Charli xcx’s “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat” Explores the Dark Side of Fame with Super Collaborators

Charli xcx’s new album, Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, represents a bold shift in her evolving artistic journey. Building on the raw emotional core of her work, this project delves deeper into the complexities of fame, alienation, and the pressures of constant public scrutiny. While BRAT was notable for its stripped-back, introspective nature, ‘Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat’ brings a unique fusion of chaotic energy and heart-wrenching honesty, further amplified by high-profile collaborations.

At the heart of Brat and… is the theme of fame’s damaging allure—its surreal highs and crushing lows. Like Pop 2, one of Charli’s most influential projects, Brat and… is a sonic rollercoaster. The album swings between experimental pop beats and moments of haunting melancholy, with Charli pushing boundaries while offering listeners a stark look at her emotional world. What makes Brat and… stand out is its rejection of romantic clichés, instead focusing on the disorienting effects of stardom and self-identity.

Charli’s collaborators on this album are carefully selected to emphasize the album’s message. With contributions from The 1975’s Matty Healy, Billie Eilish, Robyn, and Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Brat and… brings together a powerful mix of artists who, like Charli, have faced the isolating realities of fame. Each artist brings their unique take on loneliness, success, and public life, creating a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative.

Charli xcx – ‘I think about it all the time, featuring’ Bon Iver

Robyn, an icon of emotional pop, lends her signature raw vulnerability, echoing the themes of heartbreak and self-discovery that Brat and… navigates. Justin Vernon, known for his introspective songwriting, adds a layer of indie melancholy, deepening the album’s exploration of fame’s isolating effects. Matty Healy, often unfiltered and provocative in his music, mirrors Charli’s themes of self-doubt and the constant battle with one’s public persona. These collaborations create a sonic landscape that is both experimental and intimate.

While Brat and… embraces a bigger, more varied sound than its predecessor, its lyrics are just as cutting and self-aware. Charli doesn’t shy away from exploring the uglier sides of fame, and her vulnerability is laid bare in tracks that address feelings of inadequacy, the hollowness of success, and the relentless pressure to maintain her image. She writes with surgical precision, refusing to offer the empty platitudes that often dominate celebrity culture.

Ultimately, Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat cements Charli xcx as one of pop music’s most fearless artists. The album’s blend of frenetic beats, melancholic melodies, and deeply personal lyrics make it a standout project, highlighting Charli’s ability to navigate the music industry on her terms while exploring the uncharted emotional depths of fame.