New lockdown album is an artistic moment in time

Album: How I’m Feeling Now Artist: Charli XCX

MANY in the music industry have been using the time during lockdown to come up with creative new ideas, but few have had the motivation or courage to release anything substantial.

Half-Indian British superstar Charli XCX decided to cope with being confined indoors by creating a lockdown album, with input from fans and then being brave enough to release it in full. The result is an artistic offering that is loaded with commercial songs, which capture a moment in time, have something meaningful to say and are just a really enjoyable listen. Apart from the fact she has had fans fully involved, what makes the entire album even more remarkable is that she managed to write, record and mix it in less than six weeks.

Pink Diamond is an electronic track with hardedged beats that gives an immediate wake up call and gets you ready for tracks far away from the musical comfort zone. Like many of the other tracks, simple love song Claws has a nice pop feel with neatly layered beats and simple but effective lyrics. There are also slow burners like Detonate, Visions and I Finally Understand, which need a few listens, but do have plenty to offer.

There could have been more variety between the songs and the addition of some surprise guest appearances would have added a nice finishing touch. That doesn’t take away from the artistry of songs that will not only appeal to die-hard fans of the unstoppable pop sensation, but also a new wave of music fans that will be drawn to her genius.

There haven’t been many good things that have happened during lockdown, but musically this is a frontrunner for the best and that is why songs from How I’m Feeling Now deserve to make it on to any playlist.