Whether she’s penning defiantly joyous singles like “I Love It” or exploring her darker side, Charli XCX is proof that you don’t need to stay in one lane to become a massive success. Born Charlotte Aitchison in 1992 in Cambridge, England, to Scottish and Gujarati Indian parents, Charli took up songwriting at 14, lifting her stage name from her instant messenger handle. On the strength of her MySpace uploads and performances at London raves, she landed a record deal at 18, released the modestly successful darkwave cuts “Stay Away” and “Nuclear Seasons,” then hit the big time with 2012’s kiss-off anthem “I Love It.” Originally scrapped from her own album for being too poppy, the beat-pounding re-recording by Swedish duo Icona Pop quickly became a worldwide dance-floor favorite. Her goth-tinged debut album, 2013’s True Romance, and tracks like the psychedelic, Gold Panda-sampling "You (Ha Ha Ha)” soon positioned Charli as the missing link between Grimes’ freak scene, Lorde’s dark melodies, and Carly Rae Jepsen’s sweetness. Never one to repeat herself, she’s built a track record as a prolific songwriter and collaborator, penning hits for Iggy Azalea (“Fancy”) and Selena Gomez (“Same Old Love”), and working with the likes of Lil Yachty, David Guetta, and BTS. She even followed up the 2019 eclectic, star-studded Charli with 2020’s intimate how i'm feeling now, an album written with fan input during her six-week pandemic quarantine. One thing is clear: Charli XCX’s creative drive and willingness to take risks has made her one of the most unique, enthralling artists of her era.