Brat Summer

A particular lime green album took this summer by storm. brat, the sixth album by Charli XCX had us all “bumpin’ that” throughout the hot heat. brat made our lifestyle mainstream. Quoting recent brat summer advocate and Masterman Demonstration and Laboratory highschool student Josiah White (‘25), “I could not put the album down!” 

The album draws inspiration from the mid 2000’s, a period that claims to be the last breath of “alternative culture” before it shifted into the digital world. It’s a response to the cookie cutter blandness of modern pop music. Charli’s blend of club and pop has brought the rave scene to new audiences. Elements of electropop, club-pop, and hyperpop combine in brat; it’s meant to be danced to!

The first introduction to the concept of brat was all the way back in August 2022 when Charli launched her private burner account @360_brat on Instagram. Superfans were given brief windows to follow the account and get glimpses into what would later become her next album, though they had no idea at the time. Fast forward to February 2024, Charli hosted a Boiler Room event in New York, where she mixed in snippets of the unreleased album. By leveraging social media, engaging with her highly online fan base through memes, and presenting herself as unapologetically authentic, she captured the attention of millions. This approach helped brat land at #3 on the Billboard 200.

The esteemed album has received some backlash with many parents complaining that it promotes drug abuse and a party lifestyle. However, criticism like this completely misses the point of the whole album. Charli XCX has come out explaining brat, stating in a interview “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.” Charli’s album is focused on ignoring society’s view of femininity and creating her own definition. A brat girl explores and expresses herself however she wishes, defying social trends such as “clean girls”.

And yet, there are so many songs on this album where she is being very vulnerable and admitting her insecurities. Tracks like “Sympathy is a knife” or “Girl, so confusing” delves into feeling self conscious and navigating the music industry. There’s this intensity that might be overlooked by listeners lost in the upbeat bass. Our favorite track is “Everything is romantic.” Like the rest of the album it is incredibly produced. After starting with a quiet orchestral section, the beat drops and she talks about love and reflects on the human experience. Despite everything, we are still here cherishing moments and creating memories that will outlast us. It captures this mix of melancholy and determination to live life fully. Its raw, honest tone speaks to our universal struggle of finding meaning.