Charli XCX claims minimalist ‘Brat’ cover was made to save money
Charli XCX has revealed the inspiration behind the initial idea for her neon green Brat album artwork, claiming that the minimalist cover was chosen to save money.
Brat was released earlier this year and took the internet by storm with its emotional take on club culture. The record was accompanied by a bright, neon green album cover that displayed the album title in a basic, black font. While many initially criticised the simplicity of the cover, but it proved to be an ingenious marketing choice.
The Brat cover has been endlessly replicated by fans, brands, and even politicians. Now, Charli has revealed the initial inspiration for the artwork, stating that it was initially a financial choice. Speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, she admitted, “Where the actual first idea of doing a text cover came from was to save money.”
Charli admitted that she didn’t think the record would appeal to the masses and wanted to use the money elsewhere. “I was like, ‘I think I will do a press shoot and then maybe we just save on the album cover,'” she remembered.
The popstar’s friends thought it was “the stupidest idea ever,” but Charli thought that it mirrored the meaning of the album. “It actually feels like it very much embodies the word ‘brat’ to kind of not be there because that is sort of less of the norm, I suppose, for female artists,” she explained.
Charli anticipated frustration and disappointment from fans, but she was open to this response. The singer concluded, “I think for me, it’s like I would rather have those conversations, which actually in some cases became quite explosive, than a picture where people are like, ‘She looks good.'”
The cover was recently referenced again in a series of billboards revealing the artists who will feature on Charli’s upcoming remix album, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.
Who features on the Brat remix album?
Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat arrives on October 11th and features a number of Charli’s previous collaborators as well as some new faces.
The previously released remixes, featuring Robyn, Yung Lean, Troye Sivan, A.G. Cook, Addison Rae, Lorde, and Billie Eilish, will all appear on the track listing. A.G. Cook will also appear on the remix for ‘So I’, Charli’s ode to the late hyperpop pioneer Sophie.
Popstar Ariana Grande joins Charli for a remix of ‘Sympathy Is a Knife’, while Caroline Polachek will feature on the new version of ‘Everything Is Romantic’. Some more unexpected names include The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, who makes an appearance on ‘Mean Girls’, and Bon Iver, who will join Charli for ‘I Think About It All The Time’.
Other features on the remix record include BBC Trickz, The 1975, Jon Hopkins, Bladee, the Japanese House, Tinashe, and Shygirl.
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