Charli XCX released her new album BRAT on Friday, which has already been deemed the most critically acclaimed record of the year. Surpassing Beyonce’s latest album Cowboy Carter and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, BRAT has received universal acclaim on Metacritic with a score of 92 out of 100 from 11 critics. The hyper pop-electronic record is Charli’s sixth studio album and channels the London rave scene where she first began performing as a teenager.
The singer has described BRAT as her most aggressive and confrontational record, while also being her most vulnerable. In February, she debuted snippets of tracks during a Boiler Room warehouse set, including songs like ‘Spring Breakers’ and ‘365’. One of the tracks on the album, ‘Von Dutch’, has been identified as a diss track, sparking speculation among fans over who the song may be directed towards. Despite this, Charli clarified on social media that ‘Von Dutch’ is the only diss track on the album, which was released on June 7.
In response to the rumors surrounding potential diss tracks on BRAT, Charli XCX took to Instagram to address her followers. She explained that the other tracks are not diss tracks, but rather reflections on the challenges faced by female artists in the industry. The expectation to befriend every peer while also being pitted against them is a complex dynamic that Charli explores on the album. The singer received comments from fans speculating on who ‘Von Dutch’ could be aimed at, with some suggesting unusual figures like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Prior to Charli’s clarification, fans had theorized about the target of ‘Von Dutch’, with some speculating it could be aimed at artists like FKA Twigs, Ariana Grande, or Lorde. Despite the speculation, Charli maintained that the other tracks on the album do not reference any specific individuals but rather delve into the emotional complexities of being a female artist. The themes explored on BRAT touch upon feelings of confidence, insecurity, competition, and vulnerability that female artists may experience in their careers.
The British pop singer’s video on TikTok aimed to dispel the rumors surrounding the presence of diss tracks on her album. Charli shared her perspective on the contrasting emotions female artists face, from moments of empowerment to days of self-doubt and competitiveness. By addressing these themes on her music, Charli hopes to highlight the emotional challenges faced by women in the music industry. Despite potential backlash, she remains committed to sharing her reality and experiences through her music.
