Charli XCX - How I’m Feeling Now
How I'm Feeling Now is the postmodern diary of a global pandemic.
We all have different ways of occupying ourselves during lockdown. There’s the binge watchers, the Mart Berry wannabes, the at-home gym crunchers. Charli XCX set out on an ambitious journey that’s a little different. She created a fully-fledged pop album in just 6 weeks. How I'm Feeling Now is a post-modern musical diary of the times encapsulating the woes and personal struggles of the Covid-19 pandemic that many young people will connect with.
It speaks of the cravings for relentless all night ragers, urges for the intimacy of in-person relationships, and the harrowing self-reflection on mental health that comes with the loneliness of isolation.
Highlights such as “Claws” and “Anthems” flaunt distinctive craftmanship with experimental PC mused soundscapes that many more mainstream artists shy away from. From beginning to end the songs are sonically refined, combined with lyrics that are simplistic yet easy to connect with.
How I’m Feeling Now is a record that acts as a cathartic companion to the ups and downs that the everyday presents to us. The rapid creative process without forfeiting on quality is a testament to Charli’s applaudable grind and dedication to her craft.
In years to come, when all of this is a hazy nightmare in history and normality has been restored, revisiting How I'm Feeling Now will remind us of the challenges we faced and potentially the ways we grew coming out of it.
8/10
