Charli XCX is a musical mogul. At just 23, the Grammy-nominated electropop auteur has already sold nearly a million copies of her smash sophomore album Sucker and penned hit after hit for the likes of Selena Gomez, Icona Pop, and — duh — Iggy Azalea (credits which nabbed her Billboard’s ‘Hitmaker of the Year’ award in 2014). But Charli’s next venture might be her most exciting yet: she’s launching her own record label.
With her new EP Vroom Vroom set to debut on Friday (a project for which she enlisted the likes of PC Music producer SOPHIE), Charli announced this afternoon that her new imprint, Vroom Vroom Recordings, will be the label to release it. “Vroom Vroom Recordings is my new, experimental pop label and it will combine my love for bubblegum pop with mystery and darkness,” Charli said in an emailed statement.
In addition to releasing her own work, Charli has already recruited two upcoming artists for the exciting new venture: seductive synthpop duo RIVRS and multi-instrumental powerhouse CuckooLander. “RIVRS and CuckooLander are two artists who have so much intelligence, pop sensibility and potential — they know what they want and both have great vision. That inspires me and it’s why I want to work with them,” said Charli. “I’ve always been fascinated by shy and introvert people — it’s something that I am mostly not — and I feel both acts are in ways. It captivates me and sucks me in, and I think their music will do the same for others.”
The Cambridge-born hitmaker has also been confirmed to host her own Beats 1 radio show — the first episode of which will launch on Friday night. She’ll likely reveal more tracks from these two exciting artists as well as a few of her own Vroom Vroom cuts. One of them, “Trophy,” makes its premiere tonight on Zane Lowe’s show, where Charli will speak about the new label as well as what to expect from her collaborative effort with SOPHIE.
“I’ve worked with SOPHIE on the new EP and what we create together speaks for itself. Sometimes we get aggressive, sometimes we get beautiful; he pushes me and I push him,” said Charli. “The album goes to other places and I can’t wait for people to hear it. I feel the most creative I have in a long time and I couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter.” Neither could we!
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Photography Kaitlin Christy