publication giving a 4.5 to Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom EP,” Pitchfork writer Cat Zhang stated with a tongue-in-cheek tone. While the original review called the project abrasive and exhausting, the rescore says, “Nowadays, it doesn’t seem that extreme. And when you don’t think too hard about it, it's pretty fun.” This change of heart is likely a result of public backlash to the original review, but it also shows that Charli XCX has always been ahead of her time.
The success of her collaboration with SOPHIE likely inspired Charli to continue working with others who would challenge her songwriting and singing capabilities. She worked with a broad variety of artists, including CupcakKe, Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, Yaeji, Lizzo, and more. These collaborations would culminate in 2019 with the creation of her third album, Charli.
The long-awaited album felt like a celebration of Charli’s hard work throughout the mid- to late-2010s. Alternating between fast-paced hits about speeding on the highway and mellower, earnest ballads, the project showcases her true talent for straddling the line between the mainstream and the experimental. It was also a first look at Charli’s more vulnerable side, delving into her feelings of anxiety and not belonging.
Only a year later, Charli XCX released how i’m feeling now. The album—her best one, in my personal opinion—was created in six weeks during the pandemic with the help from fans through social media posts and Zoom meetings. While Charli was rife with guest artists and lyrics about driving fast, how i’m feeling now was made during a time when it was impossible to collaborate with others or have somewhere to go.
Instead, the album leans into the uneasiness of the time. Charli opens up about her feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and fear on top of screeching beats and repetitive, glitchy sound bites. But beneath the harshness of the album is a softer undercurrent of gentle melodies and calming ambience that prevent the project from sounding too chaotic. The release of the album cemented Charli as a hyperpop icon, as the microgenre was just beginning to gain a loyal following.
Finally, in 2022, Charli released Crash, her biggest commercial success so far. The album brings back a few collaborations—with Christine and the Queens, Rina Sawayama, and Caroline Polacheck—but keeps the majority of the tracks solo. What made this album such a hit was its ability to balance the nostalgic, almost vintage pop that’s so popular right now with the lingering influence of the late SOPHIE.
While the Charli album alternated between exploratory tracks and mainstream pop collaborations, each song on Crash appeals to both sides of the Charli XCX experience. Catchy choruses and infectious beats draw you in, while the exaggerated crescendos and spiraling refrains keep you from getting bored. The project also marked the end of Charli’s five-album contract with Atlantic Records. She recently revealed in a video with British Vogue that she signed a new two-album contract with Republic Records, and we’re excited to see what comes out of that!
Whether you already knew about hyperpop giant Charli XCX or not, I hope you got a good overview of this mixed-Indian underground performer turned international superstar. Charli’s exponential success over the past few years proves how hard work really pays off.
Published on July 7, 2023
Words and art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is the Social Media Editor for JoySauce. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans.