School's out and it’s Brat summer. Last week the internet’s darling, Charli XCX, dropped her sixth album to great embrace by critics and fans. Brat’s shockingly personal lyricism and gritty presentation have resonated with Charli’s core fanbase and seemingly many more, making Brat the artist’s most engaged body of work yet. With the singles "360", "Club Classics," and "B2b," anticipation of a dance album was growing. However, Brat takes the listener on a complete journey of vulnerability.
You are simply not allowed to be mindless while listening to these dance floor siren calls. On the podcast Therpuss with Jake Shane, Charli expressed the meaning of Brat pre-release, “It’s bitchy and it’s very direct. It’s a little confrontational, but I think it’s confrontational because sometimes when you’re at your most vulnerable you lash out and become a bit confrontational. I think that’s the whole thing about the name, brat.” She continued, “Like, yes, it’s bitchy and c*nty and confident, but I think also you act like a brat when you’re feeling insecure, you know?”
Brat is a statement on the embrace of emotions, even the ugly. On "Girl, So Confusing," Charli sings about the complexities of competition in friendships and the insecurity that arises in comparison. While many have speculated on who the track is about, the goal is clearly to express exhaustion rather than create a sense of superiority. Through her embrace of the hyperpop genre, Charli has experimented with the camp applications of artificial sounds, perfected and pioneered by her collaborators SOPHIE and A.G. Cook (@agcook404). On Charli’s 2020 release, How I’m Feeling Now, this experimentation reached a peak. The embrace of camp and chaotic production created guttural senses of emotion drowning on the tracks of the album. Many began to recognize the beautiful marriage of Charli’s attitude and pop sensibilities with the raw aesthetics of hyperpop. In 2022, Charli returned to a more mainstream sound and approach with her album Crash. While this album addressed feelings of loss, love, and self-liberation, it did so with a comfortable and calculated touch. With Brat, melody is abandoned on certain verses forcing the listener to be confronted by raw emotions and thoughts. Even touching on the loss of SOPHIE on the ballad "So, I." On the track, Charli sings almost breathlessly about the loss of her friend and collaborator, taking the listener on a raw journey recognizing feelings of guilt and shame. Overall, Brat marries Charli’s raw approach to production with an upfront challenge to the listener.
Through her media appearances, Charli has commented on the current standards placed on women in the media. She spoke to BBC Radio 1 saying, “Being a woman is very complex. We are living in this age now where you are deemed a bad feminist if you don't get on with every single woman you ever encounter. And really, things aren't that simple.” Brat presents the audience with an acceptance of the imperfections, pain, and reality that come with vulnerability. On the track, "I think about it all the time," she dives into the pressures and questions faced when considering motherhood. Then, on the album closer, "365" invites you to channel those raw emotions, embrace your inner brat, let go of societal pressures of perfection, and hit the club. The deluxe album includes anthems like "Spring Breakers" and "Guess." Produced by the indie sleaze inspired artist The Dare (@itsthedare), "Guess," is a raunchy and playful song that provides release from the earlier tensions on the album. These tracks embody the feeling of confidence and bratty indifference that have always been Charli's signature.
The branding of Brat is genius in its brash simplicity. The neon green embodies the energy of the album and creates endless opportunities for memes and associations. Whether you are an og angel or just diving into the world of XCX, this era is one full of discussion and pop cultural hot takes. With Brat summer in full swing, how are you taking on the new season?
BY REBECCA DOYLE
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