Charli XCX brings alternative pop into the mainstream with her new mixtape. And impresses with numerous collaborations!
The artist
"Pop2" is the second mixtape from Charli XCX.
The 25-year-old Brit Charli XCX (real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison) is known for her experimental pop and rose to fame in 2013 with the Icona pop hit "I Love It", which she wrote. Before her own songs "Boom Clap" and "Break The Rules" made it into the charts in and outside of Europe, she landed a global hit with a collaboration with Iggy Azalea and "Fancy", and Charli XCX has since appeared on stage on tours with Coldplay and Katy Perry and worked with many big names from the music industry. The best example: the clip for "Boys", which is packed with celebrities.
The mixtape
"Imagine if I made a new mixtape with Carly Rae Jepsen, Tove Lo, Alma, Cupcakke, Brooke Candy, Pabllo Vittar, Caroline Polachek, Jay Park, Kim Petras, Dorian Electra, Mykki Blanco, Tommy Cash, Mø and A. G. Cook. That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it?", tweeted Charli XCX on December 3, 2017. The announcement of "Pop2" followed last week, and today the mixtape has already been released. This makes it Charli XCX's second mixtape this year after "Number 1 Angel", which the Brit recorded on her joint US tour with Halsey.
The verdict
Is it an album now? Charli XCX describes "Pop2" as a mixtape. But with ten new songs and the quality of the songs, we can easily crown it album of the week. It's remarkable how the Brit plays with pop music on the mixtape and shows how elastic the concept of pop music is. Synthesizers and vocal effects can often be heard, and sometimes the sound scratches the boundaries of R&B and hip-hop. The number of artists who have contributed to this mixtape is also exceptional. Denmark's Mø, Finland's Alma, Sweden's Tove Lo, scandal noodle Cupcakke, transgender rapper Mykki Blanco and "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen are just some of the names that have contributed to the mixtape.
Recommended tracks
Out Of My Head - The track with Tove Lo and Alma is perfect for getting into the party mood or just relaxing.
Femmebot - Party song that motivates you to dance.
Track 10 - The name alone makes it look like a placeholder in the iTunes Store and it really is the tenth track.
