What does the color lime and the font arial have in common? It’s brat, a studio album by Charli XCX, striking, unapologetic, and unforgettable. A dance-pop, electroclash, EDM, and Techno album. Brat doesn’t just dominate playlists—it defines a vibe. Coming up with the viral 360 music video or the popular dance that became viral on TikTok, “apple”, its brought a lot to us, but besides changing the music scene and bringing us great music, it’s impacted the world around us, this album didn’t just soundtrack the summer; it rewrote the cultural rulebook.
But brat isn’t just about music. It’s a movement. The idea of “brat summer” embodied an unapologetic, carefree spirit, inspiring fans to embrace their quirks, imperfections, and inner chaos. Charli XCX describes brat as “[Someone] who feels like [themselves] but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
The brat era also played a huge role in reviving indie sleaze—a chaotic, glittery, Tumblr-era aesthetic that thrived in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Charli’s unapologetic blending of lo-fi visuals, messy glam, and carefree energy helped bring back that raw edge. From grainy photos of late-night parties to fashion choices full of metallics and leather, her music reignited the excitement of a time when individuality and rebellion were at the forefront of youth culture. The gritty undertones of indie sleaze mesh perfectly with Charli’s sound, proving that nostalgia can be a driving force for fresh creativity.
The phenomenon went beyond music and social media, even spilling into politics, the term brat started to receive more widespread attention and increased usage after Charli XCX tweeted “kamala IS brat” following Joe Biden’s endorsement of Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 United States presidential election. Thanks to this tweet, Kamala Harris renovated her campaign’s online presence by embracing Charli XCX’s Brat album cover, later renaming her Twitter campaing name to “kamala hq”. Suddenly, brat was not just a pop culture staple but also a political statement, blending bold individuality with a touch of chaos.
In the end, brat is more than an album. It’s a cultural reset, a celebration of being loud, messy, and human. Lime green and Arial might be simple on their own, but in the world of brat, they represent clarity, confidence, and a daring refusal to blend in. From reviving indie sleaze to redefining rebellion, Charli XCX’s brat reminds us that the best art doesn’t just entertain—it sparks a movement.
