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Home , Boom Clap, Charli XCX, Clairo, Ever Again, Number 1 Angel, Pop 2 (mixtape)

Much More More Much 84

anthems their in millions. Eve into Barlow steps OCTOBER 2019 Charli XCX sees herself as arevolutionary force, CHARLI XCX and soand do the who fans stream her synth-pop Pop Star her LA mansion and hears the mansion hears masterplan. and her LA Than A Than I’m So So I’m Photography:

Rachael Wright

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX JANUARY 2019 2019 JANUARY Aitchison, at in home at Aitchison, dreaming: California LA, Charlotte Emma Charlotte Charli XCX,Charli aka July,17 2019. 85 CHARLI XCX If ’re in the Beachwood Canyon area of and you spot an English-looking house somewhere beneath the Hollywood sign, it’s probably the one belonging to Britain’s best pop expat, Charli XCX. Her Tudor manor is an oasis amid LA celebrity culture. It’s the type of house you’d imagine Eddy and Patsy gatecrashing in an Absolutely Fabulous spin-off; often filled with glamorous oddballs, playing host to infamous house parties that unite all manner of musicians, fashionistas, actors and the type of people who still look good on dancefloors at 5am. There’s a cardboard cut-out of a black and pink cow in the garden, a neon palm tree in the living room, a refrigerator stocked with canned cocktails and window boxes of fake flowers descending over the outdoor patio. “Oh, they’re fucking AWFUL,” she screams,

Flip your wig: supporting Purple reign: Charli XCX performs at The Globe Peaches, the Royal Festival Hall, Theater, Los Angeles, , 2009. 30 November, 2018.

taking a seat beneath them. “We put them finishing her second task today: an qualities of both artists without taking away “Do you mind if I eat? I haven’t eaten in a year ago. We never took them out. afternoon-long photoshoot for a magazine from either of them. Like most of Charli “Sometimes I feel since breakfast,” she says, mouth full, We hate them. I hate them.” called Puss Puss that usually features cats. XCX’s latest releases, Gone is couched puffing on a cigarette. “I feel good about this Today, HQ is quiet. Charli XCX, She’s wearing a cream suit that gives her an in hard, restricted beats that sound like insecure, paranoid, song. It’s my favourite song I’ve ever made.” born Charlotte Emma Aitchison, is a air of CEO, except a CEO in platform firecrackers going off in a steel container. For Aitchison, collaborations aren’t about 24/7 powerhouse and works as hard as she trainers with nothing but a Nike sports bra But amid its dancefloor-ready cadence, cold monopolising of industry connects. parties. During interviews, she’s both a good under her blazer. She smells of sandalwood Gone is a cry for connection. Chris’s capacity totally isolated. Consistently she’s said that she’s never cared laugh and seriously alert. Aitchison’s team and cigarettes. Since Q is her final for barefaced truth-telling has lent Aitchison for record sales. She sees collaborations as (two British 20-somethings named Twiggy appointment, she’s rummaging in the what could be her most triumphant moment People feel that turning friendships into art – a profit is a and Sam) are tending to business in the freezer for a cube of ice to dunk in her rosé. yet. Often her releases come as a surprise, bonus. “Working with Chris has been so dining room. They’re her best friends from This morning, Aitchison released a new involving eye-opening guest spots, and whether they’re fun,” she says. “It felt like I’d known her for Hertfordshire – they’ve all known each single titled Gone, which features Christine GETTY music videos that are catnip for GIF makers. years. There were no boundaries. Everyone other since they were 11. Aitchison, 27, is And The Queens (aka Chris). It captures the Today it was all three. pop stars or not.” was as free as possible.” You see the ease of

OCTOBER 2019 87 CHARLI XCX

techno song, with no vocals,” she laughs. Charli’s “I know so “We need to figure that out.” Aitchison sees these team-ups as more than a mutually beneficial transaction. many pop “For so long, collaboration has been a Gang marketing tool to gain the benefit of both artists who fanbases,” she explains. “My collaborations The singer breaks down some are genuine and personal. It’s never about of the artists she worked with have really bringing them into my world. I don’t want on her third , Charli. them to do something Charli-esque. I want saved pop. them to do them. My collaborators make my sound,” she says. “They bring their I’m not language and their little ad libs. That’s Christine And what makes it unique.” The Queens She’s particularly proud of working with saying I’m . The elusive LA synth-popper “I feel so close with Chris. barely works with anyone, besides David Whether she realises or not, she’s taught me a lot just the only Lynch. How did she get her on the record? by the way that we talk. She tries to swallow some lettuce. The other day we were one. But “I sort of wonder the same thing. How talking about queerness and did I get Sky?” she asks herself. “I had her it’s so interesting for me to I’m one number. I basically texted her. Not expecting continuously learn about that. a response. And she replied. I was like, ‘Oh We were talking about how we my God! Fuck! I can’t believe it!’” After fit into the pop space as artists, of them.” Ferreira had laid down vocals in the studio about romance, about what’s condition – about loneliness. On Gone, things went quiet. “I thought, ‘Oh no, I’m going on with our lives.” she sings about feeling unwelcome among the girl who lost Sky Ferreira. I’m that girl. others: “I feel so unstable, fucking hate Fuck fuck fuck fuck!’” Eventually Ferreira these people, how they’re making me feel reappeared. Aitchison drops to a whisper, Sky Ferreira lately.” When discussing their collaboration, still in gleeful shock. “I knew people would “She does her own thing. She’s totally on her Aitchison and Chris shared their experiences freak out about that.” own wavelength. The music that she makes of being in packed rooms. “I get anxious a is pretty incomparable to other female pop. lot,” says Aitchison, still grazing. “Especially itchison grew up an I don’t consider her to be pop. She’s morphed when I have to be ‘on’ as a pop star, or only child in Essex, the into this person she was always destined to whatever. Sometimes I feel insecure, daughter of a Ugandan be. From the few times we’ve hung out, Sky is paranoid, totally isolated. People feel that, immigrant and a very specific about what she will and won’t do. whether they’re pop stars or not. Chris and Scottish businessman. She knows what she likes, what she doesn’t I were talking about times where we felt She started writing like. She has a very good eye. She knows like, ‘Fuck! So alone, so afraid.’” Chris wrote songs at the age of 14, what’s right for her. She takes her time.” the lyrics. Aitchison wanted to sound like and made an album. It the French singer so it would feel like was called 14. The name they’re in it together. Charli XCX comes from In a way, these collaborations are the the MSN Messenger fuel for her success. In the past year she’s handle she had and it stuck after she was released songs with (1999), A invited to play in London by a (Spicy), (Bitches), and even promoter. She was underage, her parents South Korean megastars BTS. She was one of driving her there and back. Aitchison the writers of UK Number 1 single Señorita considers her story “quite weird” and “His presence is so effervescent. When Give ’em enough rope: Charli for and Camilla Cabello. unlike anyone else’s she can think of. I’m around him I start using words he uses. with Chris; (far left, top) on She’s also written for Blondie and Britney “I came out young, made an album that He texted me once saying, ‘Kaboom!’ And the cover of V Magazine with Spears. In her self-directed video for single literally 10 people heard,” she says. Ten then I kept saying, ‘Kaboom!’ for a month Grimes and Sky Ferreira. after. When anyone said anything I’d be like, Boys, she recruited famous male pals instead people? “Well, a 1000 people? It wasn’t a ‘Yeah, kaboom!’ I can’t pull it off so I stopped.” of appearing herself. Those included: platinum-selling album.” That record – their chemistry in the video. The plan Will.i.am, Mac DeMarco, Carl Barât from True Romance – was made on her first was to choreograph it but Aitchison knows The Libertines, a Jonas brother, visits to LA and released when she was her limitations. She’s a pop star, a hitmaker and brushing his teeth. 21. Thereafter Aitchison wrote Top 10 for hire, a shrewd businesswoman. But She has an army of fans (known as her international hit I Love It, recorded by HAIM she’s not a dancer? “Guys, I can’t learn “Angels”) who herald her as the future of pop Swedish duo . She had two global “The song we did isn’t something I’ve ever heard choreography, are you joking? I’m not gonna and she has an acute read on what they want. smashes of her own: and Fancy,

them do. There’s no guitars, no live instrumentation, STEPHENSON ANGELA ALEX LAKE, stand next to Chris and, like, do a dance. Her forthcoming third album is simply titled which featured rapper . “Then but I feel like the vocal melodies are quite them. She’s incredible. I just flail my arm over Charli. Collaborators on the tracklist range I totally fell off,” she says. “In terms of the Me and AG Cook rented this house, turned it into a and over again!” from rapper , rock trio HAIM, avant- commercial pop star I was supposed to studio and they came by. I’d been to the dentist that Over the course of two , four pop performer Sky Ferreira and indie-pop become.” She made follow-up album Sucker day so the whole side of my face was numb. I’d mixtapes and a raft of one-off singles, darling . It’s an embarrassment of in a state of confusion. already recorded my vocals. I couldn’t really talk. Aitchison’s songs have tended more riches, so much so that Aitchison reveals “I tried to do a more punk-ish thing. In We were co-writing. I was trying to suggest lyrics and melodies but I couldn’t. I was like, ‘mm-he- towards aspirational abandon and partying. she did a song with Grimes that didn’t even hindsight I’m not sure I did it right.” The hoo-ha-ho.’ I had told them I’d been to the dentist. Gone is an inquisitive tune about the human make the final cut. “We’d made a five-minute album sounded more like or They didn’t think I was having a stroke.” 88 JANUARY 2019 OCTOBER 2019 89

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to to to ] together.” There’s OCTOBER 2019 arts of the process still Aitchison.infuriate She doesn’t always enjoy being sold. She acting hates (“actual I have I acting… cry, breakdowns”). Then there’s radio promo, which she insists is inbeyond outdated the streaming era. Grande pop’s biggest superstar. is pop’s biggest superstar. [ “This is what I do,” she plainly says of Don’t argue with the connoisseur. Don’t argue with the connoisseur. Rants Rants are part of her appeal. She’s called She says She that says she’s found a happy place Hence the self-titled Hence album, the with self-titled its -three 104.9-three million.’ NO! I don’t give a

fucking whoever. I’m not I’m saying the fucking onlywhoever. one. But I’m one of them. I’m at the table. the having supper We’re of Lorde, Grande and butAitchison, followersAitchison’s treat her indisputably as the host of that supper. her approach pop to stardom. “These are a clear difference between the successes the songs I This sing. is the shit I about.write If you it, like great. If you don’t, that’s also OK. But, you like, don’t good have taste.”

“I fucking doing hate radio promo,” she don’t need go to around “You exclaims. fuck. The person I’m talking doesn’t to give a fuck. They’re probably spelling my name with an ‘e’ on the end. Why are we putting time and money this?” into and her shared herlabel out beston , and worst as states they happen on social media. Her is a hybrid of self- confident bikini poses juxtaposed with unfiltered morning selfies and moments so many pop artists who really have saved pop, from Ariana and be ‘Hey! like, This is Charli onXCX K I’ve grown of up existential crisis. more“As I’ve begun understandto my emotions,” she “It’s OK says. be to an emotional wreck sometimes. I don’t wanna it sedate or try to convince myself that I’m OK if I’m not.” that’s less about commercial success and more about respect. “I’ve towanted always be an artist that other artists respect,” she “I states. know that I probably shouldn’t care what people think. But you fucking do, you’re an artist. Whether it’s your peers, your friends, your fans, journalists, you care. As artists our egos get bruised, we’re very volatile people even when we’re at our most Her strong.” biggest achievement now is that she’s proud of herself. “If I died tomorrow…” she hertouching says, wine glass. “Touch wood I won’t, but if I did I’d be ‘Cool,like, “It does hints have of this religious she smirks. “I tweetalways iconography,” about being the of saviour pop. I know I did shit that will be written about. Great.’” album naked art. It’s a rebirth. It’s almost a like debut. It’s a nod those to who believe Aitchison

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Things are looking up: moves into Charli XCX her “mature” phase.

don’t love 2013); Sucker 2014); Charli 2019). Make Make ours a treble: the Charli albums (from top) Romance True ( ( ( have a have really unique and important voice. I’m ready to open that up, you know? And I’m so much more than a With pop star. I thought, Sucker, If ‘Fuck! I don’t have another Boom Clap everything’s over.’ Even if I never made a song anyone liked ever again, there are so many other She runs a tight ship, with people she There’s Inalso the rebel in her. “It takes “It a takes long time build to a solid 2017 and were praised as much for the a control freak I like am.” knew before “fame”. “I don’t want people making random creative decisions for me,” not.” The approach to she “Absolutely says. making this third album was no different there’s from that of the mixtapes. Yet something about that Aitchison feels more she’s like no longerpatient running now, out of time while trying become to a different She admits that kind the of reasonpop star. she didn’t put an album out for five years is because she didn’t feel confident that people “Ione. wanted The mixtapes reassured her. things I want do to now: directing videos, songwriting for other people, there’s so much I feel creatively satisfied with.” she’s but conversation, she’s easy like, to also not trying be to She liked. doesn’t want to give the people what they want. “I doing what people expect of me, even if it’s probably the right she “I’d thing,” says. rather do the other thing annoyto someone a little bit. That’s been a big part of my career: how can I kind of annoy someone a bit? That sounds but counterproductive, the Sex Pistols weren’t trying sell to records parents.to There’s a bit of that ethos lost in pop now.” base,” she nods. “Especially when you’re in songs as for the method. had Aitchison never been happier or more herto connected audience. She’d never felt more secure.

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2014. She a little bit.” 40 in of me. I’d rather rather I’d me. of do the other thing other the do to annoy someone someone annoy to “I don’t love doing doing love don’t “I what people expect people expect what Angel and Pop

that works, do it again!’ 19, I desperately wanted

16 to CHARLI XCX CHARLI OCTOBER 2019 OCTOBER Ed Banger’s ] French record French During that time, I interviewed But doesn’t Aitchison regret her trio of Around Around the time

2014, Aitchison [ 90 Aitchison in Las Vegas. She was at her in Aitchison Las Vegas. lowest ebb. She was taking control of hits. They bought this house and another they back in importantly, England. More hertook seriouslybought People her agency. “The songs changed my as life.a . They’ve enabled me continue to working the I way want,” she “I says. learned so much about myself.” She learned it alone. “From the age of So you’re ‘Ohlike, shit, yeah, because I this like level of success.’” Did it fulfil her artistically? “In parts, yes,” she “But says. in parts, no.” her career but her efforts also tolooked be falling always on deaf ears. Despite she anlike spoke being signed a to major, in anti-capitalist, the uninterested idea of art as a product, but one who knew how sell. to She was second playing fiddle to chasing other bigartists on her label’s roster, hits she can already had. She was tired. “You go crazy doing shit that you don’t wanna later she pulled Weeks do,” she reflects now. out of a she tour was on Antonoff’swith Jack band Bleachers. “I was so depressed,” she “I says. was hating everything.” ‘You’re pop now, go pop make records!’pop now, ‘You’re realised realised she was making music she wouldn’t “That listen to. happens on major labels. You get trapped. ‘Oh, than anything Top Shampoo than anything Top of Sucker’s release in moved LA.to page thinking, ‘They’re so cool doing club nights That together.’ me.” excited A little thereafter she discovered the London and collective, PC She Music. met their head, producer AG Cook, and was so impressed by his noise- laden approach, obsession with subverting cheesy pop and disdaining convention that she poached him for herself. He became Charli creative and XCX’s director musical man, the right-hand first person she could trust entirely with her vision. They took world collaboration-heavy Cook’s of PC and Music melded it with Aitchison’s ahave impeccable talent for hooks. “We bang out really fast of way We working. loads of ideas,” she They says. released two mixtapes, Number 1 label a crew,” she “I be to says. wanted a a part crew,” of a scene. I was living in my parents’ house, making music, going school to in the countryside. I’d be on lookingMySpace at