It seemed that the cultural phenomenon of 2023’s ‘Barbenheimer Summer’ couldn’t be topped until we heard the words “I’m so Julia”.
Brat Summer became the biggest trend of 2024, all thanks to the brilliance of Charli XCX and Addison Rae’s iconic scream. It has since even developed into Brat Autumn, with the release of Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, featuring 18 different artists.
For most of this summer, I couldn’t go on social media without seeing a reference to Brat, and Charli XCX became one of my go-to artists after having never listened to her before. So, what is it about Brat that is so great?
The phrase “I’m so Julia” has become influential to listeners as it embodies an iconic It Girl – hot, smart, down to earth yet stylish too. The overall message of the album makes listeners feel more empowered, as it contains some important topics such as the struggles of girlhood and the scary realities of becoming a mother. Relaying these issues in such a captivating way, you can’t help but listen to the album on repeat (and you also can’t help constantly doing the ‘Apple’ dance once you’ve seen it on TikTok).
Brat Summer was at its peak, then ‘guess featuring billie eilish’ was released and the hype was stronger than ever. Fans reacted to Billie’s feature all over social media, with everyone shocked by the bold and unhinged lyrics. This track was produced by The Dare, who has gained a lot of popularity recently with his Indie Sleaze aesthetic.
A popular style in 2006-2012, Indie Sleaze was inspired by bands such as The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was a time when Effy Stonem was the It Girl, and the messier you looked, the cooler you seemed. Now, it has been slowly creeping back into mainstream media with songs like ‘Girls’ by The Dare gaining hype through TikTok.
The Dare recently released his debut album What’s Wrong With New York? and while it features just 10 songs, each is as catchy as the last. A modern take on the Indie sleaze style with an interesting rhythm, The Dare’s record makes you feel alive, and you can feel his personality through the music.
The Indie Sleaze fashion has also started to make a comeback, but will it overtake the Brat aesthetic? It seems likely with the growing popularity of The Dare and the excitement of Oasis reuniting next year. The style has a nostalgic feel to it, and with its return, we get a feel for that era when everything was just beginning, with the expansion of social media and the growing celebrity empire.
So, how will Indie sleaze look for Gen Z? So far, less messy – but more fun.
3rd year English and Journalism student
Also the music Editor for Strathclyde Telegraph!