Charli xcx’s most dedicated NYC angels
Gallery / 27 images
When Charli XCX’s eighth studio album was first released this past summer, early reviews were mixed. After all, how could one possibly follow Brat, a cultural juggernaut of an album that’s impact seemed to transcend music spheres altogether? The answer was Music, Fashion, Film, an introspective, rock-heavy album that narrated the highs and lows of stardom. Now that audiences have had a few months to sit with the album, it seems that listeners have fully bought into the project. At least, that’s the sense one got last Tuesday night at the Barclays Center, where Charli completed the second night of the album tour’s sold-out New York run.
On my way to the show, angels were easy to spot. Not because there’s any one “look” to a Charli fan, but because their excitement was palpable from several subway cars and blocks away. The shredded T-shirts were a bit of a clue, however – prior to the show, Charli encouraged fans to sport distressed old shirts, and plenty answered that call. The tour yet again proved the star’s broad reach, as listeners of all ages began to file in the stadium’s entrance. In speaking with attendees, it was clear that these weren’t Brat-era bandwagons, either – many had Charli origin stories that stretched back to her earliest works.
Below, fans share their first favourite Charli song, the ultimate Music, Fashion, Film trio and more.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
I think it was “I Love It” because it was so long ago, but I also really love the Vroom Vroom EP.
What’s a song from her vault that you hope she plays tonight?
“Next Level Charli”.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music: Yung Lean. Fashion: Vivienne Westwood. And film, of course, Sofia Coppola.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
Probably “Francesca”. I’ve been a big Charli fan since she was clubbing and still DJing, so the Charli roots are really deep. There was a time when I kinda fell off, around “True Romance” and “Sucker” – it wasn’t really my vibe. But then the Vroom Vroom EP came out, and I was like, ‘You’re with SOPHIE. You’re where you need to be, and it sounds amazing’. Ever since then, I’ve been riding hard for the bitch.
What’s a song from her vault that you hope she plays tonight?
The “Dying For You” into “Club Classics” remix. My all-time favourite song by Charli is “Warm”, but I know she’s not gonna play that tonight, unfortunately. That’s okay. We live and we laugh.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music: Kim Petras. Fashion: Charli. And film: Ariana Grande.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
“Boom Clap”.
What’s a song from her vault that you hope she plays tonight?
“Yuck.” That’s what got me back into Charli. It was the summer of 2024, and I listened to “Yuck” on repeat.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
I really wanted to do the cutout T-shirt idea that Charli said was the dress code, but I just moved into college here in New York, so I didn’t have any, like, beater T-shirts yet. But I know she’s from the UK, so I was like, ‘This shirt is perfect’.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
I wouldn’t say it’s a song. My brother, he’s the Charli super fan, and he got me into Crash, so Crash is my favourite album.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music: Arianna Grande. Fashion: Billie Eilish. Film: Nicolas Cage.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
I made this shirt for Lolapalloza that said “This feels like Euro summer”, because I also love Zara Larsson. And I was like, ‘I’m never gonna wear this again’. So I decided to take off the tags and then write ‘I Heart 2007’, because I was born in 2007, and rip it up, like she [Charli] said.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What’s a song from her vault that you hope she plays tonight?
“Roll With Me”, 100 per cent.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Fashion: Ann Demeulemeester. Music: Charli. Film: David Lynch.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
I love the Union Jack. I don’t know what it symbolises – if it’s problematic, I’m sorry. I love leopard print; it’s so basic to me. I love a sequin. For me, it’s about playing with patterns and textures, but also making sure everything’s consistent. Basically, my style inspo is myself.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
“Fembot”, for sure. I loved the colourful and bubbly aesthetics that she used to really make the song cohesive and intriguing.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music, we gotta have Charli. Fashion, babes, we’re adding Zendaya. For film, Cynthia Erivo. Not going to lie, she’s so fab.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
Okay, so my vibes were lowkey a mix of every single [Charli] era, but mainly Music, Fashion, and Film. I distressed this shirt early in the morning because I got my tickets last second, which is so ironic. I got these pants off Depop, and I also thrifted this jacket from eBay along with these boots from a thrift shop.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
It would definitely be “Crash”, because that was like the fucking jam of my life.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music: Charli. Fashion: RuPaul. And film: Mia Goth.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
Honestly, today, I just thought about super rock, the whole grunge aesthetic, pop, a little bit of punk rock – a bunch of stuff.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
“Boys”.
What’s a song from her vault that you hope she plays tonight?
Either “Claws”, “Anthems” or “Constant Repeat.”
What was your style inspo for tonight?
Protect the dolls, because underscores.
Photography Janaiah Lloyd
What was the first song that got you into Charli?
“I Love It”. I grew up listening to really old Charli, and then I kind of phased out of it. Then, when she released BRAT, it got me back on the train, and I just started re-listening to all her old stuff and was like, ‘Wow, I really resonate with this’. She perfectly describes girlhood.
Who’s your ultimate music, fashion, film trio?
Music: Charli or Chappell Roan. Fashion, lowkey Tara Yummy. And film: Zendaya.
What was your style inspo for tonight?
2000s scene. Or just like, the whole scene era.