After teasing it through TikTok and premiering it during her Boiler Room set, Charli XCX has finally unveiled her newest single, ‘Von dutch’. The club-ready track serves as the lead single for her upcoming sixth album, Brat. In a recent interview with The Face, Charli mentioned that her previous album, Crash, contained songs that she “would never listen to” and mentioned her wish for a return to a time when “pop music was really volatile and crazy”. On ‘Von dutch’, Charli definitely returns to her roots of MySpace demos and illegal raves.
For this track, Charli collaborated with producer Easyfun. This duo have previously worked together on her recent hit ‘Speed Drive’ from the Grammy-winning Barbie soundtrack as well as multiple songs on her albums Pop 2 and Charli. So it’s no surprise that the hyperpop production calls back to Charli’s earlier discography and leaves behind the commercially friendly approach she took on Crash. The infectious synths are sure to attract crowds to any dance floor.
Lyrically, the song centres on themes of jealousy and obsession. Charli opens the track with “It’s okay to just admit that you’re jealous of me”. It’s clear she knows her position in the pop music scene and she’s aware of her success as she chants “I’m you’re number one” repeatedly. The repetitive nature of the lyrics can at first seem one-note, however, they quickly become contagious and it’s hard to resist singing with her.
The accompanying music video sees Charli wreaking havoc in Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airport. After evading paparazzi, she struts around the airport and ends up on an aeroplane where she kicks a camera down the stairs before dancing on the plane’s wing throwing punches towards the camera. At the end, she’s on a luggage conveyor belt staring into the camera. The chaotic and choppy nature of the video, directed by Torso, reflects the fiery nature of the song successfully.
The new single marks an explosive return for Charli XCX. Charli makes the comeback to the “volatile and crazy” nature of 2000’s pop music that she wanted and it’s no wonder why – she makes it well. ‘Von dutch’ will not fail to create excitement for the upcoming dance-pop, club album, Brat.
Words by Connor Franks
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