Live Review: SOUNDCLOUD WRAP: Charli XCX

Having recently finished touring Australia with a rambunctious run at Groovin the Moo's travelling road show, and with successful sideshows supported by Tkay Maidza in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, it’s safe to say that CHARLI XCX came, saw and conquered Oz.

Watching a Charli XCX show, there’s a well crafted and devious cuteness that plays against a spunky live set. Lyrically her music weaves between purposefully set up pop chants which rub shoulders with more insightful and sensitive moments, so as to create a very British tongue in cheek stage presence. There's a sense of high-octane energy that surrenders at times to a surly nonchalance, but both are underpinned by a very focused and professional performance.

In Brisbane she "ate five hotdogs in three days", picked up some Aussie lingo along the way ("BAZINGAAA"), kept a vigil eye on the toilets for creepy crawlies out at the rural GTM festival sites and played a show on a floating island under the shadow of the Opera House.

Amidst this whirlwind tour, she found time to give us a quick insight into what’s been most played on her iTunes recently (and not sticking just to SC in the process):

Tame Impala ‘Let It Happen’

They’re my favourite band right now and I find this song really euphoric. They’re Aussie too, which is great.

Connan Mockasin ‘I’m The Man, That Will Find You’

I like this song just because it reminds me of sex.

Prince ‘I Would Die 4 U’

This is a song I’ve been listening to on repeat, it’s from my favourite era of Prince. (Ed's Note: Due to copyright issues/Prince hating the Internet, this track is impossible to embed. Instead, we've posted Wolf & Cub's 2013 Triple J Like-A-Version of the song. What a world we live in).

Britney ‘Piece Of Me’

This one is in there because it’s from my favourite record of all time, and lyrically it’s such an incredible song. Plus I think the production is ahead of its time.

t.A.T.u. ‘All The Things She Said’

It’s so emotional and such a great pop song. You know they couldn’t speak English, they just learnt and sang the words phonetically?

Words by Katie Rowley

LISTEN TO MORE MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO

TKAY MAIDZA 'M.O.B' (JOY. REMIX)