CHARLI XCX’S DIY VIDEOS

BY: Jeff Daugherty

Quarantine has brought with it some technical limitations. Aside from music videos shot pre-COVID and one-suspect-if-colorful 6ix9ine shoot, only one artist has genuinely found an elegant solution to the “creating music videos while social distancing” dilemma.

At the start of this month, Charli XCX dropped her “claws” video — a scaled-down, green screen dance party featuring Charli, simple graphics and stock footage — and now follows up with a series of new releases in the same vein.

“7 years,” another iconic single from how i’m feeling now, features nature footage, predominantly flowers, warmly juxtaposed over a skyline loop. The dreamy aesthetic complements the bubbly track. In “i finally understand,” Charli takes the listener down to ground level but keeps the flower overlay.

“detonate” is even simpler, yet feels more deliberate with its nearly static avant garde imagery: disco lights float over a fortune cookie forecasting “Your fondest dream will come true within this year.” By the end of the video, the message vanishes. “visions” begins similarly before descending into a fever dream light show.

 

“pink diamonds,” “anthems” and “party 4 u” actually feature Charli herself — sinking into a hot tub, silhouetted onstage, basking in the camera. In “enemy” she drives through Hollywood, top down, mask up.

For these and the rest of Charli XCX’s music video setlist — a series of abstract short films when watched individually and a veritable art installation taken altogether — check out her YouTube channel.