Look who bagged themselves yet another “BBC Radio 1 – Hottest Record In The World” last night! None other than Charli XCX and Sam Smith is who! Collaborating on the track “In the City.” Also for those wondering, the track isn’t one of Charli’s very PC Music ones. This one is more in keeping stylistically with the pop Queen’s dance-pop efforts such as “Beg For You,” “Good Ones” and “Gone” as recent examples of her work.
Although Charli and Sam Smith both hail from Hertfordshire and grew up close to one another, it is not the reason why Charli tapped Sam to appear on “In the City.” When interviewed by Radio 1 Clara Amfo at length, Charli recounted the backstory of “In the City,” which she wrote with AG Cook, Ilya Salmanzdeh, Omer Fedi and Sam Smith, confirming the track as an ode to the LGBTQIA+ community.
In the interview, Charli shared that the inspiration for the song came from her experience of performing in queer clubs in London when she was sixteen. It was her first time being surrounded by queer cultures, and she was suddenly exposed to so much fashion, art, music, and language that inspired her greatly.
Sending out an official statement, Charli confirmed…
“The song is about finding the people you truly love and connect with through wild nights out and partying in magical places. It’s about feeling accepted, the magnificence of being welcomed into queer spaces and those once in a lifetime people you get to meet when you’re there.”
It’s amazing to see two talented artists come together to create a song with such a powerful message. “In the City” is not just a great addition to Charli and Sam’s repertoires – it’s a tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community and a reminder of the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
On a cheeky personal note. Did you know that Charli XCX performed at Electroqueer@Barcode night in 2008? EQ Music Live Presents is the new name, but we still curate intimate live events for the LGBTQ+ Community.
The next show lined up is November 5th, headlined by Tom Goss, plus special guests Nic Billington, Lostchild and Kehli.
Connect with Charli XCX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/charli_xcx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charli_xcx/
Connect with Sam Smith
Facebook: https://facebook.com/samsmithworld/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samsmith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samsmith/