Charli XCX’s “Brat” album rollout has fully resurrected indie sleaze. Every party feels like an episode of “Skins”, each Boiler Room set hints at a remix record, and the prophetization of the Brooklyn “Brat” wall was beyond gay (read: “clever”). As the dance chanteuse stated herself, “Brat” summer isn’t over yet, dishing out culture-setting guest features with Lorde and Billie Eilish, and even prompting a left-field (and successful) endorsement in Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’s last-minute presidential campaign.
There’s no doubt that Charli XCX is the moment, but other artists certainly lived the “Brat” life before its iconization. Britney Spears is, undoubtedly, the OG “Brat” and even received a special remix of her will.i.am collaboration “MIND YOUR BUSINESS” at Charli’s 2023 FWB Fest set with PC Music’s A.G. Cook. Charli’s contemporaries Kim Petras and Slayyyter, who originally played in the Hyperpop sandbox, also attended the popstar academy for mainstream success. However, just like nightclub natives Rivern Moon, Chase Icon, and That Kid, creating provocative off-kilter bangers like “10 BAD BITCHES” or “James Dean” is in their blood.
“Brat” is also a huge win for the subculture, spotlighting under-the-radar internet folk whose Instagram “it” factor matches their digitally-obsessed productions, like Miss Madeline’s “OMG” and Chrissy Chlapecka’s “I’m Really Pretty”. In the same way, umru’s PC Music background offers a brief glimpse into his turntable dexterity, but when he shows up in the producer credits like “Firetruck (umru Remix)”, he raises the ordinary to extraordinary. The international entries are no joke either, but no one touches Ninajirichi’s electronic Midas touch– well, except for Izzy Camina, who certainly matches her DJ freak with the sweat-tastic collaboration “Ninacamina”.
Ahead are club bangers from Britney Spears, Kim Petras, Slayyyter and more that would receive the “Brat” stamp-of-approval from Charli XCX.
“10 BAD BITCHES” by River Moon, Chase Icon & That Kid (feat. Petal Supply, Warpstr, umru & Iglooghost)
The second single from River Moon’s debut album is a hyperpop Battle Royale from start to finish. But with Pedal Supply, Warpstr, umru and Iglooghost infusing the production with laser synths and bombastic bass, this rave banger’s sexually charged lyrics easily translate into a Mean Girls-esque “You can’t sit with us!”
“Ninacamina” by Ninajirachi & Izzy Camina
Electronic music never sounded better than on Ninajirachi’s turntable. For this “girl EDM” cut, the 24-year-old Australian teams up with the cyberpunk Britney Spears, aka Izzy Camina, with an ice-cold trance collaboration that slaves clubgoers to the dancefloor. “Ninacamina” perfectly cements their blended identity into a future classic.
“Firetruck (umru Remix)” by f5ve & umru
Described as “inter-dimensional dream agents from Tokyo”, f5ve is a five-member female J-pop group with a sweet tooth for the unexpected. Already, the group’s production easily passes experimental. However, New York producer umru– a hyperpop talisman– recharges the original two-minute duration of “Firetruck” with a high-energy tempo that nearly bursts at the seams for the remix– and it’s straight fire!
“Accelerator” by Blusher
According to the Australian pop trio, “‘Accelerator’ feels like Blusher with the saturation turned up to 200%”. They also described the single as a “big-budget action movie” and “James Bond in drag”, but really the track is a late-night car chase, holstered by revving engines, techno-inspired verses, and a detonator chorus. “Accelerator” is a rare gem of when absurd pop becomes commercial without sonic compromise.
“Optifine” by gabby start
Gabby start is the new persona under artist Gabriel O’Leary, formerly Knapsack, and his production wizardry is only getting better. “Optifine” is the epitome of Gabby’s metamorphosis: digitally articulate and deliciously proficient in Hyperpop– to the point where the track’s digital dubstep flourishes into an electronic trap without a hiccup.
“Really Hot” by Babymorocco
UK stud Babymorocco takes the artist’s narcissistic “himbo” persona through some neon-tinted electronic pulses on “Really Hot”– a track armed with juicy muscles, pretty girls and a thrumming bassline.
“James Dean” by Slayyyter
“I heard your new song and, bitch, it’s not giving!” Slayyyter rages on the deluxe track. Tinged with an old-Holywood aroma a la burned synths and backroom pop soirees, the Missouri native launches A-list disses throughout her sophomore album, but the strobe-like adrenaline of “James Dean” puts the pedal to the metal for bratty behavior.
“Drums” by James Hype and Kim Petras
“Unholy” singer Kim Petras trades her bubblegum pop prowess for some dancefloor sweat on UK producer James Hype’s latest heart-racing anthem. The electro-pop track’s shimmery house influence, supported by Petras’s coquettish vocals, bonafide the unorthodox sample of Justin Timberlake’s 2002 classic “Like I Love You” into a new-age party starter.
“OMG” by Miss Madeline
Internet hustler Miss Madeline’s forte is Myspace-core music, McBling’d with Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” and Britney Spears’s “Circus”, a vibe perfected by New York City nightlife– and her latest zinger, “OMG”, is one to beat, There’s simply no shortage of iconic behavior; the IM-coded tell-all is riddled with Manhattan locations and TMI shenanigans that just “keeps getting bitcher”, as the autotuned New Jersey diva proclaims.
“HATE YOUR GUTS” by INJI
INJI isn’t an obvious choice, but the UK visionary makes music “you can scream along to”. Enter the sparkly glitch of “HATE YOUR GUTS”, a straightforward post-breakup explosion after years of tongue-biting. Clubgoers usually expect the unexpected from their night-out soundtrack. However, the pop track’s standard melodic structure offers a repetition that makes every repeating phrase another excuse to be a bit bratty and unapologetically blunt– even if it’s reciting lyrics, you wish it were real.
“MIND YOUR BUSINESS” by will.i.am & Britney Spears
Today’s scene loves to reference; Britney Spears is the reference. It’s only right that Charli’s forever icon makes the list, partnered with none other than Black Eyed Peas’s will.i.am– another pop aficionado– with a super slick “hot girl” anthem. Even though “MIND YOUR BUSINESS” is technically the younger sister to “Piece Of Me”, the former is a revised archive masterpiece with witty paparazzi call-outs, addictive raspy vocals, and a heavy-handed foresight into the future of club music.
“I’m Really Pretty” by Chrissy Chlapecka
“They look at me and think that I’m so hot. […]I’m not just hot, I’m… I’m really pretty, you wanna kiss me,” Chrissy Chlapecka, resident pop connoisseur of “bimbo” music, whines on the hot-tempered single from her equally flamboyant debut EP, “Girlie Pop”. Chlapecka is another instance of an unexpected entry: the truth is Chlapecka’s bubblegum fantasy is barbed with enough steely production that her pouty lips and doll-like enunciation are deadly a combination for fun.
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