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Musician and muse Charli XCX began raving when she was just 14. And it seems all the warehouse parties somehow led to a career. A "party monster" with seashells on her boobs, massive tutus and wigs on her head, Charli XCX broke into the music scene with an eccentric sound she calls "goth pop". Last summer her single ‘Stay Away’ chilled music fans and critics with its prickly electronic sound. As her sound has matured, Charli XCX has worked with top producers Patrik Berger and Ariel Rechtshaid as well as recorded a soundtrack for indie flick ‘Elfie Hopkins’. Still in her teens, Charli XCX returns with single ‘Nuclear Seasons’ and an album set for release in spring 2012. IDOL took notes on moody lyrics, gothic sounds and "love and torture."

 

You have been making music since you were seven and released your first single at 14. Tell us about your journey.

I have been singing since I was a kid. I recorded some songs and got picked up by a guy who was running a lot of raves in East London. He contacted me over MySpace and I started going to parties when I was 14. I was running around these warehouses parties, and one day I got 

signed. Now I have been with Atlantic Records for the past three years. Pretty cool!

The warehouse performances helped me to shape my performances and sort of opened my eyes to a whole new world I was never exposed to.

 

Where does Charli XCX come from? Why did you choose this name?

I guess right now “Charli XCX” sort of means everything… It doesn’t stand for any word per se. I tried to make it stand for “Xrated Cunt Xrated” [laughs] but the label wouldn’t let me.

 

How would you describe your music?

It’s mysterious, it’s dark and I feel it has a magical element in it.

"I tried to make XCX stand for “Xrated Cunt Xrated”

but the label wouldn’t let me"

 

 

You have recorded singles with great producers like Patrik Berger  (Robyn's producer) and Ariel Rechtshaid. How was that?

Amazing! It was great finding those two. It is very important to work with people that share your creative vision. Both Patrick and Ariel, and I understand each other very well. They understand the vision I wanted to project, and they transform my demos and my songs into something so much bigger.

 

You have been compared with singers like M. I. A. , Lady Sovereign and Lykke Li. What are your main influences?

[Laughs] I feel it’s so weird being compared to Lady Sovereign. I am sure she is great, but I am nothing like her! My influences are Bjork… I love as well this band called Austra. I am also very influenced by visual things like famous photographers - David LaChapelle is one of my favorites. I take a lot of inspiration from videos as well.

 

 

FULL INTERVIEW IN ISSUE 3 - OUT NOW! 


 

 

 

Photographer: Elliot Morgan

Creative Director: Bianca Spada

Stylist: Gabrielle Stival

Make-Up Artist: Paula Valencia

Hair Stylist: Amy Fujita 

Set Stylist: Arijana Zeric

 

 

 

Look 1

Dress- KTZ

Leggings- Bolshie

Eye Patch- Nyx 1787

 

Look 2

Jacket- KTZ

Top- Nanette Lepore

Trousers- Ashish

Shoes- Underground

Necklace- Bex Rox

 

Look 3

Jacket- Topshop

Top- Nanette Lepore

Trousers- Current Elliot

Shades- Glassing

 

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