FLASH WARNING LET’S RAVE pic.twitter.com/h1MSaiQD8J

— Charli (@charli_xcx) January 30, 2024

Joining Charli XCX on stage are the likes of A.G. Cook, George Daniel of The 1975, and Easyfun, with promises of more special guests to be revealed. The announcement came alongside a snippet of her new track, with a sneak preview of her upcoming album preliminarily referred to as ‘xcx6′, offering fans a glimpse into her ever-evolving artistic direction.

Scheduled for February 22, the highly anticipated Boiler Room event has already ignited speculation regarding its venue. While the location remains under wraps, rumours suggest a likely setting in London, these rumours beckoning the possibility of The Colour Factor in Hackney Wick. As excitement builds, tickets for Boiler Room events are notorious for being elusive due to their overwhelming popularity. Fans eager to attend can attempt to secure their spots by signing up for guest list access via the official Boiler Room website here.

In a recent text alert, Charli XCX personally invited fans to join the revelry, stating, “LET’S RAVE – BOILER ROOM 2/22. gonna play some stuff from the album. think i’m also giving away tickets later this week.” Those seeking updates and exclusive alerts can subscribe to text notifications by dialing ‘1-310-861-2831′, as advertised on the artist’s Twitter feed.

This marks Charli’s return to Boiler Room after her memorable live-streamed performance in 2020, where she showcased tracks from the pandemic-inspired album ‘how i’m feeling now.’ A groundbreaking project, the album was among the first major artist releases entirely crafted during the COVID-19 lockdown, reflecting 38 days of intense collaboration with her dedicated fanbase.

Charli XCX’s artistic endeavours extend beyond her solo career, as she is reportedly contributing to the upcoming Britney Spears album. Additionally, she recently announced her engagement to George Daniel, the drummer for the 1975 and her Boiler Room collaborator, via Instagram in November of last year.

Amidst her return to Boiler Room and engagement bliss, Charli XCX has also garnered a nomination for a BRIT Award in the Best Pop Act category, a testament to her enduring influence and innovation in the industry. Fans and industry insiders alike eagerly await Charli XCX’s resplendent return to the hallowed halls of Boiler Room on February 22.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A. G. Cook (@agcook404)

He added a link to a full message he wrote in which he shares: “She was laser-focused and exceptionally intelligent, but also sensitive and perceptive. It didn’t matter whether we were talking about people or relationships or materials or music – she approached every topic with the love, care and intensity of someone who has truly lived.”

https://t.co/hMpLy5zurb

— A. G. Cook (@agcook404) April 25, 2021

Two of them have worked together since 2012. In the note A.G. Cook posted memories of their first meeting: “I first met Sophie on October 13th, 2012 – an unlikely meeting before BIPP and before PC Music, both of which would materialise the following June. I’d in fact stumbled on a demo of BIPP on Sophie’s soundcloud earlier that summer, and immediately emailed her elusive MSMSMSM.COM address”. He continued: “I couldn’t believe that there was someone out there, let alone someone in London, with such a strong vision and almost no regard for the walls between pop and experimental art.”

The producer shared interesting stories about their collaboration, travels and linking up with other musicians like Charli XCX. “For me, Charli was the first artist whose voice and presence could actually sit over a full-blown SOPHIE instrumental intact, and to this day there are still many amazing SOPHIE produced songs where the artist is partially subsumed by the dazzling sounds that their voice has to compete with” – he explains.  

Charli XCX also posted a touching note on her Twitter a few days after Sophie’s death. Charli and Sophie worked together back in 2015 on ‘Vroom Vroom’.

A.G. Cook finished the note with: “It’s indescribable, to have lost a friend who was so caring and so real, and whose presence was a constant affirmation of life itself. And it makes me feel just like we never said…”

Scottish musician and producer Sophie Xeon died earlier this year at age 34 in an accident in Athens.  She was “a pioneer of a new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade. Not only for ingenious production and creativity but also for the message and visibility that was achieved. An icon of liberation” – we can read in The Guardian. Full story about it you can read in MXDWN earlier articles here.

Meanwhile A.G. Cook’s debut album ‘Apple’ has been released in September last year and its available here.

my new song “i finally understand” drops may 7th thanks for helping choose this image, which will be the basis of the artworks artworks will be created by allison zuckerman, @Polygon1993 & @jonemmony i’ll be on insta live at 12pm pst to share music / feelings lol pic.twitter.com/nwHYGXYi0N

— Charli (@charli_xcx) May 5, 2020

From late last night into the early hours of the morning, Charli kept us on tenterhooks with a reminder of her new album’s imminent release date and a quick run-down of its completion: six tracks have either been mixed or are being mixed, and another three or four are in the works.

6 songs mixed / in the process of being mixed. 3 or 4 other song ideas floating around. Spoke w AG today and we both feel like doing an 11 track album could be cool…

— Charli (@charli_xcx) May 6, 2020

Despite all this activity there’d still been no word on “i finally understand”. That was until this afternoon, when Charli confirmed the track’s release and shared Allison Zuckerman’s reworking of the photo for the cover art. It’s hard to say whether this newest song of hers was counted in the six mixed tracks, but even a cynic’s punt still puts around a dozen tunes from the pop songstress on our horizon. Not bad for an album recorded entirely whilst under quarantine.  

i finally understand drops 5pm uk time/9am la time 2day 1st official artwork by allison zuckerman produced by @palmistrybeats & @agcook404 co written/recorded by myself i’m talking w @zanelowe on @applemusic when it drops tune in angels pic.twitter.com/3PxxRYy0ds — Charli (@charli_xcx) May 7, 2020

Providing a cool down from the climactic bombast of previous singles “forever” and “claws”, “i finally understand” is a much more minimalist affair. Charli’s recognition that “this feeling that I’ve found/Might kill me, put me in the ground” still matches the earnest heart-wrenching found in “forever”. But where the fuzzed-out backdrop to A. G. Cook’s previous production softened the deepest cuts Charli had to offer, on the two’s latest effort (joined by Palmistry this time) there’s nowhere left to hide. Listen to the song’s official audio below, with an alternate version of the photo artwork created by Polygon1993.

“i finally understand”, “claws”, and “forever” are all set to appear on Charli’s forthcoming (literally) homemade album how i’m feeling now, slated for release on the 15th of May. As for the titles of the rest of the tracklist we’ll have to wait and see – not least since the names of these new songs are subject to the whim of her fans. Though don’t let “i finally understand” distract you from another piece of new intel Charli released today. Listen to a clip from demo “7 years” below:

“7 years” update from @agcook404 pic.twitter.com/8eSrKcIo6x

— Charli (@charli_xcx) May 7, 2020

breathe in… breathe out… “exhale” coming April 23. Prod. by @agcook404 & Jónsi. click here to pre-save: https://t.co/0zzLdn6yVV pic.twitter.com/LBLhbfwkMa

— Jónsi (@iamjonsi) April 13, 2020

Sparse, despondent piano chords stir the track into life, accompanied by a breathy vocal delivery that lives up to the promise of the song’s title. It’s easy to forget at this point that co-producing alongside Jónsi is avant-pop provocateur A.G. Cook, the founder of the internet-based label PC Music.

Easy, that is, until we’re reminded of Cook’s presence when a staccato of his breakbeats mince their way through the lush bedrock provided for him. Watch the single’s official music video below, directed by American actor Giovanni Ribisi as well as Jónsi himself.

Surprisingly enough, this isn’t the first time Jónsi has embarked on a pop crossover. That accolade goes to “Revelation“, a collaborative single he released with the Australian pop star Troye Sivan way back in 2018.

Despite an end to Jónsi’s dry spell, a follow-up to Go has not been announced yet. Though if you’re champing at the bit for more from the post-rock pioneer, you’re in luck; as one half of the ambient duo Dark Morph (the other being Swedish composer Carl Michael von Hausswolff) Jónsi will appear on the sequel to their 2019 self-titled album in May. Pre-order the album here.

Photo Credit: Lilja Birgisdóttir

Hot off the success of last Saturday’s ‘Nether Meant’ (which raised over $8,000 for Good360’s COVID-19 relief efforts), virtual event masterminds Open Pit have made good on their promise that “more [was] to come soon”. ‘Square Garden’ – which will take place at 11pm BST on 24th April – will be their second Minecraft-based festival in under a fortnight, this time in support of the charity Feeding America. 

The event is fittingly being co-hosted by post-genre (hell, maybe even post-music???) duo 100 gecs, who legend has it played their very first ‘live’ gig at the Minecraft festival ‘Coalchella’ back in September 2018. The group are also headlining alongside Charli XCX, Cashmere Cat & Benny Blanco. The rammed setlist dwarfs ‘Nether Meant’ in both scale and scope, boasting electropop outfit Kero Kero Bonito, as well as PC Music staples A.G. Cook, GFOTY, Danny L Harle, and umru. ‘Square Garden’ looks to cement Open Pit as the kings of this year’s inevitable online festival circuit. I, for one, welcome our new cyberspace overlords.

For those who don’t own a copy of Minecraft, you can stream the event via 100 gec’s YouTube channel and website.