S Poddar
British pop sensation Charli XCX recently revealed an amazing, rager-before-the-rager kind of startup to the music world. When she was 15, her parents would take her out to perform at raves at night. The singer giggled while describing how she managed to pull this one over on her parents: “I just told them, ‘guys, I’ve got swim practice. At 2:00 A.M.'”
Now 32, Charli- whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison- stayed cheesy and nostalgic to present Saturday Night Live (SNL) on NBC. Addressing the viewers in her opening monologue, she revealed to fans glimpses of her past, not from secretive teenage raves but from actually becoming an influential cultural figure.
“I actually started performing when I was really young, she admitted to an audience. She played at her first rave when she was 15 years old. Her parents actually drove her there. She joked about how far she has come, describing herself as “a triple threat.” In England, that means she sings, drinks, and smokes.”
The Brat Phenomenon
In June, Charli’s sixth studio album, Brat, dropped, and a cultural movement was born. The themes and tracks on the album resonate so powerfully that “brat” has become a term with a life of its own. Social media has buzzed with millions embracing the “brat” lifestyle, according to Charli, describing it as more than a word: “An attitude.”.
As she appeared on SNL, she said: “So many people ask me, ‘What is brat?’ Honestly, it’s just like an attitude, it’s a vibe.” “Keeping it real is very brat. It’s about being vulnerable, honest, and not taking life too seriously,” she added.
It gained such speed that even American politics aren’t immune to its influence: U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris adopted a “brat” rebrand on social media in an effort to connect with younger voters.
Charli also mentioned one defining “brat moment” that perfectly encapsulated the use of the term. She recalled a story about Martha Stewart, who appeared to be relieved that a journalist who had written once on her legal troubles was dead. The catch? That journalist came out to state, “Hey, I’m alive.” Charli quipped, “That is extremely brat.”
A Bold New Identity
For Charli, being a “brat is becoming something raw, imperfect, and against the norms of the society. She has termed the “brat girl to be decisively raw always sporting “a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra.” That aesthetic is, according to her a negation of what she terms as polished and curated trends, the “clean girl” look-culture that has garnered quite significant traction on platforms like TikTok.
As Charli said on the BBC’s Sidetracked podcast, summarizing her philosophy, this “brat girl” is who might have “a breakdown but kind of like parties through it.” Her unapologetic honesty is refreshing to her fans, offering a relatable, raw alternative to mainstream ideals of perfection.
The cultural influence of the “brat” movement was cemented earlier this month when Collins Dictionary declared it the 2024 Word of the Year. Lexicographers defined it to represent a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude,” perfectly aligning with Charli’s message and music.
The impact Charli will continue to make grows only with the potential to connect with her fans on a deeply personal level. Her appearance on SNL capped off the night with a sentiment encapsulating her ethos: “I’m not used to being out this early on a Saturday night, but for you guys, it’s worth it.”
From late-night raves to international recognition, Charli XCX’s journey has been about being rebellious and inspiring at the same time-to carve your own path, to be who you are.
