Alright, so today I just felt like diving into Charli XCX’s stuff. Her sound changed SO much, you know? I gotta figure out how it happened. So, I grabbed my headphones, sat down with a giant cup of coffee, and decided to listen through her albums in order. Gotta start from the beginning.
The Early Days: Finding That Sound
First up was her early mixtape stuff, like “Super Ultra”. Man, it felt raw and kinda indie electronic? Lots of bedroom pop vibes. Simple synths, straightforward beats. I remember thinking, “Okay, this is different.” Definitely finding her feet. Then came her debut album, True Romance. Hit play on “You (Ha Ha Ha)”. Boom! That sound! Catchy hooks, but layered with darker synths, almost futuristic pop? Bigger production, way slicker than the mixtapes. Her voice sounded smoother, confident. Felt like a big step up.
The Big Pop Pitch: Trying Something New
Next, I threw on Sucker. WHOA. First track “Boom Clap”? Totally different vibe! Almost like pop-punk met electronic? Guitars, shouty choruses (“Break the Rules!”), way more in-your-face. I kinda loved the energy, it felt bratty and fun. But honestly, compared to True Romance, it felt less unique? Like she was giving mainstream pop a big hug. It worked for hits, sure, but was she happy? Maybe not totally. Felt like a deliberate shift to break bigger.
Diving Deeper into the Underground
After that came the mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2. Pressed play… and my jaw dropped. WTF? This sounded like the future crashed into the club. It was wild! Crazy chopped-up vocals, distorted synths, hyper-fast beats, features from underground artists I barely knew. It was noisy, chaotic, sometimes jarring – but SO exciting and fresh. Tracks like “Unlock It” or “Backseat”? Blew my mind. She wasn’t chasing radio anymore. This felt like her pure vision, unfiltered.
The Big Return: Merging the Worlds
Curious to see how this experimental phase led to her later stuff. Put on Charli (the album). Interesting mix! You could hear the Pop 2 chaos (“Click” with those insane beats!) mixed with more structured pop songs. She seemed to be blending the experimental sounds with catchier melodies. Then how i’m feeling now dropped, made completely during lockdown? Super raw, DIY, back to aggressive hyperpop but super personal and immediate. Like “forever” with its sweet sadness? Loved it. And now, hearing her latest singles like “Von dutch”? Catchy AF pop hooks riding over those crunchy, distorted hyperpop sounds she helped pioneer. Feels like the final form!
So, listening through all that, what changed?
- Early: Bedroom pop vibes, finding the synth-pop sound.
- True Romance: Polished, darkly beautiful synth-pop.
- Sucker: Full-blown, shouty punk/pop anthems.
- Mixtapes: Deep dive into chaotic, innovative hyperpop and PC Music.
Charli / HIFN: Blending the crazy sounds back with pop craft.
Crash / Von dutch era: Pure pop confidence mixed with her signature distorted edge.
Her sound’s like a whole rainbow. She explored everything. Tried pop stardom, went full experimental underground, then smashed those worlds together. She constantly reinvented herself, never stuck in one lane. That journey? Seriously wild. Gotta respect the artist who ain’t afraid to try anything. That listening session took hours, but man, it was a trip through sound!
