Like many other things in the online music space, it started with a Tweet.

thinking of doing a charli cover album for charity.... hmu if you have requests/ want to make an instrumental !!!
— ♡ diana starshine ♡ (@DianaStarshine) May 28, 2021

Diana Starshine--an underground pop and electronic artist and producer--came up with the idea to make a Charli XCX covers compilation in late May. In an attempt to parallel the pop icon’s process of making How I’m Feeling Now, Diana gave herself a 5-week deadline to make it happen. And after reaching out to friends and peers on Twitter and Facebook, 21 collaborators ultimately joined in to help her pull off this crazy feat, even as the clock ticked down (the multi-talented Galen Tipton was mastering the project up until its release). The finished result is Pop 3, an 18-track project full of creative and eclectic takes on a sizable chunk of Charli XCX’s discography.

I’m not sure where to even start. Pop 3 has something for everybody, and will surely satisfy Charli fans seeking new interpretations of their favorite tracks. “Forever” with Claudia’s Graces replaces the washing synths of the original with drone electronic guitar and an experimental folk aesthetic. “Boom Clap,” produced by Galen Tipton, transforms the original track’s Top 40 appeal into the sort of explosive, experimental electronic chaos Charli would later be known for (throwing in some sparkly 90s piano chords and a house beat for good measure). The art liloia-produced “Claws” shifts the trunk-rattling hyperpop aesthetic of Dylan Brady’s original beat with these spellbinding, synthetic string and harp sounds, displaying the artists’ ability to retain the song’s tone and spirit despite completely altering the instrumental. “Next Level Charli” with Uncle Pizza, already one of my favorite Charli tracks, will make you move your feet in a way not even the original can. “Party 4 U”--made with estele, lil rhiz0me, and the always majestic Holliday Howe--smartly changes the glossy climax of the original to a swirl of layered vocals.

I could go on and on. The whole thing is impressive. Diana Starshine and her many collaborators took songs already known for pushing pop music into new territory, and then pushed it even further. As a result, they made a compilation full of wild, amazing ideas that examine Charli’s music in a new light.

The main constant throughout the project is Diana herself, who uses her voice as a guiding presence through the world of Charli XCX. Pop 3 is clearly a product of love and devotion towards its source material, made by a talented artist and a slew of collaborators who not only understood the music inside-and-out, but also figured out how to execute new versions with just as much courage and creativity. Bravo!

Go buy Pop 3 on Bandcamp. All proceeds will go towards The Okra Project, an organization that raises support for black trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people.

Written By Noah Simon

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