Charli XCX, formerly the enfant terrible of pop with her raucous musical style and outrageous persona, has shed new light on the first stages of her life as well as the cultural impact tied to her new album, Brat. The British star hosted SNL this weekend, reflecting on her unconventional start and how her “brat” style evolved to take over the world.
Born in Raves
During her monologue, Charli-as Charlotte Aitchison-subtly hinted at when she started performing at underground raves at the age of 15. She was able to get her parents to let her attend those late-night performances by telling them she had “swim practice at 2:00 A.M.” Her experiences in those underground raves would eventually lead to her six critically acclaimed studio albums.
Defining “Brat”
The “brat,” which has now become closely associated with Charli XCX’s newest record, was very much at the core of her SNL performance. Speaking about her take on the ethos of the “brat,” she described it as a “rebellious attitude with confidence, independence, and a little bit of chaos.” Charli defined the term as “a girl who has a breakdown but parties through it,” combining the vulnerability with the empowerment.
Her June album Brat has already become the cultural touchstone: social media trends, dance challenges, and even making an impact on US politics. On TikTok, the idea of “brat girl summer” turns inside out the standardized “clean girl” look in an attempt not to be perfect but to be actually authentic to oneself.
Brat Moments in Pop Culture
Charli illustrated a story about Martha Stewart that went on for several weeks ago with the “brat” mentality. Stewart reportedly said she was pleased to hear a journalist who actually spoke negatively of her was dead; however, that journalist surprised everyone by actually being alive. “That is very brat,” Charli added about the attitude that characterizes the word.
A Cultural Phenomenon
The chart-topping success of the album has engrained “brat” to be Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2024. Lexicographers define it as someone with a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude,” reflecting what the generation wants-it’s authenticity.
Charli Continued Impact
In the cultural realm, 32-year-old Charli XCX remains an enfant terrible who continues questioning set boundaries within and around music. Her latest project has so much been discussed concerning identity, aesthetics, and individuality. As she said during her SNL appearance, “Keeping it real is very brat. It’s all about being vulnerable and embracing who you are.”
And at SNL, where for the first time she was doing double duty, as musical guest-and-performer, her own electrifying stage presence sealed her status as a cultural icon.
The story Charli tells, starting from a vibrant rave performer in a club to a global super-star, is one of survival and creativity, and Brat captures that unique ability to make personal expression turn into a cultural movement.