For Charli XCX, the allure of fame and fortune has always been undeniable. But beyond the glamour and glitz, there's a darker side to being a pop star – one she's eager to explore in her latest essay.
"I don't view what I do as a 'job' or purely as a pop star," Charli writes, opting instead for the more modest title of "creative" or simply "artist." But make no mistake, she's well aware that her profession comes with its own set of unique challenges and drawbacks. For starters, there are the long hours spent on tour, traveling from city to city without much respite.
"It feels like you're living in a state of constant transit," Charli notes wryly. "You're not really inhabiting these spaces, you're just inhabiting them as a commodity." This sense of disconnection can be alienating, even for someone who's surrounded by the trappings of fame and adoration.
Of course, there are also the inevitable downsides to being a pop star – the endless scrutiny, the pressure to constantly produce new music and perform at your best. Charli acknowledges that these pressures can be overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to maintaining relationships with friends and family who may not fully understand the demands of her lifestyle.
In fact, Charli confesses that old friends and family members often struggle to relate to the person she's become. "They'll tell you, 'You're still the same person I knew 10 years ago,'" she notes wryly. But for those close to her, there are also the constant questions – Who is the real Charli XCX? Is it the persona she presents on stage, or the private person behind the scenes?
For Charli, these are all valid questions. As someone who's always been drawn to art and music as a way of escapism, she's often found herself torn between her desire for creative expression and the harsh realities of fame.
"My favorite artists aren't role models," Charli writes. "I want them to be flawed, I want them to be imperfect." And it's this willingness to take risks and push boundaries that has always defined her as an artist – from her early days as a punk rock upstart to her current status as one of the most innovative and in-demand pop stars on the planet.
Of course, there are also the fantasy elements of fame – the sense of power and influence that comes with being able to create music that resonates with thousands, if not millions, of people around the world. For Charli, this is a double-edged sword: while it's exhilarating to be able to connect with others through her art, it can also be crushing at times.
Ultimately, Charli XCX knows that being a pop star is a mixed bag – part glamour, part grime. But for all its flaws and challenges, she wouldn't trade it for the world.
"I don't view what I do as a 'job' or purely as a pop star," Charli writes, opting instead for the more modest title of "creative" or simply "artist." But make no mistake, she's well aware that her profession comes with its own set of unique challenges and drawbacks. For starters, there are the long hours spent on tour, traveling from city to city without much respite.
"It feels like you're living in a state of constant transit," Charli notes wryly. "You're not really inhabiting these spaces, you're just inhabiting them as a commodity." This sense of disconnection can be alienating, even for someone who's surrounded by the trappings of fame and adoration.
Of course, there are also the inevitable downsides to being a pop star – the endless scrutiny, the pressure to constantly produce new music and perform at your best. Charli acknowledges that these pressures can be overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to maintaining relationships with friends and family who may not fully understand the demands of her lifestyle.
In fact, Charli confesses that old friends and family members often struggle to relate to the person she's become. "They'll tell you, 'You're still the same person I knew 10 years ago,'" she notes wryly. But for those close to her, there are also the constant questions – Who is the real Charli XCX? Is it the persona she presents on stage, or the private person behind the scenes?
For Charli, these are all valid questions. As someone who's always been drawn to art and music as a way of escapism, she's often found herself torn between her desire for creative expression and the harsh realities of fame.
"My favorite artists aren't role models," Charli writes. "I want them to be flawed, I want them to be imperfect." And it's this willingness to take risks and push boundaries that has always defined her as an artist – from her early days as a punk rock upstart to her current status as one of the most innovative and in-demand pop stars on the planet.
Of course, there are also the fantasy elements of fame – the sense of power and influence that comes with being able to create music that resonates with thousands, if not millions, of people around the world. For Charli, this is a double-edged sword: while it's exhilarating to be able to connect with others through her art, it can also be crushing at times.
Ultimately, Charli XCX knows that being a pop star is a mixed bag – part glamour, part grime. But for all its flaws and challenges, she wouldn't trade it for the world.
You know, think about it... fame and fortune can be like a double-edged sword. On one hand, you're living this incredible life where your creativity is amplified, and people from all over the world are drawn to what you have to offer. But on the other hand, that sense of disconnection Charli talks about is pretty scary. Like, are we just inhabiting these spaces as a commodity? Are we losing ourselves in the process of being famous? 
It makes me wonder if that's why some people feel like they're living in a state of constant transit - because their identities are so closely tied to this one thing. And what does it say about us when our favorite artists aren't flawed and imperfect? Is it just a facade to make them more relatable? 
. those constant touring hours and scrutiny can be overwhelming, you know? but at the same time, she's also super aware of the power and influence that comes with her platform 
. for me, it's all about finding that balance between creative expression and reality 
.
I think that's what makes her music so relatable? 
I think what's so relatable about Charli's essay is how honest she is about the darker side of fame. It's easy to glamorize being a pop star with all the glitz and glamour, but at the end of the day, it's a tough life that comes with its own set of struggles. I mean, who wouldn't want to connect with millions of people through their music? But the pressure to constantly produce and perform can be overwhelming 
. And on top of that, there's the disconnection from reality because you're always "on" and never really living in one place or moment 
. Anyways, I think it's refreshing to see someone like Charli XCX being so open about her struggles and flaws - it makes her art even more relatable and human 
. i mean, can you imagine being on tour nonstop and not really having a chance to relax or be yourself? that sounds super draining 
. at the same time, it's awesome that she's embracing her creativity and not feeling pressured to conform to what others think she should be like 
. also, i love how she pokes fun at herself and doesn't take things too seriously 
. just a thought! 
. And don't get me wrong, I love that she's speaking out about the downsides of fame, but it sounds like some things are glossed over... no concrete sources or personal anecdotes to back up her claims 
. How does she really know what it's like for old friends and family members to struggle to relate to her? Has she done any research or interviews on this topic? 
but charli is right, it's all about finding that balance between creating art for yourself and staying connected to your roots. i wish more artists could talk openly about this stuff - it's not always easy to navigate the line between public persona and private self. anyway, charli's just a constant source of inspiration, you know? 
. But at the same time, I get what she means about wanting to be flawed and imperfect, that's like, super relatable. 
. People often forget that even pop stars have feelings and insecurities too, you know? Like, she's not just some fake persona on stage, but a real person who's struggling with the pressures of fame. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge the downsides of their job, instead of just playing up the glamour side 
.
. I'm sure many people out there can relate to feeling like they're living in a state of constant transit. But at the same time, it's clear that Charli is passionate about her art and isn't going to let fame define her... or something close to it 
Shouldn't we be having these conversations in 2020, not 2025?
I mean, sure, Charli acknowledges it, but where's the outrage from the media or the public? 
That sounds super isolating. And how does that relate to her art? Is she saying that her music is a reflection of her feelings of disconnection and disorientation? 
.
. Like, how are we supposed to maintain relationships when we're constantly curated for the masses? I feel like Charli's point about people expecting her to be "still the same person" is so true 
. We need to stop romanticizing fame and start having a real conversation about its impact on mental health.
. It's time we started celebrating the messy, imperfect side of fame 
and the pressure to be constantly creative and perform at ur best can be overwhelming sometimes i feel like im just going through the motions of life instead of actually living it 
and people around me dont get it theyre always asking me "are you okay?" or " whats wrong?" but honestly its just the same old thing day in day out stress and anxiety 
. For Charli, that disconnect can be super alienating, especially when you're trying to maintain relationships with people outside of the music industry.
. It's like, we can't have the spotlight without also acknowledging all the baggage that comes with it.
