CHARLI XCX

Photographed by Daniel Regan

Time to read

Does it matter. Do it!

CHARLI XCX

Photographed by Daniel Regan

Time to read

Does it matter. Do it!

Maximum creation is the driving force behind Charli XCX (aka Charlotte Aitchison). The artist is a prolific collaborator whose latest project saw things go to another level. A few weeks into isolation Aitchison announced on a public Zoom call that she would be making a new album, from scratch, and inviting her fans to contribute. She’d be sharing demos and acapellas, asking for opinions on lyrics and who should create accompanying artwork, and documenting the entire process in real time. Six weeks later she released how I’m feeling now, a synthy, intimate, electro-inspired masterstroke. On the album’s cover Aitchison is lying in bed, dressed in white undies and a singlet, recalling Britney Spears’ iconic 1999 Rolling Stone magazine cover shot by David LaChapelle, in which the then 17-year-old lay atop folds of pink satin wearing polka-dot boy-shorts and a black halter bra, holding a plush purple Teletubby in one hand and a corded telephone in the other, her gaze fixed on ours. But in Aitchison’s photo, (which her boyfriend took on his iPhone, unplanned), she’s holding an old-school camcorder, her eyes fixed on the viewfinder, the lens pointing back up at us, and “CHARLI CAM” written on its black casing in silver Sharpie. In an outtake (posted on Instagram) she’s on the bed with her arm outstretched, pointing the camcorder back at herself: it is a picture of an artist simultaneously creating and documenting her own image. When asked who should conduct this interview, Aitchison chose multidisciplinary artist Seth Bogart. Bogart paints, sculpts, and makes music. He’s designed streetwear, done Saint Laurent collabs, made a weird Public Access-style variety show called Hollywood Nailz and a Pee-Wee’s Playhouse-inspired World of Wonder web series called Feelin’ Fruity. He also created cover art for how I’m feeling now’s second track, a love song called “forever”. He’s the perfect choice. They caught up ahead of the album’s release about all manner of creative pursuits.

Words by Emily Royal withCHARLI XCX interviewed by Seth Bogart

SB

I love that you’re making a whole new album during this crazy quarantine time. What made you decide to do that?

XCX

Even though this is an extremely challenging and uncharted time for the world—it probably sounds weird to say—it also feels like a very creative time to me personally. I’ve never been someone who can sit still and be present, so self isolation has forced that upon me. I really didn’t think I’d handle it very well at all. I expected a lot of breakdowns and really really low moments. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few. But I was thinking it would be constant. This time has made me feel very focused and also very willing to be openly creative. I guess my frequent collaborators and I are quite suited to this time—we work fast, we’re very reactive and we don’t really need the infrastructure of our record labels to allow us to absorb ourselves in making music. The type of artist I am, it almost felt weird not to be creating during this time.

SB

I saw on Instagram that you’ve been painting in between recording, or when you need to get ideas—that’s what I do too! When did you first start painting and what inspired you to start doing that again?

XCX

I’m so embarrassed because you’re one of my most favourite painters and I am so rubbish, and it cringes me to know that you know I’m trying to paint! I guess it started when I went to art school when I was younger. I had never painted before; all my work up until then had been video or installation-based, and for some reason when I went to art school I felt this real pressure to paint. I was so bad and I didn’t enjoy it then; I felt like everyone was laughing at me. Whether they were or whether it was just my paranoia is still up for debate, but I ended up dropping out. My music was also becoming a bigger thing for me at that point. I didn’t paint for ages and then my friend, Noonie Bao, who is a songwriter who I’ve written many of my songs with, started having people over to her place to do things like glass painting or candle making or painting on canvas. It was always a group of people who really couldn’t paint, like myself, but loved being creative, so there was no pressure at all and it just felt like pure fun. And that’s kind of when I started taking that practice home. For me, with painting, there’s no end goal. I’m not looking to excel in that field or sell my work or even really show people too much, it’s purely for me. It makes me feel relaxed.

STUSSY

SB

Can you tell me about some of the artists you’re collaborating with for the album art?

XCX

I am honestly so excited about this aspect of the project, the collaboration part. I have so frequently collaborated with musicians and producers in such an excessive way, it’s fun to do that in a visual way, too. You made an amazing painting, and also Caroline Polachek—who is a musician but also has an amazing visual eye—interpreted the cover, as well as [French illustrator known as] “Regards Coupables”. I’m also going to be working with Sara Cwynar, who is one of my most favourite collage artists, and this incredible anime artist “Naked Cherry”... I just feel like the whole atmosphere around this album is maximum creation. I want everyone to be creating all the time: myself, the listeners, the collaborators. It feels like such a rich and ripe time to explore visual ideas in such a thorough way because it feels like everyone wants to look and learn and be entertained.

SB

What do you miss most about the days before isolation?

XCX

The freedom to go out to any place at any time. And also seeing my friends in real life rather than just on FaceTime. And also listening to music really loud and dancing in a crowd of people. It’s such a euphoric feeling, and try as we might it’s kind of impossible to recreate that same energy over Zoom (although there’ve been moments where it’s felt close).

GUCCI

SB

What was the first song you remember ever writing? How old were you and what was it about?

XCX

I had this song called “Fish and Chip Shop”, which is, like, the most British thing ever. It was about meeting someone you had a crush on at a fish and chip shop. It was all total fantasy bcause where I grew up was kind of right on a main road and you couldn’t really walk anywhere to meet someone. I was probably 13 when I wrote it. It wasn’t good.

SB

Do you remember what music you were listening to when you first kissed someone?

XCX

That’s such an interesting question... I really don’t remember. Honestly unless I’m at a party I don’t really do a lot of group music listening. I really enjoy listening to music in my headphones. It’s a very solo experience. I like being in a car and watching out the window as the world is moving by. I feel like I’m in a movie, in a good way. Sometimes I feel like when I’m listening to music and kissing someone the song can really dictate the mood—and when the song changes it totally throws me. At what age did you realise that you were born to be a singer and songwriter? Did you like to perform for friends and family as a kid? I used to put on shows for my grandma wearing her high heels when I was little. That’s so cute. I was actually very anti shows and performances for family when I was making music. It totally made me anxious, but I would still get pushed into doing it and I felt so stressed and I would cry. Even aged 13 and 14. I think I was just worried I’d be patronised or laughed at or that they wouldn’t understand or that I wasn’t good enough. I started performing at raves and stuff when I was 15 and weirdly that was way less scary than performing for my family. There was a distance between me and the audience in a sense that they didn’t know me personally, so they couldn’t come and give me feedback or discuss my performance afterwards. It was just my thing that I did and I liked it like that. However, when I was younger I was in a few school plays. I was a bit of an over actor though. Not very subtle at all.

SB

Did you ever have a back up career in mind when you were younger and If so what was it?

XCX

I think I would have liked to be a journalist but I wasn’t that serious about it. Now I love interior design. I also think I’d be a great party planner. I’d love to work on that show My Super Sweet 16. It would be so ridiculous.

CHANEL

SB

What visual artists do you like and who is in your collection? Besides me lol ;-)

XCX

Haha! You’re in my collection a few times now! I have three of your toothbrush ceramics and also the cheeks painting (and I’m thinking about a few others too!). I also have this amazing Sara Cwynar collage in my bedroom, one of the first pieces I bought was this photograph of a camel by Heji Shin and I also have three cool paintings by Taylor Marie Prendergast, which I love. I also have some pieces by Alexander James, Matt Copson, Zach Bruder and Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings. I really like Lucy Bull at the moment. And I’ve always loved James Bidgood and Pierre et Gilles since I was younger.

SB

What helps you get in the zone to focus when you work on music?

XCX

I can’t really “get in the zone”. It’s either I wake up and I feel energised to create or I wake up and I feel energised to do nothing. I can’t really psych myself up. I either have the feeling or I don’t.

PRADA

GUCCI

SB

How involved are you with the visual side of your music—videos, photoshoots, live shows? From an outside point of view it seems like you have a strong vision for each project you work on, but I wanna know more about the process, which I’m sure is always evolving.

XCX

I’m very involved. Music, to me, is a 360 vision. Music without a visual story just simply isn’t as interesting to me. I’m always thinking about ways to visualise my music, or sometimes it happens the other way around and I’m looking for a song to soundtrack a visual idea. I’m kind of a control freak so I’m always very involved. That’s actually what’s nice about this project, I suppose, I’m kind of forcing myself to relinquish control a little bit because the whole point of the visual story of the album is that it’s open to all of my collaborators’ own interpretations.

CARTIER

SB

Where do you feel most inspired? Where do songs come to you most? Sometimes if I try to sit down and write a song nothing happens, but then I’ll be like waiting at the airport and ideas will explode. Do you have any odd spots that are great for getting ideas?

XCX

The time I always get my best ideas is right when I’m trying to go to sleep. If I have to wake up really early for a flight or something and I’m going to bed really late, that’s when the best ideas come. I try to ignore them and tell myself I need to sleep but I can never sleep until I get the ideas out.

PRADA

SB

Who are your style icons? Who are your favorite designers?

XCX

My style icons are Marilyn Manson, Sofia Loren, Devon Aoki in 2 Fast 2 Furious... It’s kind of a mixed bag. I like people who just do their thing and don’t give a fuck—people who evoke a time or an emotion or an energy. Not just people who wear what’s cool. I feel the same way about designers. I love Jean Paul Gaultier so much. He evokes so much in his work.

GUCCI

SB

What are you obsessed with right now?

XCX

I just started watching The Sopranos and Love Island at the same time. They’re very contrasting shows but they both bring me so much joy.