Charli XCX on Marina: "I don't think we're that similar"
Quote:
Another new act that caught our eye over the weekend was Charli XCX. From the Home Counties originally she started playing warehouses and raves in London’s trendy east end when she was just 14 years old, after being discovered by promoters scouring MySpace. She says her early works weren’t exactly sophisticated; recorded using the beats from old Yahama keyboards, she would lay lyrics over the top like “a child rapping in a nursery rhyme kinda style”. The new life she would soon be thrust into would be an eye opener.
“Every weekend after school I’d go up and do a show at 4am, completely baffled and amazing at what was going on. I’m from Hertfordshire and I had no idea about that world. I kept doing that for a while and then my label and my management got interested, and after a while I stopped playing those raves and signed to Atlantic.”
Her inspiration came mainly from the Ed Banger label, with artists like Justice and Busy P influencing her early outpourings. While to some scenesters it seems like Charli XCX has been around forever, she’s still only 19.
“I’ve been writing in LA and New York and think over time I’ve grown up as a person,” she says, reflecting on her evolution. “My music tastes have changed and I’ve seen more places and I’ve kind of discovered who I am as a person. And I’ve started writing songs that you wouldn’t link to Ed Banger anymore.”
She mentions the likes of Kate Bush, Bjork and Belinda Carlisle as key influences now, though she says: “I want my album to be a massive pop album.” Her debut drops in October, and she’s also written songs for other artists, including HI-NRG Swedish girl/boy outfit Ikona Pop.
“I work with a guy called Ariel Rechtshaid who’s part of the Diplo / Major Lazer crew and we’ve written nearly a whole album together, and with a guy from Sweden called Patrick Berger [who’s worked with the likes of Lana Del Rey]. It’s a small writing team, and we often sit together in a room and do our ****. And I often write on my own as well.”
Speaking of working with other people, there’s something in her music that has shades of Marina and the Diamonds - though Charli clearly doesn’t need thirteen producers for her forthcoming record. She rolls her eyes when Marina is mentioned.
“I really like Marina’s work, and I really like the new album [Elektra Heart] and the concept and everything,” she says diplomatically, “but I actually don’t think we’re that similar at all.”
She’s heard this before then? “Yeah, all the time. I think a lot of people think our voices sound the same because we’re quite theatrical in the way we sing; we have quite a deep rich tone and a high falsetto I suppose, but when you listen to the music I don’t think our music sounds alike. She’s gone for a real Katy Perry / Dr Luke kind of vibe which is really cool and I think ‘Primadonna’ is an amazing song, but I think my songs are a lot darker than her songs. The way she writes is very theatrical and the way I write is darker and a bit more mysterious, blacker and more grungey than what she’s doing.” So, how was it being on before Janelle Monae at Slottsfjell?
“Amazing! I didn’t catch all of her set but she is such an incredible performer and her voice is just perfect and everything about it is so tight, her whole look.” And how about performing herself? “I think my show went really well considering I’d never been to Norway and haven’t released a single here. I feel the crowd were really into it. My favourite thing about being a musician is playing live, and I don’t want to sound super cheesy and cliched but I do really lose myself... I dunno, I get really immersed in the music.” And how about the festival?
“Yeah, I think they booked a really interesting lineup and I like the fact they booked so many new artists because it forces people to go and see them.”And how about the country? “I love Norway! We went to see A-Trak last night in some warehouse and it was amazing, and there was this awesome thunderstorm this morning.” Next up Charli commences on her first headline tour in America and then Coldplay support slots after that.
“With Marina [as well] actually,” she smiles. “So finally people will have us on stage together and will be like: ‘You’re not similar!’”
"though Charli clearly doesn’t need thirteen producers for her forthcoming record"
Ouch. Not even really that accurate but still hurts lol.
"Elektra Heart."
Someone doesn't like Marina.
Anyway, Charli is true though. Even if you compare her music to Marina's work from TFJ or even older, it's not similar at all. Nice to know that she's not just gonna be rude about the comparisons that she seems to get and answer politely.
OH at Primadonna apparently encompassing all the music on EH. There are few songs that Dr. Luke even produced.
I get not wanting to be compared, I don't think they're similar either but here we go again with another pop star talking out of their asses to sound more credible than the next.
OH at Primadonna apparently encompassing all the music on EH. There are few songs that Dr. Luke even produced.
I get not wanting to be compared, I don't think they're similar either but here we go again with another pop star talking out of their asses to sound more credible than the next.
Did you even pay close attention to what she said in the article? She only stated that she's [Marina] gone for a more Katy Perry/Dr Luke vibe, which is true for the most part and if you think that's wrong you need to listen to Electra Heart again. She never said that the whole album is produced by Dr Luke, just that some songs give off a Dr Luke vibe.
No one is speaking out of their ass, but you, saying that she's saying this to seem more credible.
Charli getting more exposure. Charli's totally different to Marina. I can't even describe Charli's music. Its kinda dark-ish goth pop. But did Charli really rolled her eyes when Marina's name was mentioned?
Marina gets compared to every female pop singer in history so it's actually quite nice to see someone being constantly told they sound like her. Marina can sing though so they're not that similar.
I feel like she was patronizing Marina a bit, but I agree with her. They aren't that similar and Charli's music is darker and more mysterious while Marina's is more theatrical. I love them both. I saw Marina live last weekend and I'm seeing Charli this weekend.
When I first saw the video for Nuclear Seasons however, I did think of Marina. The music is different, but their voice and appearance are similar.
The content owner has not made this open to mobile viewing. And I've watched her sing live, I've also seen Marina live, twice. No comparison. I don't dislike Charlie XCX though, she's friends with Grimes so I accept her
The content owner has not made this open to mobile viewing. And I've watched her sing live, I've also seen Marina live, twice. No comparison. I don't dislike Charlie XCX though, she's friends with Grimes so I accept her
I'm seeing Charli live Monday, I'll let you know how she holds up to Marina haha.
Although I do think Marina has a better voice or at least better control/use of her range. Marina's voice is just bigger and better in my opinion. Charli seems to have a somewhat average voice. Her vocal talent isn't what I love about her though.
Marina gets compared to every female pop singer in history so it's actually quite nice to see someone being constantly told they sound like her. Marina can sing though so they're not that similar.
Charli XCX can sing, so what you're saying makes no sense.
I feel like she was patronizing Marina a bit, but I agree with her. They aren't that similar and Charli's music is darker and more mysterious while Marina's is more theatrical. I love them both. I saw Marina live last weekend and I'm seeing Charli this weekend.
When I first saw the video for Nuclear Seasons however, I did think of Marina. The music is different, but their voice and appearance are similar.
I saw her on the 28th and it was a lot of fun! You're gonna love it!
I suppose. Her production is pretty cool. Citing the number of producers Marina used for her second album really annoyed me. She only used two on her first and Greg Kurstin only did Oh No! which was a late addition to the album. She worked with Liam Howe exclusively. One of the purposes of Electra Heart was for her to work with other people, so it's a bit sly of whoever wrote this to put about that.
I saw her on the 28th and it was a lot of fun! You're gonna love it!
What did she play? a lot of unreleased songs that will be on her new album? I'm not sure what to expect. I only really know Nuclear Seasons, You're the One, Stay Away, Valentine, and I'll Never Know. And then the random stuff in Heartbreaks and Earthquakes.
and @supercalz: Owl isn't saying Marina can't sing, just that Charli CAN sing...
Not even really that accurate but still hurts lol.
Charli's totally different to Marina. I can't even describe Charli's music. Its kinda dark-ish goth pop. But did Charli really rolled her eyes when Marina's name was mentioned? 
