Charli XCX is the future of pop music. She is my favorite female artist of all time. As a queer woman and someone with an affinity for amazing music, I would be remiss not to honor her during Women’s History Month. 

On June 2, 2019, right before Governor’s Ball quickly turned apocalyptic and everyone got stuck on Randall’s Island, I left early to go to Charli XCX’s set. After her show was canceled due to rain, she went above and beyond to secure a last-minute venue so she could still perform for her fans, many of whom had queued for hours in the rain.

This was my first time seeing Charli XCX. The second I entered “Le Poisson Rouge,” the venue where she was hosting her impromptu performance, I felt the energy — the overwhelming emotions of joy and fulfillment, the feeling of acceptance Charli XCX engendered in the audience around me. 

Everything about her is magical. Her engagement with her fans (being a pretty accessible artist despite her massive fame), her engagement with the crowd on stage and her sheer talent. Charli XCX is different from everyone else working in the music industry. She has created her own path by breaking away from the typical shackles of pop music, doing whatever the hell she wants while still garnering mass acclaim. 

Charli XCX was born in Cambridge, England to a Scottish father and Gujarti Indian mother. She began writing songs at the young age of 14. Two years later, in 2008, she was posting her tracks online and performing at raves. Her first original mixtape, “Heartbreaks and Earthquakes,” came out in May 2012. Later that year, she co-wrote and appeared on Icona Pop’s single “I Love It,” her biggest hit to date. The song became one of 2012’s biggest songs, topping the U.K. singles chart and taking seventh place on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Her debut album, “True Romance,” arrived in 2013 and reached number five on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. She later dominated radio airwaves with “Fancy” and “Boom Clap,” which were both featured in the film adaptation of “The Fault in Our Stars.”

In 2016, Charli launched her boutique label Vroom Vroom alongside an EP of the same name featuring PC Music’s Hannah Diamond and SOPHIE. Her sound shifted, and she became a Hyperpop pioneer, pushing the avant-electronic sound into the mainstream. 

“Vroom Vroom,” the EP’s title track, still has every characteristic of a pop song, they just happen to be heightened to an extreme. Charli XCX sings, “B-tches know they can’t catch me, cute, sexy and my ride’s sporty.” It hooks you from the get-go, urging you to dance and sing along as you’re showered by a wave of empowerment. SOPHIE’s signature production, consisting of chaotic, disjointed sounds, pairs surprisingly well with Charli XCX’s speedy singing, creating an unforgettably experimental pop anthem with bottomless replayability. “Vroom Vroom” is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Charli XCX’s work. 

Beyond her incredible artistic prowess, Charli XCX has always shown an incredible degree of care toward her fans, which she lovingly refers to as her angels. Last year, for example, Charli XCX was midway through finalizing her newest record when COVID-19 hit. This required her to change gears and immediately sought advice among her angels.

Charli XCX conducted live chats with artists like Rina Sawayama on her social media platforms that were entirely accessible to fans, and she used their input to test out a new set of songs and decide her album cover. With Charli XCX, it never feels like I’m admiring a distant, far away celebrity. It feels as if I’m looking up to a friend.

Charli XCX also has a large following among queer folk, and she continually strives to represent the community by working with queer artists and uplifting other queer voices. Both her mixtape “Pop 2” and her album “Charli” prominently feature other quieer artists. Unlike most allyships, it never feels performative when Charli XCX does this. It feels authentic, because it comes from a place of love.

Charli XCX is an artist that never grows stagnant and continually pushes pop forward. With such a diverse discography, you will never get bored of listening to her. Once you become an angel, you will never look back.

Email Valentina Arrieta at [email protected]