ELLIE SKJERSAA / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

From a social media trend to a progressive moment for women and the queer community to a political campaign strategy, Charli XCX’s new album, “Brat,” has taken the world by storm. British pop icon and 365 party girl, Charli XCX, released the album on June 7, 2024, which fueled the brat summer trend. Although her previous albums have encapsulated a similar hyperpop, grunge and messy girl genre, her new album, “Brat,” has received more praise and attention than those that came before. 

This album has been transformative for many USD students because it addresses the realities of what it means to be feminine and encourages listeners to embrace their uniqueness in a world that is attached to conformity. Although a vague and ambiguous phrase, Charli has cleared any confusion when she defined “brat” in a Tiktok video.

“You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes,” Charli said. 

Although this is her definition, the term has been relatively up to interpretation. Some students have noticed themes in the album that they feel also encapsulate a person who is “brat.” 

“When I first heard the term ‘brat summer,’ I thought it was a take on girlboss,” said USD senior Grace Guenther. “Now it has made more sense to me as a push toward individuality, freedom to express oneself and confidence, especially in regards to femininity.”

This album has been specifically empowering as it encourages people not to conform to the normative expectations of society. 

 “I feel like there’s a stigma around women that are confident and aren’t considered driven by the male gaze, and this album has opened the doors for women to be more expressive and loud in their fashion choices and opinions,” Guenther said.

Although Charli’s fans are primarily women, others have recognized how impactful Charli XCX’s new album is. USD senior Hugh Ireland explained that her new album differs from her previous releases. 

“When you don’t fit that perfect patriarchal view of a man, you are forced to have an expiration date to your youth, an expiration date to who you are and how you express yourself,” USD  senior Hugh Ireland explained. 

He argues that aging is a vastly different experience for those who do not fit into the stereotypical depiction of a straight man.

“Aging is a very normal thing, but, for some reason, it’s villainized amongst feminine people versus masculine people. So I think the album plays into that whole idea of, ‘What expiration date are you talking about?’,” Ireland said. 

By speaking to the grief one undergoes when losing their childhood and the anxiety of living in a rapidly-changing world, Charli’s lyrics can be relatable to anyone. 

Not many albums succeed in transcending beyond the music itself. However, “Brat” has undoubtedly expanded to critique societal norms and, in turn, has become deeply intertwined with the political world.

After Joe Biden announced he would be dropping out of the presidential race, Kamala Harris stepped up to the plate. On the same day, Charli XCX tweeted, “kamala IS brat.” Since then, Harris’ campaign has effectively used the “brat brand” for its own advantage.

Guenther explains that this has been fundamental for the Democratic Party because it has allowed Harris to align herself with the iconic nature of the album and with younger audiences. Because a person who is “brat” is someone who is individualistic and embraces their identity,   people have started to view Harris as a beacon of hope for a progressive future.

However, others feel that Harris’  brat campaign is a calculated and subtle tactic to attract minority groups to vote for her. 

“In the American world, everything has a profitable mindset to it,” said Ireland. “So, bringing in something like ‘Brat,’ it’s like, okay, perfect, I’m gonna get these 18 to 24-year-old gay people to vote for me. That’s what Kamala is doing. Your target market is queer people because they aren’t going to vote for Trump. You want to get them to vote for you and not vote third party.”

Regardless of Harris’ true intentions, it is undeniable that Charli XCX, although British, has played a vital role in her campaign success.

As summer comes to an end, only time will tell the lasting impact the album will have on people across the world.

“I think that this has been an unapologetic album that has allowed Charli to be herself,” Guenther said. “A part of me thinks this has been a long time coming and has opened the doors for people to be more unapologetic about being feminine, individual, unique, expressive and confident, so I don’t think it’s just a trend.”

Although trends come and go, many students hope that the album continues to be a topic of discussion because brat is much more than what meets the surface.  

Fans with a signed copy of Charli XCX’s vinyl, “Brat.” Photo courtesy of @charli_xcx/Instagram