We Pick The Wild Brain Of Charli XCX At SXSW

Austin – Following the success of 2012’s “True Romance,” British pop singer Charli XCX is showcasing selections from her soon to be released album at SXSW. While “Romance” had a dark, gothic pop sound, her new music is pure bubblegum rock n’ roll. Though she was losing her voice during our interview, when I caught her performance at SPIN’s House of Vans, she packed pure energy curing the audience of their SXSW day two hangovers. The new sound is not what fans expected but shows Charli’s versatility, grace, and staying power as an artist. I got to pick the wild brain of this fearless female artist.

How is your SXSW going so far?

It’s been busy. It’s been stressful. I nearly lost my voice. But I guess that’s just South By so it’s normal.

What do you do to recover when something like losing your voice happens?

I just try not to think about it and I just try to get on with it. I feel like I haven’t done shows in a while so I haven’t been in the routine. But I haven’t been taking care of myself well. I need to start doing that and then I’ll be fine.

Any showcases you’re particularly excited for this year?

I’m excited to do Fader Fort today; I’m excited to do Spin. I’m excited to do Waterloo Records because that’s one that my [younger] fans can come to so that’s gonna be cool. To be honest, I don’t even know the shows I’m playing.

You recently came out with the video for “Fancy” with Iggy Azalea that reenacted scenes from the film “Clueless.” What was it like getting to live in the film for a day? Seems like a dream come true.

It was, it was a total dream. And we shot in the actual high school. There were 300 extras all in head to toe “Clueless” outfits. It was amazing. It was insane and they really replicated the scenes really really really well. It was kind of freaky to see Iggy walking around in that yellow outfit. I was like shit that’s like Alicia Silverstone. It was a really magical day; I’ve never been on a shoot like that.

Did you take any mementos with you?

I took my high knee socks, that was it. I should have taken something from the school like a locker door.

Your music fits so well with your visual aesthetic and in the past you’ve spoken a lot about your music in terms of colors, what comes first for you in the writing process, the music or the visuals?

It’s usually the visuals, whether it be me watching a movie and being inspired by the film and linking that to a song I’ve written or whether it be a color. I always can tell the color of a song. I felt like a lot of songs on my first record, “True Romance,” I saw as being purple. Whereas this record I see as being pink and red. I see Japan and Paris being very influential for the visual things in my brain.

Do you feel more pressure releasing your new record now that you’ve gained success with “True Romance”?

I do feel kind of pressure. “True Romance” got really well reviewed. I guess there’s always that fear that I’ll put out a second record and it won’t get well reviewed. A lot of people say you shouldn’t care if it gets reviewed badly but I care. I feel like people who say they don’t care are lying. It’s something that you put a lot of your time and your soul and your love and your tears in to. If people who are considered important are gonna say its rubbish then that’s bad. I’m not afraid of that yet. I’m sure I will get the fear. Right now I feel really confident in what I’m doing. I feel like it’s important and no one is doing this right now, so that’s why I’m really excited about it.

You give off a sense of female empowerment within your music, especially being so influenced by the Spice Girls “Girl Power” movement of the 90’s, do you feel pressure to continue that message through your music?

To be honest, that’s not so much a problem for me. I want to do that anyway. I think it’s important to promote female empowerment in every aspect of your life. That’s a way of life for me and not something I have to think about. The new record is a lot more raw, I talk about sex quite a lot on the record. It’s about being angry; I was actually quite angry but also very passionate. I think both of those things are very feminine things. I see the record as being red and pink, which I see as very feminine colors. The whole record is very wild which I feel is something that every girl should be.

Has this record been more personal for you than your first one?

Both records are really personal actually. I think it’s equally as personal. There are some songs I’ve written that are about movies. One song is about this film called “The Crush” with Alicia Silverstone and then there are some songs that are completely about me. When I write, it’s all very fantastical in my brain. I write something and then I hear it and say “whoa I didn’t realize I’d actually written that about myself, how weird.”

I know how much energy you put in to your live shows, now that you’ve gained success are you able to take your live shows to another level since the label might be putting more money towards the performance?

I have to put all my own money in to that. I get tour support budgets from the record label but what I want to do is bigger than that. It’s difficult but I do what I want to do. I love touring. I’ve got a new girl band and they’re really really sick. We’ve just started playing a few new songs. It’s cool.

How has the response been so far to your new music?

Good. I was really really scared. We played two new songs yesterday and it went really really well. I was nervous because the songs aren’t out on-line; the fans have just heard them live.

I know earlier in your career you were working with I AM SOUND Records, what made you decide to go with major label Atlantic?

I’ve always been signed to Atlantic in the US. I AM SOUND has always been involved, the two have always worked closely together. I’m not one of those artists that have had a problem with major labels or indie records. It’s all bullshit. At the end of the day, I want to go with the label that’s going to give me the most money. I want to have amazing shows and tour the world. Your label shouldn’t define who you are as a person. Major labels are important if you want to sell records and if you want to tour. I do. I love touring. I work with a great team and they just get it.

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Ilyse Kaplan

Growing up in Boston, MA, Ilyse Kaplan was an avid music fan so she followed her passion to Los Angeles.Unable to decide whether to be Penny Lane or William from "Almost Famous," she combined their best assets--William's writing skills and Penny's fashion--and joined her guitarist boyfriend Southwest.Though missing her old haunts like The Echo and The Satellite, she has warmly embraced the Austin music community and looks forward to sharing the hidden gems she comes across wandering aimlessly down east 6th st.Her record collection holds no boundaries from 60's Yeh Yeh girls like Francoise Hardy to her imaginary hip hop boyfriend, Drake.From the kings of morose, The Smiths, to the reigning queen, Taylor Swift.Having written for publications such as Variety, LADYGUNN, and Filter in the past, she looks forward to reporting Austin's Best New Bands live from the scene.