On June 7, Charli XCX released her sixth studio album “Brat.” The album garnered high anticipation prior to its release as Charli teased new songs in late February at her Boiler Room set in New York.
Since its release, the album has garnered widespread critical acclaim by various music publications, earning the title of the highest-rated album release of the year with a score of 95 on Metacritic. The record also went viral due to its marketing and promotion that prompted the use of the “Brat” green and “Brat” font among internet users, eventually being adopted by the Kamala Harris campaign, with Charli endorsing Harris by tweeting, “kamala IS brat.”
Four months after the release of “Brat,” Charli XCX released her highly anticipated remix version of the album, “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat.” Prior to its release, Charli had already released several remixes of songs on “Brat,” including “360” feat. Robyn & Yung Lean, “Talk talk” feat. Troye Sivan, “Von dutch” A.G. Cook remix feat. Addison Rae, “Girl, so confusing” feat. Lorde, and “Guess” feat. Billie Eilish.
She had been slowly teasing other remixes, such as the “365” remix feat. Shygirl. It was first teased in a promotional video for her Boiler Room set in New York and later debuted in her BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend Luton 2024 set.
The official feature list includes BB Trickz, Ariana Grande, The 1975, Jon Hopkins, Caroline Polachek, Bladee, The Japanese House, Tinashé, Julian Casablancas, and Bon Iver. The
“Sympathy is a knife” remix featuring Ariana Grande came as a surprise feature to fans. In the original song, Charli talks about being insecure and her constant self-doubting projected onto another girl.
In the remix, Grande and Charli discuss the presence of “stan” culture and the desire of wanting to see someone fall off once they reach the top. “Cause it’s a knife when you’re finally on top (On top) / ‘Cause logically the next step is they wanna see you fall to the bottom.” In an industry where women are constantly pitted against each other, both artists strive to live as their authentic selves in an even more abrasive track.
Recurring fast-paced synths sampled off the original track of “B2b” linger throughout the remix featuring Tinashé. Hard-hitting bass accompanies both artists as they slide on the beat, reflecting on the massive success they’ve garnered this year with their respective music breakthroughs after so many years in the industry.
“I might say something stupid” feat. The 1975 and Jon Hopkins and “I think about it all the time” feat. Bon Iver showcase a reflective Charli post-“Brat” and can be best described as calming after partying all night. Despair-filled harmonies, somber keys, and grand orchestral production add a deeper level of vulnerability as Charli poses questions pertaining to her career and future.
“…I think songs are endless and have the possibility to be continuously broken down, reworked, changed, morphed, mutilated into something completely unrecognizable,” Charli posted to Twitter.
In the current musical landscape where the term remix often succumbs to the idea that its only potential consists of a new verse, Charli XCX has redefined the remix game.
