Slip on your dancing shoes party girls, it’s time to hit the dance floor because Brat is inviting us back to the club.
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, Brat, delivers a nicotine rush of green apple flavour that has captivated listeners worldwide. With 15 tracks, the high-octane tantrum isn’t for the faint of heart.
As someone who used to listen to Charli’s “Boom Clap” on my iPod in 2014, Brat is a welcome reintroduction to her music. For the first time in a while, lyrics from an A-list celebrity have felt somewhat relatable.
Whether it’s genuine honesty or a clever marketing ploy, Charli seems to get it right.
It’s brash, loud, electro-hyper pop that throws away ‘clean girl’ conventions for something grittier, campier, and much more fun. Embraced by the LGBTQ+ community, its electronic sound thrives in the vibrant city clubbing scene.
Many associate the singer’s music with being LGBTQ+ friendly, and Charli has been heralded as a fierce ally. She’s spoken openly about the inspiration and gratitude she has for the LGBTQ+ community, acknowledging their instrumental role in her success.
The album kicks off with “360,” which is a bit Polly Pocket-esque for my liking, though it includes nods to famous friends like singer Gabriette, Julia Fox, and the late SOPHIE. It’s a limp start, but fear not—it picks up with her second track, “Club classics,” its pulsating beat serving as a reminder that this album isn’t meant for quiet listening.
Charli boldly sings, “I wanna dance to me, me, me, me, me / When I get to the club…,” it’s not conceited—instead, it’s an ission she won’t settle for anything less than the best night out. On that night, there will be no High School Musical remixes—sorry, Stages.
In a change of pace, “So I” is the beating heart of the album. Charli re an old friend and mourns the tragic ing of SOPHIE in 2021, a transgender musician and producer. The raw grief in her voice is palpable and powerful.
It’s arguable the entire album beautifully honours SOPHIE. Listening to it during Pride month upon its release feels particularly meaningful and slightly intentional. As a trans role model known for her innovation and avant-garde pop, you can see traces of SOPHIE’s influence throughout all of Brat’s sound.
But Brat’s invitation to the party is one I’m not sure I can accept here in Kingston.
In 2023, queer bar set to open, complete with a location, space, and grand plans to become the LGBTQ+ hub Kingston needed. It would have been refreshing after what would have been a decade long drought. However, it never opened.
Kingston’s clubbing scene doesn’t stray far from cheap beer and 2014 throwbacks and it’s disappointing Kingston lacks a readily accessible queer clubbing scene.
It’s music to dance to in a club with my gal pals, carefree and wild, but it’s unclear where I can do that without constantly looking over one shoulder for the creeps who usually ruin my night. This, combined with the still-growing electronic music scene in Kingston, and the lack of venues tailored towards the LGBTQ+ community shatters the clubbing fantasy Charli XCX creates.
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