The Multimedium Artist: Charli XCX

By: Lucy Fries Edited by: Savannah Stewart

Newer listeners may know Charli XCX from her rise to fame in 2024 with the prominence of her album Brat. Others may be more familiar with the artist’s earlier generational hits, like the 2014 synth-pop anthem “Boom Clap” or her feature on Icona Pop’s 2012 hit “I Love It.” For nearly two decades, the award-winning artist has proven to be a force in the music industry. However, if there's one thing Charli’s 2024 resurgence taught her audience, it’s to never expect the expected. Riding on tremendous success, Charli found herself reaching the peak of her career, something she’d worked for her entire life, then felt like it began to slip away. Embracing vulnerability, she channeled her experiences into a new medium.

Charli took to the silver screen starring in “The Moment,” a hyper-meta mockumentary project that reflects on her life after the astronomical success of Brat as she prepares for tours and subsequent pressure. Born from the brilliance of Charli and director Aidan Zamiri, it is production company A24’s fastest-selling limited release since showing in theaters beginning Jan. 30.  

Charli chose to re-write her narrative as a profound musical artist, spotlighting a new journey beyond the stage. She stated, “There was sort of this kind of you know, persona that people really associated me with and then there were a lot of expectations put on me as a person, as an artist, of who I was supposed to be.” She continued, mentioning how her rise to fame gave her a place where she fluctuated between feeling heard then misunderstood.

The film’s concept first emerged in September 2024, when Zamiri and Charli began considering the absurd nature of acting out real-life events and their emotional fall-out. In response to a question from W Magazine, Zamiri stated, “…most people can understand tying your sense of self to something external, and then slowly not seeing yourself reflected in it.”

Charli XCX is no rookie to the music industry. At just age 14, Charli convinced her parents to loan her money to record her own album. In 2008, she shared music to Myspace, eventually earning invitations to perform at raves and parties in London. After signing with Asylum Records in 2010, the singer recorded “I Love It” alongside Icona Pop which was originally scrapped but later entered the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. Charli then went on to create Grammy-nominated, chart-topping tunes like “Fancy” in collaboration with Iggy Azalea. Following her stereotype of being an unpredictable artist, she dropped  “Vroom Vroom” and went on to work with many other praised artists, including Lorde. 

Although Charli’s earliest singles are classic and undoubtedly recognizable, the singer cultivated Brat as a “cultural phenomenon.” Famously known for its simplistic yet incredibly vibrant album cover, the confrontational and aggressive nature of Brat took over pop culture, going viral on social media. Viewers created album-inspired trends, posting to social media with the caption “brat summer” and using songs like “Apple,” to spark viral dances. Brat even played a role in political campaigns. Referring to former Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Charli posted on X, “Kamala is Brat.” Harris’ team then began marketing the  campaign with the eye-catching lime green brat logo. The album also went on to win three Grammys in 2025. 

Although fans weren’t given exactly what they wanted, the premise of “The Moment” may just be what fans needed. Presenting herself, in a refreshing, vulnerable way, Charli has not only further taken control of her story, but revealed the broader implications that come with fame. The artist found a way to portray the feeling of obtaining everything they’ve desired throughout their career and then have it fade, humanizing the glorified idea of popularity. Charli’s unexpectedness doesn’t come from the discussion about vulnerable career experiences; it comes from the unpredictability of her medium and choosing to be authentic, rather than brushing over it with another song. 

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