Charli XCX recorded her debut album at the tender age of fourteen, with a view to selling it to her classmates to cover the costs. However, the owners of the studio she hired spied greater potential and began touting the recording around various labels. A year or so later, and she's preparing to release that album to the world at large. Her debut single, '!Franchesckaar!', is released on 18 Aug, and is a sassy electro trip into the mind of a teenager. When I was a teenager all we had was Billie bloody Piper talking about running around in crowds. Now teenage pop singers are at home, slaving over a hot synth. I feel like I was short-changed.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I think it kind of just happened. When I was younger, I used to want to be a pony, not a pop star (not that I'm a pop star now... haha, just saying). I had piano lessons, so I used to write songs with a few chords and some girlish words and that was that... Everything evolved when I started listening to more types of music, and now I am here, with my little synth and big hair, and I'm doing what I do.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
I'm currently writing and recording my new album at the minute. It's all grand. I like to write about stuff that happens... but I like to write about art too, and fashion. I like looking at people's clothes and images, and writing songs about that. That or music itself, or interesting people... it's all thrown into one really. Art, fashion, individuality... it all sounds too cool, right (I'm a geek really, ha)?

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
For me, it's always real life events. Something has to happen, to me or something around me, and then I react to it through music. I vent my emotions that way... whether it be anger, happiness, love, hate. It's all very heat of the moment, I can't take my time writing, I hate that – it always makes my stuff less powerful. Everything's a rush.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
So many, but if I had to say a few, MIA - her stuff's just so strong! Also, Justice - love the whole Ed Banger thing.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Just think what you wanna think! Would be great if everyone likes it, but there's no way that will happen, it never does, right? If people slag it off, great, it will just fuel me to write something even more powerful, ha... bring it on basically! But yeah, if people like my stuff, grand. It's good to have support too.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single/album, and for the future?
To make it as good as possible, and get it recognised... I don't mind not making any money (although a few quid would be nice, I suppose!), but just getting my name out there really! Also, I've always wanted to find the end of the rainbow, I think that counts as a 'future goal'.

published august 2008