In times past, all pop stars had to do was be iconic. Now they need to be iconic and available, permanently down from on high to field social media comments – less superstar, more superstore suggestion box.
Charlotte Aitchison has found that this isn’t a particularly comfortable arrangement. She has visited the mainstream on a few occasions, writing and featuring on huge hits including Icona Pop’s I Love It and Iggy Azalea’s Fancy, as well as co-writing Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s worldwide number one, Señorita. But she’s adored intensely by a fanbase that wants her to stay a wide step to the left of conventional pop, experimenting with edgier electronic sounds, and doesn’t mind telling her when she leaves their preferred lane.
