Inspirations For Your Brat Summer!

The neon green, acid-colored square with the simple word "brat", centered in Archivo Narrow Black font, may be an image some would pass on the sidewalk and not give a second thought to, but to others, it’s their Summer motto. The new album Brat by Charli XCX has quickly risen to notoriety as it took the No. 1 spot on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart with its tracks taking up over a third of the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart! So what exactly does it mean to be "brat"?

Brat Summer is a mindset. Late nights out partying are brat. Smudged smokey eyes are brat. Being an It Girl is brat.

On the surface, Brat is an album that features a deep, powerful bassline and a filthy, raw grind of addictive electronica. It conveys the idea of a confident pop diva who frequently goes out on the town, but beneath the hits lurks a gritty, vulnerable, and insecure feeling. From "Girl, So Confusing", which explores the unspoken truths between peers who later become rivals, to "Rewind", which addresses body image anxieties, Brat captures the contradicting turn of events that women frequently experience at crucial moments in their lives.

The June 7th release of Brat made everything pink and Barbiecore so 2023. Brat Summer is here, wild and verdant. The immaculate girl is gone; the internet is a disaster, she's all over the place. So let’s break down the biggest inspirations to fuel your Brat Summer!

MOVIES/TV

Our behavior can be influenced by the movies or TV shows we see in a variety of ways. As spectators, we may try to embody the traits of a character by modeling their behavior or getting inspired by their fashion sense. When the screen is glorifying partying and being confident, it can encourage viewers to participate in similar activities.

Project X (VOD/Digital) ties into the whole "party girl" aspect of the album, as the movie depicts an epic party where legends are born after three high school seniors decide they need to be unforgettable in the high school history books.

"Euphoria" (Max) takes a bit of a darker turn, following a friend group in high school as it gives an honest and raw look at how they deal with violence, sex, and drugs.

The 1966 film Daisies (Max), which follows two spoiled girls, was a huge influence on Charli’s music video for "360" -- “Their version of being bratty is throwing a plate of food in a waiter’s face; our version was Emma Chamberlain parking a car on top of another car.”

The 1995 film Party Girl (Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV) and 2003 film Party Monster (Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV) were also big inspirations for her.

OTHER MUSIC

Obviously, if you want to have a Brat Summer, you should be listening to the album Brat itself, but if you want to branch out into similar styles, check out Kesha, Lady Gaga, and Slayyyter.

Both albums Animal and Cannibal by Kesha give off that fun, messy, party girl vibe along with the album covers featuring smudged sparkly makeup.

Starf***er by Slayyyter blends the sounds of Hyper Pop, Nu-Disco, and Electro Pop and features intense vocal chops, big drops, and out-of-the-box sound effects.

On her return to her roots, Chromatica by Lady Gaga tackles hidden trauma, mental illness, and the challenges of stardom while channeling the sound of her maximalist electro-pop heyday.

Don’t forget to check out Britney Spears and Kim Petras as well.

ICONS

Besides the the queen herself, other Brat inspirations to look out for are:

Julia Fox is mentioned in the first track of the album, "360" -- “I’m so Julia, ah, ah, ah...” Fox fits in perfectly with Charli’s concept of the aesthetic: “You’re that girl who is a bit messy and loves to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes. She’s honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile. That’s brat.” 

Devon Lee Carlson is mentioned in "Speed Drive" -- “Devon Lee smile, teeth a white row... She embodies an “It Girl” with her trendy style, daring makeup looks, and phone case company that even collaborated with Charli on a neon green case.

You know, even Vice President Kamala Harris — yes, the new Democratic presidential nominee — is living that life Von Dutch lifestyle.

Check out Brat wherever you stream your music!