Beyond establishing itself as one of 2014’s best mainstream pop songs and landing in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, “Boom Clap” has also done something very significant for singer-songwriter Charli XCX.
It has established her as a superstar solo pop act.
Long known by music diehards as one of pop’s most promising acts but previously by mainstream fans for her featured work on Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy,” XCX is no longer a simple songwriter or a mere voice on catchy radio songs. She, courtesy “Boom Clap,” now has a recognizable name, persona and musical identity to go with her recognizable voice.
“Boom Clap” is still on the rise, but as a result of its early and significant impact, the mainstream music world is already buzzing about her follow-up offerings.
The singer-songwriter just kicked that buzz into overdrive.
In a feature with BuzzFeed, Charli XCX confirmed that new album “Sucker” will release on October 21. While it is technically the follow-up to her critically acclaimed “True Romance,” fans first introduced to the singer-songwriter through “Fancy” or “Boom Clap” will treat it as her debut.
In terms of mainstream visibility, it absolutely will be her first full-length statement.
Not due to peak for several weeks, “Boom Clap” will continue to function as mainstream radio’s introduction to the “Sucker” sound. As of Monday, a more enthusiastic crop of fans is able to sample another track from the album.
“Break the Rules,” that track, offers a heavier, rockier alternative to the pure pop essence of “Boom Clap.” Driven by a hard-hitting bass line and a punk-inspired delivery, the song demonstrates the artist’s refusal to let her newfound fame inspire a more syrupy sound.
Despite its superficial grit, the core of “Break the Rules” is still built on Charli XCX’s powerful pop sensibility. It is not an obvious pop smash, but with Charli XCX’s recognizable voice, a rousing chorus, EDM elements and even some compositional similarities to “I Love It” (which she co-wrote), it should have no trouble resonating with the people only familiar with the mainstream version of Charli XCX.
The audio is embedded below:
