Gone are the days of traditional remixes and an album only existing in one context. After taking over the world with BRAT, Charli xcx has completely reimagined one of the largest albums of the year on the fittingly titled Brat and it's completely different but also still brat. Reinterpreting the original fifteen tracks of the album, along with two of the three deluxe tracks, Charli xcx brought in a number of collaborators to add their perspective to the originally solo tracks. Standing out most amongst this untraditional remix album is its ability to add even more emotional depth into the BRAT tracks. Take “So I” for example, where the original and remixed version featuring A.G. Cook give a full circle look into the process of grief. While the original version focuses on regrets with the late SOPHIE, a friend and collaborator throughout Charli’s career, the remixed version focuses on all the positive memories of SOPHIE that Charli is left with.
On its reimagined version with Ariana Grande, “Sympathy is a knife” rounds out a full story of longing to be on top, achieving it, only to realize the pressures and complications that come with high-level fame. Alongside this, The 1975 and Jon Hopkins assist in mirroring the original sentiments of “I might say something stupid”, while allowing the weight of the lyrics to sit over a more sparse and sentimental soundscape. Matching the nostalgic tone of “Everything is romantic”, Caroline Polacheck dives deeper into reflection on her rendition, opting for a more ethereal and nostalgic sound. Allowing the reinvisioned edition of BRAT to really work is its ability to stray away from its original form and know exactly who to bring in to help. Reimagined versions of “Club classics” with Bb trickz, “B2b” with Tinashe, and “Talk talk” with Troye Sivan include only seedlings of the original songs, while “360” with Robyn and Yung Lean and “Girl, so confusing” with Lorde follow more traditional remix format, allowing the pop-ins of new lyrics and perspectives to shine. Brining Ariana Grande, someone who has been historically rallied against, on “Sympathy is a knife”, a track focusing on people’s desire to watch others fail, allows the remixed version to serve as a powerful social commentary alongside Lorde and Charli xcx as they navigate their complications and “work it out on the remix”.
Breaking expectations and industry norms may just be the rule of thumb for Charli xcx. Adding perspective, depth, and emotion into an album already full of it breaks the typical album cycle formalities that are seen throughout the music industry. All this being said, it would come as no surprise if this approach to remix albums becomes more popular amongst the music industry in the years to come. Unafraid of pushback and fitting into a mold, the reinvisioned edition of BRAT proves that Charli fills a space in the music industry that can often be left empty. Innovation.
- Logan Bandi
