Arts + Culture

Charli XCX Used Zoom to Create 'how i’m feeling now'

By Emiliano Villa
05.15.20
Charli XCX Used Zoom to Create 'how i’m feeling now' (Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records )
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how i’m feeling now ? the new album out now link in bio longest caption ever: heres an outtake from the album shoot. all these pics were taken by @huckkwong ? i just wanna take a second to say a huge thank u to all the people involved in the making of this album. this project was a total head rush; exhilarating & emotional from start to finish. i don’t think i’ve ever made an album in such a whirlwind where i’ve been so open & felt so constantly inspired & energized throughout. firstly thank you to all my fans for your constant support & generosity. your ideas & fingerprints are all over this album as much as mine. i couldn’t have done this without u. hugeeee thank you to @agcook404 & @beejburton for being the best & most inspiring producers in the world. working with both of you is a dream. i’ve loved every second. you’re both so ahead & fearless & totally understand & care about my vision. thank u to @dijondijon_ @dylanbrady @dannylharle @jimestack @eliteplin @palmistry_globe ? @geoff_swan thank u for pulling a 36 hour all nighter & absolutely nailing every single mix! thank u @jedskrzypczak for ur impeccable taste & your cool calm head in the face of my ridiculous requests & last minute ideas. thank u to all visual artists involved in this project: @sethbogartofficial @carolineplz @regards_coupables @naked_cherry @tmthy.luke @cwynars @polygon1993 @jonemmony @allisonzuckerman @dan.streit @angelasteps @studionari @charlie__chops & @daniedegrasse. thank u @bradleyandpablo for spying on me from afar (more on that later). thank u @huxley & @beautifuldigital for all ur hard work & expertise. thank u @brandoncreed for being our overlord & leader and to all the team at @atlanticrecords for trusting me & going with it! only fast releases from now on!! finally thank you to @sampringle @kvrowley & of course @huckkwong who i love endlessly. the 3 of you have been isolated with me, woken up to my stresses, panic attacks, hysteria & breakdowns but have still rallied around me and come to my rescue whenever i needed it. i am so proud of us & can’t wait for our 4 person rave tonight. ? love you all, enjoy this album ?

A post shared by Charli (@charli_xcx) on

Singer-songwriter Charli XCX dropped her highly-anticipated fourth album ‘how i’m feeling now’ on May 15. The project serves as the culmination of the singer’s time in self-isolation, a DIY album completed with input from her fans.

On a Zoom call with fans on April 6, Charli XCX announced her plans to release an album while in quarantine. The project, aptly titled “how i’m feeling now,” chronicles the feelings of self-isolation with her boyfriend Huck Kwong and was done entirely from home with the tools at hand, according to the singer. The album process was a collaborative effort with fans, connecting via IG Live and Zoom conference calls, and taking their suggestions on everything from lyrics to artwork.

The album rollout has been handled entirely by Charli via daily updates to social media, posting lyric ideas and clips of demos. The process has been totally transparent, with Charli sharing all aspects of the creative process — even texts with BJ Burton and AG Cook — Executive Producers of “how i’m feeling now” and frequent Charli collaborators. She included fans’ footage in the music video for “Forever” and supplied them with green-screen stems of the “Claws” video for fan edits. 

In the month since the project started, Charli has released three singles, “Forever,” “Claws” and “Finally I Understand.” In a note posted to Twitter, Charli announced she’d also be putting together a book of the artwork she’s collected from fans during the experience. Charli XCX will premiere the album in full at a Zoom party scheduled for May 15. 

Listen to “how i’m feeling now”

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