Charli XCX
Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, Charli XCX began posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene.Its accompanying remix album included "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish, which became her first number-one hit as a lead artist on the UK Singles Chart.Other notable artists featured include Kesha, Ariana Grande, Troye Sivan, BB Trickz, and Addison Rae.[7] She has spoken extensively about her difficulties at school growing up, stating that she was a "half-Indian girl with frizzy hair" among predominantly white people and that she was bullied and discriminated against for her Indian heritage.This caught the attention of a promoter running numerous illegal warehouse raves and parties in East London, who invited her to perform at them.Charli worked on the album with Patrik Berger; of their process, she later reflected that it was "not thought-about, everything really spontaneous [...] We don't think – it's like the first thing that comes out of my mouth is the cut on the record."[62] The album was pushed back the next month due to the success of "Boom Clap"[63] and was officially released in December 2014 in North America and February 2015 in Europe.[78] The second song released from the EP, entitled "Trophy", received its first play on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show that night.[83][84] In July 2016, it was announced that British producer A. G. Cook, founder of record label PC Music, had signed on as Charli's creative director.[92] On 26 July 2017, Charli XCX released "Boys", along with a self-directed music video featuring an ensemble cast of male celebrities, including Joe Jonas and Brendon Urie, among others.[98] The Number 1 Angel follow-up mixtape, Pop 2, was released on 15 December 2017, featuring collaborations with Carly Rae Jepsen, Tove Lo, Alma, Caroline Polachek, Brooke Candy, Cupcakke, Pabllo Vittar, Dorian Electra, Mykki Blanco, Tommy Cash, Kim Petras, Jay Park and MØ.[99] On 15 March 2018, Charli XCX performed at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles in support of her mixtape Pop 2.[100] In May 2018, Charli XCX started performing on Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour as an opening act alongside Camila Cabello.[105] The music video for "1999" was released on 11 October and starred Charli XCX and Sivan, featuring various references to 1990s pop culture.[108] The track was written in Los Angeles and produced by long standing collaborators Stargate with additional production by A. G. Cook and EasyFun.She used her platform on Instagram to communicate with fans while making the album, posting different variations of lyrics, single covers and sound samples that could be voted on, the most popular being the one she released officially.[123] Early in February 2021, the Dirty Hit signed musician No Rome announced he was working on a track featuring Charli XCX along with label mates The 1975.The set featured guest performances from A.G. Cook, George Daniel, Doss, Easyfun, Addison Rae and Julia Fox, and songs from her upcoming album were teased.[147][148] Its lime-green cover art and aesthetic became a viral Internet trend and received widespread media coverage, including for its use by the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.[152] Charli XCX also served as the executive producer to the soundtracks for the film Mother Mary and the TV series Overcompensating.[154][155] It features artists such as Ariana Grande, Kesha, Caroline Polachek, Tinashe, Jon Hopkins, Bon Iver, Shygirl, Bladee, Julian Casablancas, The Japanese House, Bb trickz and The 1975.Charli XCX was named US ambassador of cosmetics brand Valentino Beauty in October 2024[156][157] and appeared as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live on 16 November 2024.[175][176][177] Critics marked the beginning of Charli XCX's collaborations with PC Music-signed artists as a turning point in her discography.[182][180] Pop 2 and Charli were noted for their numerous collaborations and maintained their predecessors' avant-pop composition as well as incorporating elements of avant-garde, Eurodance and J-pop music.[192] Charli XCX has been described as a figurehead of the 2010s "hyperpop" style, though she rejected the term on social media, stating that she does "not identify with music genres."[193] Charli XCX's influences include Shampoo, No Doubt, t.A.T.u., the Donnas, Bikini Kill, Avril Lavigne, the Feminine Complex, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Donna Summer,[194] Bread, All Saints, Uffie, Brooke Candy, Lil Wayne,[195][196][197] Kate Bush, Twin Peaks,[198] Paris Hilton,[199] Justice, Crystal Castles, Calvin Harris,[200] Björk, and Quentin Tarantino whom she has named as her "hero.[204] Charli XCX has said that True Romance was based around "Martika, and also the Cure and Britney"[194] while influences of Belinda Carlisle, Marina and the Knife were noted by critics.[218] She has also cited Avril Lavigne and the fictional characters Cher Horowitz, Wednesday Addams and Nancy Downs as inspirations for her fashion style, which she describes as "90s schoolgirl".[221] In July 2020, she signed an open letter to the UK Equalities minister at that time, Liz Truss, calling for a ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy.[228] In 2022, Charli XCX began publicly dating British musician George Daniel, who is the drummer for the alternative band the 1975.
CambridgeDiscographysongs writtenperformancesGeorge DanielFull listElectropopdance-popexperimental pophyperpoppop-punkWarnerAsylumAtlanticIamsoundStart Hill, EssexMyspaceAsylum RecordsI Love ItIcona PopTrue RomanceIggy Azaleabest-selling singles worldwideGrammy AwardsBoom ClapSuckerBreak the RulesDoing ItPC MusicexperimentalVroom VroomNumber 1 AngelCharliHow I'm Feeling NowCOVID-19 lockdownsSpeed DrivesoundtrackBarbieRolling Stoneaccompanying remix albumBillie EilishUK Singles ChartAriana GrandeTroye SivanBB TrickzAddison RaeGrammy Award67th annual ceremonyAlbum of the YearBest Dance Pop RecordingVon DutchBest Dance/Electronic AlbumBest Recording PackageBeg for ItSelena GomezSame Old LoveBlondieTonightShawn MendesCamila CabelloSeñoritaSigalaRita OraYou for MeGold HouseSouth AsianBritish Indianshow bookerMuslimGujarati Indianin UgandaScottishBishop's Stortford CollegeBishop's Stortfordhalf-IndianSpice GirlsBritney SpearsTrue Romance (Charli XCX album)East LondonMSN MessengerSlade School of Fine ArtPositivus FestivalThe GuardianLos AngelesAriel RechtshaidAlex MetricNuclear SeasonsPitchforkYou're the OneBillboard Hot 100Blood OrangeOdd FutureBrooke CandyYou (Ha Ha Ha)UK Albums ChartUS Billboard Top HeatseekersAustralian Hitseekers Albums ChartMetacriticnormalisedMarinaSucker (Charli XCX album)Ilosaarirock FestivalSuperLoveSoundCloudWeezerRivers CuomoRostam BatmanglijVampire WeekendStargateJohn HillDr. LukeBow Wow Wowthe HivesRamonesyé-yéRyn WeaverOctaHateSky FerreiraNeon JungleRihannaGwen Stefanithe soundtrackThe Fault in Our StarsBillboard 200feministBBC Three