CHARLI XCX AND COMPANY
The DIY Album That Fans Helped Create
In mid-May, Charli XCX released her second full-length studio album in just eight months.
The new album, how i’m feeling now, is made up of 11 tracks that were produced over a six-week period. The record’s title, its songs, and the do-it-yourself collaborative production method are all reflective of both the strange aloneness and resilient togetherness that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on.
Last month, in a public Zoom call with fans, Charli announced that she was working on the new project using only the equipment she had available in her home during the widespread lockdown brought on by coronavirus.
“The nature of this album is going to be very indicative of the times just because I’m only going to be able to use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, artwork, videos everything,” she said.
But limited access to music-making resources turned out to be a unique opportunity for Charli to collaborate with her fans on an intimate level. During the month before its release, she asked for their input on demos, singles, artwork and more. Charli, her supporters and producers, thus used their self-isolation time to create a project that’s been widely praised for its innovativeness.
The album’s lead track “pink diamond” immediately sets the tone for the album as a whole. It crashes into itself, creating a techno pop landscape that’s certainly rougher around the edges than much of Charli’s previous work. The album continues with “forever,” a single released prior to the full album. The track has a similar distorted electronic soundscape, but its tender lyrics about love and devotion add a softness to the song.
Other highlights on how i’m feeling now include “claws,” with its cutesy love note-like lyrics and disjunct sound. Another is “party for u,” which instantly became a fan favorite based only on the samples Charli allowed fans to preview before the song’s release.
Although there’s no telling how many people were involved in the assembly of how i’m feeling now, it has a satisfyingly cohesive sound that also feels deeply personal to Charli. It’s an emotional and introspective collection of songs that is exploratory both lyrically and musically. And most importantly, it’s a testament to the creativity that arises through adversity, and the power of togetherness.
Charli XCX’s innovation gives us hope that despite all, the music plays on. The studios and concert venues may be closed, but artistry never stops.
