Musical Muse: Charli XCX Primo-Punk Style

Charli XCX keeps it real. She’s stylish, funny, smart, makes no apologies, and her music is as deep as it is catchy. At only 19-years-old, this British singer-composer isn’t exactly a newcomer to the music scene (her first single was released way back in 2008), but excitement about her debut record has grown pretty much continuously with releases like last year’s “Nuclear Seasons” and this year’s “Valentine.”

While other artists worry about what people will think of them, Charli XCX speaks off the cuff, with the laidback confidence of a young woman who is equal parts songwriter, party girl, and performer. When she talks about how she used to want to be a rapper, it’s with the same sincerity and humor as when she mentions embarrassing herself in front of Baby Spice. There isn’t a different person waiting to be unearthed behind her trademark black eyeliner (although we do learn the secret behind it); With Charli XCX what you see is what you get, and that might make her the perfect pop star.