During the global pandemic, Charli XCX decided she was going to write, record, and release a new album all in a matter of 6 weeks. The result was an album titled “how i’m feeling now”. Being that it was a creative project finished in just 6 weeks, all the songs do truly represent how Charli’s “feeling now”.
It starts out with a track titled “pink diamond”, which is the type of song that makes you feel like you’re in a club with friends. It is very upbeat and makes you feel like you should just be out dancing all night long. The track that follows is called “forever”, which was the first song released from the album. “forever” inspires a radiating happy feeling bouncing around inside you, the feeling of finally finding something that feels like it could last forever.
The album continues with “claws”, a catchy banger that will be stuck in your head forever. It talks about all the things you like about someone, and the way that all those things make you feel. “7 years” is the classic love song on the album. Charli helps you feel the connection that’s lighting her up as you listen to it. The feeling of being with someone you’ve known for 7 years, but your relationship has been on and off the whole time, and you finally ended up with them after all this time. It definitely put me in a space of loving and wanting.
“detonate” is one of the more personal tracks on the album, and reflects more on herself during this challenging time. “enemy” follows it and is another personal track that even includes a clip from one of Charli’s therapy session in the middle of the song. The clip adds a very touching element to it. “I finally understand” has a unique beat to start off with and immediately becomes catchy with a first listen.
“C2.0” is a remastered version of a song called “click” from another project of Charli’s. The new version contains an extra verse that reflects on the times where all of us were able to hang out with our friends and see each other. This song really made me miss going out and seeing my friends, and you get that feeling of what it was like to always be around people that you love.
“party 4 u” is one of the slower songs on the album, and is almost sad in the sense that you are throwing a party hoping that one person might show up, and that’s the entire reason for the party. It’s the basic concept of doing something, and hoping that one specific person will notice or show up for you. It was a fan favorite, so it was added to the album and completes the tracklist well. “
Anthems.” is another fast paced and catchy song that is all about being with friends and hanging out and wanting things to just go back to normal. It talks about dreams of going back to New York, and laments on what it was like to be able to go out and just party with everyone. “Visions” brings the album to a close and is a song that makes you feel extremely hopeful about the future. You can see a time where things are getting better and changing.
The album in whole, is one of Charli XCX’s best ever pieces of art. It is beyond amazing that she was able to create such a wonderful album in such a short period of time, especially in a time when so many people are feeling very discouraged, unmotivated, and not really creative at all. Her talent shines through in her ability to make such a cohesive album where all of the tracks fit well and share a similar theme.
I highly recommend listening to the entire album. It inspired me to the nth degree, and I think it could do the same to you.
