Clairo has praised what she’s described as the “unreal” Charli XCX and Lorde collaboration, adding: “they’re both geniuses to me”.
- READ MORE: Clairo – ‘Charm’ review: delving into desire
Charli began teasing the collaboration in June, redesigning a billboard of her album art to simply display the word ‘Lorde’ and then sharing a snippet of the new remix on her private Instagram account.
In the new version, Lorde sings: “Well honestly I was speechless / When I woke up to your voice note / You told me how you’ve been feeling / Let’s work it out on the remix”.
Charli has previously spoken about how Lorde served as the partial inspiration for the song, admitting to being “super jealous” of the New Zealander’s success when she was younger: “She was into my music. She had big hair; I had big hair. She wore black lipstick; I once wore black lipstick. You create these parallels and think, ‘Well, that could have been me.’ But it couldn’t have because we’re completely different people.”
Charli has clarified the pair remain good friends, with Lorde even praising her recent album ‘Brat‘ saying: “The only album I’ve ever pre-saved is out today. Charli just cooked this one different. So much grit, grace & skin in the game.”
Now, Clairo has opened up about the collaboration in a new interview with Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1, saying: “I love that song. I mean, they’re both geniuses to me. Charli has been someone I’ve looked up to forever, and same thing with Lorde.
“I just couldn’t appreciate what they’re doing more. It’s really cool and extremely necessary, and I think there was a gap that needed to be filled. I’ve needed someone to say these things to me or remind me of how tricky dynamics can be within female friendships. It is just so clear that both sides exist, and you can see what type of person you are in the situation between friendships.
“Maybe you were Charli or maybe you were Lorde in a situation, and it really resonates. That’s why I think everyone is talking about it because it’s actually saying something that we’re all thinking, which is the point of music. Unreal, yeah. I couldn’t love that song more. I think it did exactly what it’s supposed to do.”
Clairo has previously performed live with Lorde at Glastonbury 2022, where they performed ‘Stoned At The Nail Salon’ on the pyramid stage along with Arlo Parks. The song was taken from Lorde’s 2021 album, ‘Solar Power’.
On the title track to that album, Clairo also performed backing vocals alongside Phoebe Bridgers.
Elsewhere in the interview, Clairo opened up about her relationship to her peers like Frank Ocean and Billie Eilish.
On this, Clairo said: “One of the greatest things in the world is meeting people that have been in your orbit in one way or another. You guys are both making music, and you’re never in the same place, and somehow you overlap in this one city. And you meet up, and you talk about it, and you feel all the same feelings, you’re able to validate each other on some of the weird aspects of being a musician in 2024, and I think that really helps me.
“Having those conversations is so incredible because I think the last time we spoke, I had mentioned something about really wanting someone to understand what I was talking about and not just have empathy for me. But I really wanted people in my life that were like, “I understand, and we can talk about this weird nuance that happens in music.” Those conversations have saved me a million times because it is very isolating, and it is weird. There’s no way around the fact that it’s weird. And so, it’s really nice when people want to talk about it because it can only really help, in my opinion.”
Clairo released her third album ‘Charm’ today (July 12).
In a four star review of the album, NME wrote: “While desire might be the main focus of ‘Charm’, it’s also an ode to connection and the comfort that comes with that – whether it’s fleeting or long-lasting, with a romantic partner or just other loved ones in your life. ‘Glory Of The Snow’, the gorgeously wintry penultimate track, pays tribute to the support of others.
“‘When I cry, I wanna give you a ring,’ she shares. ‘I can breathe with you right there alone with me.’ In the end, that’s what the desire of ‘Charm’ boils down to – the yearning to see and be seen, to be with people who not only want you back but understand you and make life that little bit easier to make it through.”
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