Charli XCX facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charli XCX
Charli XCX at the Berlinale 2026
Born	Charlotte Emma Aitchison (1992-08-02) 2 August 1992 (age 33) Cambridge, England
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2008–present
Works	Discography songs written performances
Spouse(s)	George Daniel ​ (m. 2025)​
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Start Hill, Essex, England
Genres	Electropop dance-pop synth-pop hyperpop
Labels	Vroom Vroom Atlantic Warner Asylum Iamsound
Signature

Charlotte Emma Aitchison (born August 2, 1992), known professionally as Charli XCX, is a British singer, songwriter, and actress. She started sharing her songs on Myspace in 2008 and soon began performing at local music events in London. In 2010, she signed a record deal with Asylum Records and released several singles and mixtapes.

In 2012, Charli XCX co-wrote and was featured on Icona Pop's hit song "I Love It". This song became a number-one hit in the UK and was popular worldwide. Her first album, True Romance (2013), was well-received by critics.

A big moment came in 2014 when she was featured on Iggy Azalea's song "Fancy". This song became a global success and one of the best-selling singles that year. In the same year, Charli XCX released "Boom Clap", her first solo song to reach the top ten in the US. Her second album, Sucker (2014), included popular songs like "Break the Rules" and "Doing It".

Starting in 2015, Charli XCX began working with producers from the UK group PC Music. This led to a more experimental and unique sound in her music. She released the EP Vroom Vroom (2016) and the mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 (both in 2017). Her third album, Charli (2019), featured the popular song "1999" with Troye Sivan.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, she created her fourth album, How I'm Feeling Now, which was praised by critics. Her fifth album, Crash (2022), became her first album to reach number one in the UK and Australia. In 2023, she contributed the UK top-ten song "Speed Drive" to the soundtrack of the movie Barbie.

Her sixth album, Brat (2024), also reached number one in the UK and was named one of the best albums of 2024 by magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stone. The album included the UK top-ten hit "Apple". A remix of her song "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish became her second number-one song. Brat and its songs won three Grammy Awards in 2025. The album also inspired a cultural trend called Brat Summer and a film called The Moment (2026), which Charli XCX co-produced and starred in. She has also taken on acting roles in several independent films.

Besides her own music, Charli XCX has written songs for many other artists, including Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello. In 2024, she received the ASCAP Global Impact Award for her contributions to pop music. She was also recognized on Gold House's A100 list as an impactful Asian artist, being the first woman of British Indian heritage to receive this honor.

Early Life and Heritage

Charlotte Emma Aitchison was born in Cambridge, England, on August 2, 1992. Her mother, Shameera, was a nurse and flight attendant, and her father, Jon, was an entrepreneur. Her mother's family is of Gujarati Indian descent from Uganda. They moved to England when her mother was young. Her father is Scottish.

Charli XCX grew up in Start Hill, Essex, and often spent weekends with her grandparents in Crawley, West Sussex. She attended Bishop's Stortford College. She has shared that she sometimes felt different at school because of her mixed heritage. She faced challenges as a girl of Indian descent among mostly white classmates.

From a young age, Charli XCX loved music, especially artists like the Spice Girls and Britney Spears. She started writing her own songs at 14. Her stage name, "Charli XCX," came from her MSN Messenger screen name. She decided to keep it, saying she wouldn't change it like some other artists have.

Music Career Highlights

Early Music Journey (2008–2011)

When she was 14, Charli XCX convinced her parents to help her record her first album, 14. In 2008, she started sharing songs from this album and other demos on her Myspace page. A music promoter noticed her and invited her to perform at local music events in East London. She used the name Charli XCX, which came from her old MSN Messenger name. Her parents were very supportive and even attended some of her early performances.

Charli XCX performing at the 2013 Positivus Festival

In late 2008, she released two singles, though 14 was never officially released. Charli XCX has since said that she didn't really like her early music, calling it "gimmicky dance tracks" and "terrible Myspace music." At 18, she moved to London to study fine art at UCL but left in her second year to focus on music.

In 2010, Charli XCX signed with Asylum Records. She felt a bit unsure about her musical direction at first. She wanted to make "bad rap music" and was still figuring out her style. She found her sound after meeting American producer Ariel Rechtshaid in Los Angeles. They wrote the song "Stay Away" together, which she said helped her music come together. In 2011, she released "Stay Away" and "Nuclear Seasons" as singles, both of which were praised by the music website Pitchfork.

Rising to Fame with True Romance and Sucker (2012–2015)

Charli XCX also started working with Swedish producer Patrik Berger. They wrote "I Love It" and "You're the One". She didn't release "I Love It" herself, but in 2012, the Swedish duo Icona Pop recorded it with her vocals. The song became a huge international hit, reaching number one in the UK and number seven in the US in 2013.

In 2013, she released her debut album, True Romance. It was well-received by music critics. She then began working on her second album. She initially wanted to record it in India or France but ended up going to Sweden. There, she created a punk-inspired album quickly, focusing on spontaneous ideas. However, this early work was later changed to create a more pop-focused album.

Charli XCX performing for MTV in 2014

In late 2013, "SuperLove" was released as the first single from her upcoming album. In early 2014, she was featured on Iggy Azalea's single "Fancy", which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Charli XCX also wrote songs for other artists during this time, including Rihanna and Gwen Stefani.

She contributed the song "Boom Clap" to the soundtrack of the film The Fault in Our Stars in mid-2014. "Boom Clap" became a top-ten hit in both the US and the UK. Her second album, Sucker, was released in December 2014. She said the album was about being confident and not caring what others think. It included singles like "Break the Rules" and "Doing It" featuring Rita Ora.

Charli XCX believes in equal rights for everyone and wrote a song called "Body of My Own" to share this message. She also appeared in a documentary about gender equality. In 2015, she opened for Katy Perry on her European tour and co-headlined a US tour with Bleachers.

Exploring New Sounds: Vroom Vroom, Number 1 Angel, and Pop 2 (2015–2018)

In 2015, Charli XCX announced she was working on her third album, describing it as her "most pop" and "most electronic" music yet. In 2016, she launched her own experimental pop record label, Vroom Vroom Recordings, and released an EP called Vroom Vroom. This EP, mainly produced by Sophie, showed a new, more experimental side to her music.

Charli XCX in 2017

In 2016, British producer A. G. Cook became her creative director. The lead single for her third album, "After the Afterparty", was released in October 2016 and became a UK top 30 hit. On March 10, 2017, Charli XCX released the mixtape Number 1 Angel, which featured many female guest artists and was largely produced by PC Music artists.

Later in 2017, she released the popular song "Boys" along with a music video she directed, featuring many male celebrities. Unfortunately, much of her planned third album was leaked online, which led her to cancel its release and create an entirely new album. She then released another mixtape, Pop 2, on December 15, 2017, featuring many collaborations. In 2018, Charli XCX joined Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour as an opening act. She also released singles like "5 in the Morning", "Focus", "No Angel", and "Girls Night Out".

Albums Charli, How I'm Feeling Now, and Crash (2018–2023)

On October 5, 2018, Charli XCX released "1999" with Troye Sivan, which became a UK Top 15 hit. The music video for "1999" was full of references to 1990s pop culture. Her third album, Charli, was released on September 13, 2019. It included collaborations with artists like Lizzo on "Blame It on Your Love" and Christine and the Queens on "Gone". She also worked with BTS on the song "Dream Glow" for their game BTS World.

Charli XCX performing at Primavera Sound 2022

In January 2020, Charli XCX was featured on the Galantis song "We Are Born to Play," the theme song for Super Nintendo World in Japan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she announced a new album, How I'm Feeling Now, which she wrote and recorded in just six weeks while in lockdown. She used social media to connect with fans, letting them vote on lyrics and artwork. The album was released on May 15, 2020, and was praised for capturing the feelings of that time.

In 2021, Charli XCX announced she was working on her next album, which would be her last with Atlantic Records. She released "Good Ones" as the first single in September 2021, followed by "New Shapes" featuring Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek in November. Her fifth album, Crash, was released on March 18, 2022. It featured a synth-pop sound and included the single "Beg for You" with Rina Sawayama.

Brat and Recent Projects (2023–Present)

In February 2023, Charli XCX signed a new record deal for her next two albums. She performed at the Coachella Festival in April 2023. She also contributed songs to film soundtracks, including "Speed Drive" for Barbie. "Speed Drive" became a top-ten hit in the UK. She also helped compose the music for the 2023 film Bottoms. In October 2023, she collaborated with Sam Smith on the single "In the City".

Charli XCX performing at BP Pulse Live in 2024

In February 2024, Charli XCX hosted a special music event called PARTYGIRL for Boiler Room in Brooklyn, which was very popular. She teased songs from her upcoming album at this event.

"Von Dutch" was released on February 29, 2024, as the first single from her sixth album, Brat. The second single, "360", followed on May 10, 2024, with a music video featuring many popular internet personalities. Brat was released on June 7, 2024, and quickly received widespread critical acclaim, becoming one of the highest-rated albums of the year. Its unique lime-green cover art became a viral internet trend.

The deluxe edition of Brat included the song "Guess". A remix of "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, marking Charli XCX's second number-one hit. The song "Apple" also became a single after gaining popularity on TikTok. In 2024, she received the ASCAP Global Impact Award for her impact on pop music and was recognized on Gold House's A100 list.

The remix album, Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat, was released on October 11, 2024. It featured many artists like Ariana Grande, Kesha, and Billie Eilish. In October 2024, Charli XCX became a global ambassador for Valentino Beauty. She also hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live on November 16, 2024. In December, the Financial Times named her one of the most influential women of 2024.

In May 2025, a music video for her song "Party 4 U" was released, five years after its original album, due to its renewed popularity on TikTok. She made surprise appearances at concerts with Air and Dua Lipa in June 2025. In October 2025, she joined Addison Rae on stage during her debut album tour.

Film Projects and Upcoming Music (2025–Present)

On November 10, 2025, Charli XCX released "House" with John Cale. This song was the first single from her soundtrack album for the film Wuthering Heights (2026), based on the famous novel. The album was officially announced on November 13, 2025, along with the second single, "Chains of Love".

Charli XCX produced her first film, The Moment, through her company Studio365. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2026, and was released in cinemas in early 2026.

On May 7, 2026, she released the single "Rock Music". She also became a Global Brand Ambassador and shareholder for the electronics company Nothing on May 12. On May 21, she released another single, "SS26".

On June 1, 2026, Charli XCX announced her upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film, which includes "Rock Music" and "SS26". The album is set to be released on July 24, 2026. She also announced a North American tour for the album, starting on September 11, 2026.

Artistic Style

Musical Sound

Charli XCX's music has been described in many ways, including electropop, dance-pop, synth-pop, alternative pop, hyperpop, and experimental pop. Her songs often explore themes of confidence, fun, and love. Her very first songs were described as "trashy techno," and later ones as a mix of dark wave and witch house.

Her first album was called gothic pop and synth-pop, while her second album had a pop-punk sound with elements of punk rock and new wave. When she started working with PC Music artists, her music became more avant-pop. The Vroom Vroom EP had elements of Eurodance, and Number 1 Angel included sounds from trap, R&B, and experimental pop.

Charli XCX at the Berlin Film Festival, 2026

Her mixtapes Pop 2 and album Charli were known for their many collaborations and continued her avant-pop style, adding elements of avant-garde and J-pop. How I'm Feeling Now was described as a "club-pop" and hyperpop album with elements of garage and trance, reflecting her experiences during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Crash featured a synth-pop and 1980s pop sound, moving away from her more experimental work to appeal to a wider audience. Her album Brat has a "party girl" vibe, which some have compared to artist Kesha. Charli XCX's singing voice is often compared to Gwen Stefani and Marina Diamandis. She has an alto vocal range. While her music is often linked to the "hyperpop" style, she has said she doesn't like to be limited by music genres.

Inspirations

Charli XCX has many musical inspirations, including Britney Spears, Shampoo, No Doubt, Björk, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Donna Summer, Robyn, and M.I.A.. She has also mentioned Rihanna as her "favorite pop girl" and hopes to write a song for her. She admires artists like Madonna and Bowie who constantly change their style.

She has said that her album True Romance was inspired by Martika, the Cure, and Britney Spears. Her second album was influenced by the Hives, Weezer, the Ramones, and 1960s yé-yé music. Charli XCX has also mentioned that she learned about performing and connecting with a crowd from Taylor Swift. Her live shows are known for their energetic, rave-like atmosphere, and she often brings guest stars to perform with her.

Charli XCX loves 1990s pop culture, which inspired her music videos for "Break the Rules" and "1999", as well as her album Crash. She sees the 1990s as a time of the Spice Girls and Britney Spears. She considers Britney Spears her "first big pop icon" and loves her album Blackout. Other childhood favorites include Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. For her fashion, she is inspired by Avril Lavigne and characters like Cher Horowitz and Wednesday Addams, often describing her style as "90s schoolgirl."

Personal Life

Charli XCX experiences sound-to-color synesthesia, meaning she sees music as colors. She has said she loves music that is black, pink, purple, or red, but dislikes music that is green, yellow, or brown.

She is very proud of her Indian heritage. She has spoken about facing challenges because of her mixed background, but she embraces her roots and family. In an interview with Vogue Singapore, she explained that she experienced two different worlds growing up: her Indian family's culture on weekends and a largely white environment at home.

Charli XCX was in a long-term relationship with Huck Kwong until 2022. In 2022, she began dating British musician George Daniel, the drummer for the band the 1975. They met while working on music together. They got engaged in November 2023 and married in a small ceremony at Hackney Town Hall in London on July 19, 2025. They had a second wedding in Scopello, Sicily, on September 14, 2025, with friends and family.

As of 2017, Charli XCX divides her time between London and Los Angeles. She has mentioned that she is not religious. In June 2026, Charli XCX shared that she has been struggling with her mental health.

Discography

Studio albums

• True Romance (2013)
• Sucker (2014)
• Charli (2019)
• How I'm Feeling Now (2020)
• Crash (2022)
• Brat (2024)
• Music, Fashion, Film (2026)

Tours

Filmography

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film Roles

Table featuring feature films with Charli XCX

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2015	F-Word and Me, TheThe F-Word and Me	, HerselfHerself	, DocumentaryDocumentary
	in the North, LostLost in the North	, HerselfHerself	film, ShortShort film
	1989 World Tour, TheThe 1989 World Tour	, HerselfHerself	film, ConcertConcert film
2016	Angry Birds Movie, TheThe Angry Birds Movie	Willow (voice)
2018	Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour, TaylorTaylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour	, HerselfHerself	film, ConcertConcert film
2019	, UglyDollsUglyDolls	, KittyKitty (voice)
2022	Charli XCX: Alone Together	, HerselfHerself	, DocumentaryDocumentary
2025	Erupcja	Bethany	Also screenwriter and producer
	100 Nights of Hero	, RosaRosa
	Sacrifice	Mother Nature	Cameo
2026	The Moment	Herself	Also story writer and producer
	The Gallerist	Alex
	Faces of Death	Gabby
TBA	Untitled Kyoto	Katie	Pre-production

Television Appearances

Composer Credits

Producer Credits

Podcast Appearances

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Charli XCX para niños