Charli XCX teams up with Lizzo on the first single from her upcoming third studio album, ‘Blame It On Your Love’.
Charli XCX spent the most part of 2017 and 2018 churning out underground electropop and whipping some of the industry’s most dedicated fans into frenzies at underground shows. However, a hiatus from releasing new music since October’s Troye Sivan collaboration ‘1999’ (albeit only five months) ended yesterday as ‘Blame It On Your Love’ debuted with Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1.
Featuring woman of the moment, Lizzo, whose debut record Cuz I Love You is currently wowing critics, ‘Blame It On Your Love’ sees XCX turn towards the more mainstream pop. A remake of ‘Track 10’ from 2017’s critically acclaimed Pop 2 mixtape, the former screechingly clever electronica is replaced with an airier bassline, the lyrics changing little.
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Ever since breaking off her ‘Charli and Jack Do America’ co-headline tour with Bleachers back in 2015 due to a “need to be creative”, the star has leant towards team-ups with PC Music to release the disruptive pop sound behind the likes of ‘Vroom Vroom’, ‘No Angel’ and ‘5 In The Morning’. Those long-term collaborators are still there, A.G. Cook and EASYFUN are behind ‘Blame It On Your Love’, but it’s a fresh XCX sound with a fresh perspective.
“I had to find myself. I had to figure out what I wanted and what was important to me. I’ve had commercial success, and you know what? I won’t lie, there are definitely some benefits. But did it satisfy me creatively? Not really. I felt stunted and sometimes forced into a box. I am so much more than someone singing pretty pop songs which could be sung by anyone. I’m a pop music innovator! I needed to explore that.”
Currently working on the long-awaited third studio album, which she reassures fans will be “brilliant”, it’s exciting times for fans. However, as XCX veers towards radio-playable bops, be assured she isn’t writing just for the certifications. Confirming ‘Blame It On Your Love’ to lean towards the “pop spectrum” of the record, this is an artist who sees beyond her proven smash writing skills to make something a whole lot more meaningful. XCX is not one to mess with.
‘Blame It On Your Love’ is streaming now. Let us know your thoughts @CelebMix on Twitter!