Charli XCX’s latest single ‘Claws’ taps into a retro sweet spot to explore a spectrum of emotions. 

The singer has been lauded for a fresh, energetic, and youthful sound that’s as contemporary as it gets but her latest single ‘Forever’ and ‘Claws’ demonstrates the young singer-songwriter is not hesitant about dipping her toe in an eclectic range of styles to express her emotions. The new single does just as well to examine the techno space as ‘Forever’ but there is something overwhelmingly intimate about the melody. The verses are delivered in a largely monotonous manner but it’s on purpose: the focus is really directed at the complex arrangement of instrumentation and production determining the tempo.

With a strong bassline and a mishmash of arcade and android tones, you will find an escape into a nostalgic haven; a haven that’s complete with electrifying vibes that will make you think both about the past and the future. Charli has never been about hitting the high notes or taking on the vocal riffs and that’s absolutely okay — she shines in setting the scene and sending you down a trance of wonder and euphoria. ‘Claws’ checks all the boxes; it’s juicy, it’s charming, and when you’re not looking, it will sneak up on you with its sincerity. Just the riff of ‘I like, like, like’ conveyed through a variety of styles will convince how stylistically intriguing the tune is: it yields auto-tune as an instrument of its own, the dragged-back rhythms and tempo fluctuations serve up a dose of glitch pop, and you can rest assure that you’re taking part in something immensely unique and instantly relatable. 

This single will also be part of Charli’s upcoming album How I’m Feeling Now, which is set to be released on May 15, 2020. She has described this project as a ‘do-it-yourself’ collaboration in which she has enlisted her fans in the recording process. The project was wholly developed by the quarantine situation and hence will reflect the human experience that has grown, evolved and in some ways, forever transformed by the current circumstances. If the first two singles are anything to go by, then you will be pleased to know that Charli’s fourth studio album will be a fantastic pop collection. 

 Singer-songwriter     Pop 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.