Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Around this time last year, I would wake up every morning and listen to boygenius’ “The Record” from start to finish.
The album was later released as “Letter to an Old PoetAfter ” ,” a song lamenting a toxic relationship and begging the moon for a sliver of happiness, I often follow songs by Mitski, Noah Kahan, and Ethel Kane, who tend to sing heavy tunes about loneliness, depression, and sadness. Sometimes Murder.
Now, I am happy to wake up every morning to the song “Brat” by Charli XCX. In her words,365 Party Girl, Bangpin’“
Charli’s sixth studio album is a neon-lit buffet of hyper-pop bangers. Wear designer clothes and Iconic make a harsh confession about Body image and Women’s Jealousy.
In contrast to Mitski and Kahan’s work, Charli’s confessions aren’t meant to make you stop and cry: hers are frank, unpolished, impulsive, released and thrown into the air before being drowned out by thumping beats.
Charlie’s stream-of-consciousness style reflects a night at the club: ugly emotions bubble up, but they quickly fade away when the DJ plays his favourite tunes.
“Brat” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “espresso“And Tinashe’s.”dirty” has ushered in a season of joy and lightness, what my friends and I call “brain-smoothing summer.”
The main principle is simple: don’t overthink it, don’t overanalyze it, and don’t ruin the atmosphere.
‘Summer of the Smooth Brain’ may be a reaction to the news cycle
This trend may seem at odds with the amount of suffering in the world, especially in recent months. But instead, it may be a direct correlation: a demand born of burnout, bad-news fatigue, and a fatalistic urge to party on the edge. It’s not even October yet. After all, if the end is near, the window of opportunity for pure whimsy is closing.
Pop music’s main appeal has always been escapism. The late producer Sophie, a friend and frequent collaborator of Charlie’s, Song for her The “Brat” author once said her goal in pop music was to make the “loudest, brightest thing.”
“For me it’s an interesting challenge musically and artistically,” Sophie said. Rolling Stone“And I think that’s a very valid challenge, just as valid as the challenge of who can be the most emotionally honest.”
Indeed, we live in a pop world. Taylor Swift stars And in the years since, it’s been remade in her image: Swift’s confessional, verbose songwriting has influenced a generation of musicians who came of age in her wake, from established cult favorites like Phoebe Bridgers to newcomers like Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams, all of whom prioritize raw, unflinching honesty in their lyrics.
It’s common these days for artists to promote their next album as their “most personal work yet,” as if that were some indisputable virtue or magic bullet for mainstream success. This strategy is getting old, if not already.
Of course, that’s not to say that artists like Rodrigo and Abrams aren’t already successful: Rodrigo is in the midst of a sold-out world tour after hitting No. 1 with his sophomore album, “Guts,” and Abrams is in the midst of a sold-out world tour. Aiming for a top debut on the Billboard charts Her second album, “The Secret of Us,” A duet with Swift herself.
Some of the music is completely incomprehensible
The songs, which seem to have been ripped from a diary, make great music, climb the charts, Capturing the ZeitgeistNot everyone can write a hit song like Swift. In fact, most people shouldn’t try. Music should just be fun, even if the lyrics don’t make sense.
As I was reminded this year, in music, more It’s no fun if the lyrics don’t make sense. In “Espresso,” for example, Carpenter claims that his charms are addictive and distracting, and won’t put his lover to sleep the way caffeine can.
“That’s Me, Espresso” is a grammatically incorrect sentence, but therein lies its beauty: a simple concept becomes a catchphrase, an endlessly quotable, shareable phrase; the chorus feels like an inside joke between everyone who sings along.
“me espresso” has lyrics that sound like they were written by a Swedish pop music genius who isn’t fluent in English, but that’s why it’s the song of the summer.
— Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxxa) April 24, 2024
Charli and Tinashe have their own version of this sassy gimmick.360In the opening track of “Brat,” Charlie sings, “I’m everywhere, I’m Julia.” The lyrics are: An obscure reference to Julia FoxEven if you saw her in a music video, most people probably wouldn’t notice.
“I really am Julia” is almost meaningless. Still, the phrase will stick in your weird reptilian brain that runs on vibes and not logic. On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, people are having fun with new ways to compliment their friends and idols. “I really am Julia”
For Tinashe, whose catalog is filled with clever, well-crafted songs that were meant to be hits, one silly question finally led to her breakthrough: “Can anyone match my weirdness?”
it is Dance Trends,after that, MemesNow, the song is a true mainstream hit. #69 on the Billboard Hot 100This marks Tinashe’s first solo album, more than a decade after signing her first label deal.
These unique songs form the perfect foundation for a “smooth brain summer” soundtrack. However, this doesn’t mean they have no value or meaning. Rather, that value and meaning is spread out in a clear, tangible way for immediate consumption. Little soul searching or analysis is required to enjoy.
There’s still an appetite (and need) for complex metaphors, history lessons, and personal revelations in pop music, but now’s not the time: we’re all too busy sipping espresso.