With so much music coming out this year, Charli xcx’s brat has remained one of the biggest and best. Why did BRAT take over the summer? And how did Kamala Harris get involved? 

Reviews

By Max Nokes | Edited by Paige Chinn

2024 has been marked by a surge of new pop music from some of the world’s biggest female artists: the ambitious and grand Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé, the return of Ariana Grande with Eternal Sunshine, the concise and mature Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish, and the controversial yet daring Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift. However, when it comes to identifying the big pop stars of the summer of 2024, the majority of people online can agree on the same three.  

First is Sabrina Carpenter, who had already made a name for herself in the pop world but has reached new heights with songs like Espresso and Please Please Please, determining her status as a chart-topper and respected artist. Then there is Chappell Roan, who, despite only releasing her debut album in 2023, has reached a high level of fame thanks to her online popularity and unique and whimsical persona. Her album, Midwest Princess, has made her a new person to watch out for. Yet, it seems Charli XCX ruled the summer with the release of her newest album BRAT. As her sixth studio album, brat. solidifies Charli’s status as one of the well-established artists in the pop world. But what sets brat. apart from the rest, making it the defining album of the summer and a cultural phenomenon?  

Well, the first thing to recognize is that BRAT. is an outstanding album.  Charli collaborates with multiple top-tier producers and DJs like The Dare, A.G. Cook, and her partner George Daniel, known for his work with The 1975 and artists like The Japanese House. The album is a tribute to Charli’s past influences and work, as well as a sign of where she wants her career to go. It blends genres like hyper-pop and electronic dance music, with songs that make you want to dance and party. While the high-energy, addictive songs like ‘Club Classics’, ‘365’, and ‘Guess’ set the mood for a wild party scene, BRAT has moments that balance the mood with slower, introspective tracks: ‘I Think About It All the Time’ and ‘So I’. What makes brat.  such an enticing album is how, even with the chaos and wild party anthems, the lyrics have a different, deeper narrative. Songs like ‘Sympathy Is a Knife,’ and ‘Girl, So Confusing’ show Charli writing about insecurities and the constant pressures of womanhood when it comes to comparison and fame.   

BRAT has received widespread acclaim from both fans and critics, many calling it Charli’s best album to date and one of the best pop albums of 2024. Pitchfork, the famous music publication, said “BRAT is imperious and cool, nuanced and vulnerable–– one of the best pop albums of the year.” Besides its critical success, fans helped push BRAT into the pop-cultural atmosphere. With the music, as well as its now iconic album cover, BRAT seemed to be a new form of aesthetic and way of life.  

Thanks to apps like TikTok, X, and Instagram, the “BRAT aesthetic” has quickly turned into the defining theme of summer, known as “BRAT summer.” The summer was filled with all things bright green, crazy parties, and long nights out with friends. A “BRAT summer” was the goal many people online wanted to accomplish. clothing trends, ways to party, and other trends quickly emerged thanks to the “BRAT summer.”  

Though the album was originally released in June, it maintained its hold on the public through the summer, with the release of deluze tracks and remixes with well-known artists such as Billie Eilish and Lorde. With these additions, BRAT remained a fixture in popular culture, keeping it a leading topic of all conversations and playlists, far beyond its initial release.  

One of the biggest, if not bizarre, reactions that came from BRAT was its connection to current American politics. In late July, it was announced that the current president of the United States, Joe Biden, would not be seeking re-election due to many factors. This left Vice President Kamala Harris to be the democratic nominee for the 2024 election. In response to this news, Charli took to X to post that “kamala IS brat.” This went immediately went viral, as the “BRAT aesthetic” would start to blend in with the Harris Campaign. Harris’ campaign team acknowledged and embraced the BRAT aesthetic. This saw the creation of many memes, boosting younger generations and new voters’ attention to Harris while also giving the album a new level of fame.  

Charli XCX’s BRAT not only became a milestone in the pop culture music industry, but also a cultural one. The album is a brilliant showcase of modern music production and has granted Charli the ability to remain one of pop music’s most interesting and unique stars out there. The album helped create new looks, ways of life, and trends to social media everywhere. It has even boosted political awareness and attention with its connection to the Harris Campaign. Though the summer has ended, it seems that BRAT won’t be going anywhere with more remixes getting released and an ongoing tour with Troye Sivan this fall and winter. Though 2024 has been a great year for music, BRAT. has proved to be one of the biggest and best of the year.