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When XCX was around the age of 15, a promoter recruited her for some of her first live shows, asking her to perform at raves and warehouse parties in East London.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Tinkham|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/charli_xcx/|title=Charli XCX - This Is Me |publisher=Under the Radar |date=12 September 2013 | accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref> When he asked for the name to use on flyers for the events, she told him to "just put 'Charli XCX'", which was her [[Windows Messenger|MSN Messenger]] screen name when she was younger.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sJeQa1KDrU</ref> She said that she chose the name because she thought "it looked cool and sounded catchy".
When XCX was around the age of 15, a promoter recruited her for some of her first live shows, asking her to perform at raves and warehouse parties in East London.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Tinkham|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/charli_xcx/|title=Charli XCX - This Is Me |publisher=Under the Radar |date=12 September 2013 | accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref> When he asked for the name to use on flyers for the events, she told him to "just put 'Charli XCX'", which was her [[Windows Messenger|MSN Messenger]] screen name when she was younger.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sJeQa1KDrU</ref> She said that she chose the name because she thought "it looked cool and sounded catchy".


When used as her screen name, "XCX" stood for "[[Xoxo|Kiss Charli Kiss]]". However, according to XCX, it no longer explicitly stands for anything, and just represents everything she has done so far.<ref name=Darkstar/> Upon signing to her label, however, XCX noted that it could stand for "X rated Content".<ref name=Darkstar/>
According to XCX, the initials longer explicitly stands for anything, and just represents everything she has done so far.<ref name=Darkstar/> Upon signing to her label, however, XCX noted that it could stand for "X rated Content".<ref name=Darkstar/>


== Discography ==
== Discography ==

Revision as of 04:44, 2 December 2014

Charli XCX
Public photo of XCX by Atlantic Records, 2012
Public photo of XCX by Atlantic Records, 2012
Background information
Birth nameCharlotte Emma Aitchison
Born (1992-08-02) 2 August 1992 (age 32)
Cambridge, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitewww.charlixcxmusic.com

Charlotte Emma Aitchison[3][4] (born 2 August 1992),[5][6] known by the stage name Charli XCX, is a British singer and songwriter.

She released two singles in 2008, "!Franchesckaar!", which is from her commercially unreleased debut album, 14; and "Emelline"/"Art Bitch". She was signed to This Is Music and IAMSOUND Records in 2010 before releasing three more singles, "Stay Away", "Nuclear Seasons" and "You're the One" from her debut EP, You're the One, which was released in June 2012. After a year-long delay, she released her debut major label studio album, True Romance, in April 2013.[7] She wrote and is credited on "I Love It" with Icona Pop and featured on "Fancy" with Iggy Azalea, both of which achieved international success and brought her to international prominence. The release of "Boom Clap" gave Charli XCX her first top 10 hit as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100.

On 18 August 2014, Charli XCX announced the title of her upcoming second major-label studio album, Sucker, which would be released on 16 December (US). The second single was also premiered on her SoundCloud, titled "Break the Rules".[8]

Early life

Charli XCX was born in Cambridge[9] to a Scottish father and an Indian mother from Uganda and grew up in Bishop's Stortford, East Hertfordshire.[10][11] She started writing songs when she was 14 years old.[4][12] She attended Bishop's Stortford College and left the school in 2010.[13] She has a form of synesthesia where she sees music in different colours. She states, "I see music in colours. I love music that's black, pink, purple or red - but I hate music that's green, yellow or brown."[14]

Career

2008–11: Career beginnings and You're the One

At the age of 14, XCX began recording her debut album on a loan granted by her parents. In early 2008, she began posting songs from the album, as well as numerous other demos, on her official MySpace. This caught the attention of a man called Chaz, who was running numerous illegal warehouse raves in London, which became her first true gigs.[15] Despite the illicit nature of these gigs her parents were supportive of her career and attended several raves with her.[16] Two singles, "!Franchesckaar!" and double A-side "Emelline"/"Art Bitch", were released in late 2008 under Orgy Music. XCX's debut studio album, 14, featuring the former single, was never commercially released, although several promotional copies were issued and copies were given away at her earliest gigs.[17] After being signed to Asylum Records in 2010, she took a break from music in what she describes as a "lost" period.[18]

In May 2011, she released her first single in nearly three years, "Stay Away", followed by "Nuclear Seasons" in November, both produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and released exclusively in the United Kingdom. These singles gained attention from Pitchfork Media, where she gained Best New Track accolades for both tracks, with the former being ranked #35 on their Best Tracks of 2011 list.[19] In late 2011, a five-track promotional sampler of Aitchison's debut album surfaced. All tracks were early demos, including an early version of "You're the One", titled "In the Dark".[20] She also released two free mixtapes via SoundCloud, containing tracks by her female and male influences, the first titled Super Girls, SuperLove and the second titled I Like Boys Who Cry.[21] On 12 May 2012, she released her first original mixtape, titled Heartbreaks and Earthquakes, a one-track file consisting of eight songs, including "How Can I".[22] She supported Santigold and Coldplay on tour throughout summer.[23]

On 12 June 2012, XCX released her debut EP, entitled You're the One, which she worked with Patrik Berger, Ariel Rechtshaid and Todd Rundgren. The EP was released in the Australia under Warner Music,[24][25] United Kingdom under Asylum Records and Atlantic Records,[26] and United States under IAMSOUND Records, featuring "You're the One" and "Nuclear Seasons", as well as remixes of both tracks.[27] On 14 June, "You're the One" was released as her third single off the EP, along with the music video.[28] The song charted within the Billboard US Hot Singles Sales and Dance Singles Sales at number ten and five, respectively.[29] The EP was later released in September in the United Kingdom and Australia, the UK version featuring the title track and "So Far Away", as well as three remixes. The Australian version contained the title track, "Stay Away", and "Nuclear Seasons". The Australian edition was also the only version of the EP to be released physically on CD.[20] Her second original mixtape, Super Ultra, was released exclusively through her website on 7 November 2012, featuring 8 separate tracks.[30]

2012–13: Breakthrough with Icona Pop and True Romance

XCX performing at Positivus Festival 2013

XCX co-wrote the song "I Love It", which would be later recorded by Icona Pop as well as becoming the breakthrough hit for the Swedish duo.[31] Member Caroline Hjelt described Charli XCX's original demo as "more cute, in a way…really cool and cocky".[32] It entered the Swedish Singles Chart the following month at number 48, and after two months on the chart, the song peaked at number two for three consecutive weeks. After its January 2013 appearance on an episode of Girls, the song performed better in digital downloads than it had upon initial release.[33] Ten days later it entered the Billboard Hot 100,[34] eventually climbing to number seven on the chart.[35] XCX performed the song for the first time with Icona Pop in April 2013, after seeing them back stage at a South by Southwest showcase where both acts were playing.[36]

Her second studio album and debut major label studio album, True Romance, was released on 12 April 2013. The album peaked at number eighty-five on the UK Albums Chart.[37] XCX explained the meaning being the album's title: "Every corner of my own romantic history is explored on this record, so for me, it's very raw, it's very honest, and it's very true."[38] The album is named after Quentin Tarantino's 1993 film of the same name, which is sampled on "Velvet Dreaming" from the Super Ultra mixtape, also Charli revealed on her official Twitter account that there would be a deluxe edition of the album.[39] On 9 April, the standard edition of album became available to stream on Pitchfork Media in full.[40] The album failed to appear on any international main albums charts, but it did reach numbed five on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers and number eleven on the Australian Hitseekers Albums Chart, reaching the equivalent peak of number two hundred and five and number one hundred [and] eleven respectively.[41] The album was well received by music critics, with an average score of 76/100 on Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[42] As well as earning four of five stars from AllMusic.[43] In March 2013, XCX was named one of Fuse TV's 30 must-see artists at SXSW.[44] In support of the album's release, XCX embarked on a three-date UK promotional tour in April 2013.[38]

2013–present: International success and Sucker

XCX performing at the MTV Video Music Awards' "Artist to Watch" concert in 2014

In June 2013, XCX confirmed she was working on her third album[45] and has worked with Weezer, John Hill, StarGate duo and Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend for her upcoming album.[46] In September 2013, XCX supported American rock band Paramore on the UK leg of their self-titled tour, spanning two dates at Wembley Arena. On 2 December, the lead single of Charli's second major-label album, "SuperLove", was released with an accompanying music video.[47] Although the song was originally announced as the lead single from Charli's then-untitled second major-label studio album,[34] it will not be included on her upcoming album.[48] The single reached number sixty-two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Charli's first solo entry on the chart.[49]

In February 2014, XCX featured on Australian recording artist Iggy Azalea's song "Fancy", which they wrote together.[50][51] On 4 March 2014, the music video for "Fancy", which XCX and Azalea worked on together, was released.[52] The music video was heavily inspired by the film Clueless, with Azalea portraying Cher Horowitz (originally played by Alicia Silverstone) and Charli portraying Tai Frasier (originally played by Brittany Murphy).[53] In May 2014, "Fancy" hit the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming both artists' first number one single on the chart.[54][55]

In May 2014, she contributed the song "Boom Clap" for the soundtrack to The Fault in Our Stars. The song was released as the album's first single and eventually peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100,[56] it also charted within the UK Singles Chart at number 6,[49] as well as certifying Platinum in Australia.[57] In August 2014, Charli announced the title of her third studio album to be, Sucker, which would be released 21 October 2014.[58] The second single from the album, "Break the Rules", was released on 18 August, with the music video featuring Rose McGowan was released on 25 August.[59] In September 2014, Katy Perry announced that XCX would open the European shows on her The Prismatic World Tour.[60] She also co-wrote "Beg for It" which features Danish singer-songwriter MØ for Iggy Azalea's reissue album Reclassified.

Style

Originally when I started, I was really influenced by the artists on Ed Banger like Justice, Uffie, Sebastian and people like that. Then I really got into hip-hop, original Eminem, and people like ASAP Rocky Micky Bianco. I've also always liked pop music like Britney and the Spice Girls. I kind of wanted to blend all of that together and have a prominent bass through all of my songs because I came from the club scene, and even though I write pop music, I wanted that to be there and have these hip-hop beats but a Bjork-esque, ethereal magic over all of it. I feel like that's what the record is like: magical, ethereal, gangsta pop.

— XCX, on her musical influences.[61]

XCX's music has been compared to the music of the 1980s with "the spookiness of Siouxsie Sioux" or "flawless early-Madonna".[62] Her influences include Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Spice Girls, Kate Bush, Uffie, Brooke Candy, Lil Wayne and Quentin Tarantino.[63][64][65] For her third solo album project, she listed The Hives, Weezer and Ramones as influences.[66] Various sources have listed her as goth pop or dark pop.[67]

Name

When XCX was around the age of 15, a promoter recruited her for some of her first live shows, asking her to perform at raves and warehouse parties in East London.[68] When he asked for the name to use on flyers for the events, she told him to "just put 'Charli XCX'", which was her MSN Messenger screen name when she was younger.[69] She said that she chose the name because she thought "it looked cool and sounded catchy".

According to XCX, the initials longer explicitly stands for anything, and just represents everything she has done so far.[16] Upon signing to her label, however, XCX noted that it could stand for "X rated Content".[16]

Discography

Main article: Charli XCX discography

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

Awards and nominations

As lead artist

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2014 Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Love Song "Boom Clap" Nominated
Video Music Awards Artist to Watch Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best New Act Herself Nominated
Best Push Act Herself Nominated
NewNowNext Awards Best New Musician Herself Pending
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Breakout Artist Herself Pending
Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Single: Group "I Love It" (with Icona Pop) Nominated
2014 Billboard Music Awards Top Dance/Electronic Song
iHeartRadio Music Awards Best Lyrics
SESAC Pop Awards[70] Songwriter of the Year Won
Song of the Year
Much Music Video Awards International Video of the Year – Artist "Fancy" (with Iggy Azalea) Nominated
World Music Awards World's Best Song
World's Best Video
Billboard Mid-Year Music Award Favorite No. 1 Hot 100 Song Won
Best Music Video
We Love Pop Awards Best Summer Anthem Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Video of The Year
Best Female Video
Best Art Direction
Best Pop Video
ARIA Award Song of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Punk Pop Princess". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Rising". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Songwriter/Composer: AITCHISON CHARLOTTE EMMA". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b Needham, Alex (27 July 2009). "Brit Pop Girls". Interview. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Twitter / charli_xcx: Who's coming to my XOYO show". Twitter. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Twitter / charli_xcx: @Coincidental AUGUST 1992 BABY!". Twitter.com. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  7. ^ Charli XCX - Album Sampler (images)
  8. ^ "Premiere: Charli XCX Gloriously Gives No F#@ks In New Song 'Break The Rules'". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  9. ^ http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=charlotte%20emma%20&lastname=aitchison
  10. ^ "This Week's Fresh Music Top 20". 4Music. 15 April 2014. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  11. ^ Tinkham, Chris (12 September 2013). "Charli XCX This Is Me". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Charli XCX interview (part 1)". FaceCulture. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  13. ^ "A post from 2 July 2013 on the Old Stortfordian Society's Facebook page". Facebook. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  14. ^ "BBC News - Charli XCX: Pop, punk and synaesthesia". BBC News. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Interview with Charli XCX". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  16. ^ a b c Nika, Colleen. "Dark Star Rising: Charli XCX Talks Rave Roots and Her Colorful Future". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Interview: Charli XCX Talks Debut Album, Internet Haters, and Writing Icona Pop's "I Love It"". Complex. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Charli XCX - Guardian Interview". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Pitchfork - The Best Songs of 2011". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  20. ^ a b Charli XCX at Discogs
  21. ^ "Idol Mag - Charli XCX interview". IDOL Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  22. ^ "Announcing Charli XCX's EP & Tour Dates". Iamsoundrecords.com. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Rita Ora On Coldplay Support Slots: "It's Such A Huge Opportunity" - Audio". Capital FM. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
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  27. ^ "You're the One – EP by Charli XCX". iTunes Store US. Apple Inc. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  28. ^ "You're the One - Single - Australia iTunes Store". iTunes. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  29. ^ Hampp, Andrew (3 April 2013). "Charli XCX In Charge". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
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  31. ^ Werthman, Christine (19 December 2012). "Q&A: Icona Pop". CMJ. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  32. ^ "Charli XCX: 'I don't regret giving 'I Love It' to Icona Pop'". NME. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (2013-01-28). "Is "Girls" Finally Gonna Make a Hit Out of Icona Pop's "I Love It"?". Popdust Inc. Retrieved 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  34. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (26 September 2013). "Charli XCX Previews Second Album with 'SuperLove' Single: Watch Video". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  35. ^ Trust, Gary. "Pink Holds at No. 1 on Hot 100 While Rihanna Rules at Radio". Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  36. ^ Cubarrubia, RJ (23 April 2013). "Icona Pop, Charli XCX Party Through 'I Love It' at SXSW". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ "Official UK Albums Top 100". Official Charts Company. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  38. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (26 February 2013). "Charli XCX Announces Debut Album, True Romance". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  39. ^ Charli XCX (1 March 2013). "Yes, there's gonna be a deluxe ..." Twitter. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  40. ^ "Charli XCX: True Romance | Advance". Pitchfork Media. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  41. ^ "Heatseekers Albums : May 04, 2013 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  42. ^ "True Romance – Charli XCX". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  43. ^ Phares, Heather. "True Romance – Charli XCX". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  44. ^ "30 Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013 - Photos - South by Southwest - Festivals - Fuse". Fuse.tv. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  45. ^ "Charli XCX Already Writing Music for Second Album". Billboard. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  46. ^ "An amazing Charli XCX interview slash chat by Peter Robinson". Pop Justice. 26 June 2014.
  47. ^ Wass, Mike (10 December 2013). "Charli XCX's "SuperLove" Gets A Wideboys Remix: Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  48. ^ "Sucker by Charli XCX". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  49. ^ a b "CHARLI XCX - UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  50. ^ Jacques Peterson (29 September 2012). "Listen To Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX's Cocky New Single, 'Fancy'". Popdust. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  51. ^ "Iggy Azalea "Fancy" (featuring Charli XCX) [Single Teaser]". Ultimate Music. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  52. ^ YouTube (4 March 2014). "Iggy Azalea - Fancy ft. Charli XCX". YouTube. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  53. ^ "Iggy Azalea - Fancy (Explicit) ft. Charli XCX". YouTube. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  54. ^ "Chart Watch: Meet Iggy Azalea". YAHOO. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  55. ^ Sam Lansky (4 March 2014). "Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX's Homage to Clueless Will Have You Totally Buggin'". TIME. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  56. ^ "Charli XCX - Chart history". Billboard.
  57. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  58. ^ XCX, Charli. "2nd album is SUCKER. new song is BREAK THE RULES. Listen here ❤ http://www.buzzfeed.com/naomizeichner/charli-xcx-break-the-rules …". Twitter. Retrieved 26 August 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  59. ^ Grossman, Samantha. "Watch Charli XCX Get Rebellious in 'Break the Rules' Video". Time. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  60. ^ "💘EUROPE!💘 @charli_xcx is going to get prismatic with us next February & March! Excited to welcome her to #ThePrismaticWorldTour!". 4 September 2014.
  61. ^ "Interview: Charli XCX". moustachemagazine. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  62. ^ Caramanica, Jon (11 March 2012), Untamed and Unabashed, Rolling Stone, retrieved 3 February 2014
  63. ^ "British pop starlet Charli XCX, the particularly grown-up 21-year-old". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  64. ^ Artist Biography by Heather Phares. "Charli XCX | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  65. ^ "Gimme Five: Charli XCX on Her Musical Obsessions". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  66. ^ Carl Williott. "Charli XCX Disses Flo Rida, Says Sophomore Album Has Punk Influence | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on". Idolator.com. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  67. ^ Interview by Laurence Lowe,Photograph by Roger Deckker (1 February 2013). "Q&A: Charli XCX: Music + Books". Details. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  68. ^ Chris Tinkham (12 September 2013). "Charli XCX - This Is Me". Under the Radar. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  69. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sJeQa1KDrU
  70. ^ "SESAC Hosts 18th Annual Pop Awards, Charli XCX Named Songwriter of the Year". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
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