The Power of Two
This year, the music industry taught us a great lesson: unity creates strength. For perhaps the first time, unexpectedly, we’ve witnessed rivalries amongst artists give way to collaboration, as mutual support for each other’s hits has sparked a wave of collective success. It’s a testament to the power of togetherness as a driving force.
Charli XCX and Troye Sivan for i-D Magazine © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
“Not just any gay guy, homie… it’s me! Troye Sivan!”
Do you remember this iconic quote from November 11th? It was part of a skit on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Timothée Chalamet that week, which created waaaaaves of visibility for Troye Sivan. At the time, he had just released a brilliant pop album centered on his love life and queer adventures, presented in a fun and lighthearted way.
The highlights of his 2023 release were great hits such as “Got Me Started” and “Rush”.
Interestingly, these songs shared several elements with Charli XCX’s latest album, including edgy electro-pop vibes and a playful "brat" philosophy - an unapologetically hedonistic approach to life, embracing the present moment fully and freely.
Both artists decided to collapse their artistries and embark on the aptly named “Sweat” tour, marking the sixth tour for each and the coronation of Charli’s album “Brat” and Troye’s “Something to Give Each Other”. This tour brought a refreshing burst of energy to the music industry, which has historically prioritized individualism and rivalry over shared stages and mutual success. It’s a striking contrast to the music scene of the early 2000s, where competition was fierce and sharp like a knife.
The concept of sharing success with mutual respect, where collaboration fosters unity, was a defining theme of the Sweat tour. For the first time, we saw Charli XCX -undoubtedly the artist of the moment, coming off a streak of incredible summer hits and her name towering on skyscrapers in her signature brat green- choose to tour alongside a colleague.
Charli and Troye Sivan also welcomed other artists to join them on tour, including Addison Rae and Lorde, who was often compared to Charli during their early Tumblr-era careers, making her inclusion a poignant nod to growth and camaraderie.
What’s remarkable is how Charli, who outwardly embodies a bratty, carefree persona, used her actions to communicate the opposite: values of collaboration, generosity, and maturity. She demonstrated to an entire industry that judging an artist -or an album- by its “cover” can often miss the mark entirely.
Bruno Mars is riding this strategy as well, teaming up with Lady Gaga and Rosé, to create incredible songs that are currently dominating international airwaves. After years of taking a break, his return signals the power of partnership. Another unexpected collab between Lisa and Rosalìa recently broke the internet, further emphasizing the importance of sharing the stage and being confident in their own voice.
Reading subtly between the lines of these collaborations offers valuable lessons for aspiring artists: navigating the complex music industry is about creating genuine connections with others, rather than focusing on competition. Ahhh, it's so refreshing to finally see unity instead of conflict.
