Charli Xcx

Location: Hackney via Hertfordshire

So hands up If you’re bored of moody gothic singer-songwriters? Okay that’s a lot of hands, but fear not, for every dreary and contrived Skylar Gray there’s an alluring Lana Del Rey, and of course Florence + The Machine kick started the scene with some genuinely exciting music. Now if your still reading I should inform you, that while Charli Xcx is fond gothic/industrial postering, her music is rooted around big dance sweeps and huge pop hooks.

Better yet, she has an impeccable sense of style, and more than a little humour, and unsurprisingly she’s become one of the biggest names on the lo-fi rave scene. Shamefully, I must admit that I slipped off home to sleep before her 4:30am stage time at her most recent Halloween rave, but the reviews were glowing. This teenage girl is clearly not afraid to just cut loose, with plenty of 80s style quirkiness.

It’s a enticing mix, a girl who knows how to strike a pose and play it cool on the dancefloor, but isn’t afraid to deliver the kind of sugary hooks that reeks of pure abandon. She has plenty of famous admirers; Salem where quick to remix “Stay Away” and Charli has been lending guest vocals to tracks by the likes Starkey and Alex Metric. Perfect for slowing it down on the dancefloor “Nuclear Season” and “Stay Away” are must haves. David Hayter

The Buzz: The latest in a long wave of great potentially British females, taking her dance cues from Scandinavia but stilling it through a tougher, industrial, North London sound.

For Fans Of: Sparks, Robyn, and Fischerspooner.

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