Charli XCX – Redefining Pop and Taking Over the Grammys

2024 was a big year for the music industry, from Taylor Swift’s Eras tour becoming the world’s biggest-grossing tour to the turbulent Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud. While there were many milestones and pop culture moments, certain artists experienced newfound commercial success with audiences around the world. Case in point: Charli XCX. The singer-songwriter has been active in the music industry for a little over a decade, but is currently having her biggest moment yet.

Charlie XCX saw temporary glimpses of commercial success with her hits such as “Boom Clap”, “I Love It”, and “Fancy”. More recently, her passion studio album called “BRAT” has elevated and cemented her status as a pop icon and certified party girl. The term “Brat Summer” even ran on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for months. As an artist who has yet to experience the thrill of a Grammy win, should Charli XCX consider making the highest achievement in the music industry her ultimate goal?

What is BRAT? 

BRAT distinguished itself with its raw authenticity and widespread appeal to people of all ages. Ranging from raunchy to vulnerable, Charli XCX used the album to be unabashedly herself. Falling into the category of electropop, this album embodies the feeling of dancing in the club at 3 a.m. Blending creative lyrics with addictive beats, the record came together as the perfect storm to earn her eight Grammy nominations in 2025. From Best Dance/Electronic Album to Best Pop Solo Performance for the song “Apple” to Record Of The Year for “360,” the versatility of the album is evident in its nominations. Charli XCX was nominated for two Grammys at the 57th annual awards show, marking a decade since her last nomination. While she has now accrued a total of 10 nominations, she is yet to secure a win. 

Charli XCX - Redefining Pop and Taking Over the GRAMMYs

Courtesy of Vogue Hong Kong

How Did BRAT Get So big?

Minimalist yet provocative – it’s just “BRAT.” The album’s bold lime green cover and unassuming arial font became a statement in itself, sparking debates about aesthetic norms and redefining what a pop album should look like. The design, crafted by Special Offer, Inc., deliberately leaned into its “off-putting” quality, encouraging fans to interpret and meme it across social media platforms. This organic engagement was amplified with the “BRAT generator,” a digital tool that let fans create their own visuals in the album’s signature style, which turned into memes further cementing the album as a cultural phenomenon. The campaign leaned into its digital-first approach with the centerpiece being the “Brat Wall,” a dynamic billboard in Bushwick that kept audiences hooked. The Bushwick billboard was live-streamed on TikTok and displayed cryptic messages, deluxe edition teasers, and fan-centric announcements. Charli XCX’s creative director, Imogene Strauss, made sure every single detail reflected the album’s ethos of irony and authenticity. The campaign turned “BRAT” into more than an album.

From TikTok Sound Queen to Club Culture Icon

Charli XCX has been reshaping the music landscape since her first breakthrough with “Lost in Space” and remixes from Starkey’s Space Traitor, Vol. 2 in 2011. Over the course of her 14-year career, which began when she was just 18, Charli has consistently pushed boundaries. Describing “BRAT” as her most “aggressive” yet vulnerable work, Charli dives deep into themes of grief, self-doubt, public pressure, broken friendships, and body insecurities. Inspired by the passing of a close friend and her own personal struggles, the album is a bold testament to embracing flaws, owning them, and finding joy regardless. BRAT, debuted in June 2024, landing at No. 2 on the UK Album Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 – her second top-ten album in the UK and her highest-charting project in the US. This project marks a creative departure from her 2022 album, CRASH, which debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was, at the time, her most commercially successful release. While continuing along the CRASH path could have guaranteed more mainstream hits, Charli took a risk with “BRAT,” admitting she feared it might “flop.” Instead, the album became a statement of artistic freedom rooted in authenticity. Unlike her past albums, “BRAT” is deeply lyric-led, with tracks built around personal messages lifted directly from her text conversations. Charli’s journey from “mainstream sellout pop” to BRAT has solidified her position as the face of modern club culture. With this album, she proves that stepping out of the comfort zone can redefine not only a career but an entire genre, leaving her fans dancing in the intersection of raw emotion and unapologetic self-expression.

A Crucial Moment in Charli XCX’s Career, Perhaps the Most Significant to Date

With eight nominations that place her second overall, topped only by Beyoncé and joined by Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone, Charli XCX has proven to be a significant presence in the music scene. What sets her apart, however, is while her peers are already familiar with the Grammys, for Charli XCX, this edition represents a perfect chance, a stepping stone to remain permanently in the global music elite. From the “Brat Summer” defining 2024, we may soon be talking about “Brat Grammys”. Yet, whether she wins or not, Charli XCX has already proven to be a contemporary pop star, and perhaps, more than any award, that already makes her a winner.

Workout Anthems Playlist
Workout Anthems Playlist