The rebirth of remix albums: The influence of ‘BRAT’

The music industry is constantly evolving, and a significant trend emerging with recent releases is a rise of remix albums. Noteworthy projects such as PinkPantheress’s Fancy Some More? and Rose Gray’s upcoming A Little Louder, Please highlight how artists are creatively reinterpreting their original projects, allowing albums to have a second life. These remix albums introduce new artists and fresh sounds which breathe life into familiar tracks we know and love.

In the streaming era, we can see why remix albums are becoming increasingly popular. They allow artists to essentially re-release tracks in extended albums, providing additional content to keep a hold on audiences and retain attention on the original release. 

Charli’s take on the remix album is undeniably influential

Consider Charli xcx’s BRAT and its remix project, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, which was released just around a year ago. In 2024, just as we thought ‘brat summer’ was over, the remix album was quickly dropped, successfully extending Charli’s impact and – as argued by Harry Levin – “permanently expanding the idea of what a remix album can be”.

The project features various guest artists on every track, from household names such as Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish, to more niche artists such as The Japanese House and Bladee. A Pitchfork review by Shaad D’Soiuza of the project describes the “variegated and very unusual guest list” being a “testament to Charli’s talents as a genre- and scene-agnostic A&R”.

Additionally, the commercial success of Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat can be viewed through its streams. In its first week, as reported by ChartMetric, the remixed Brat album amassed a total of 132,007,546 streams, compared to 82,561,749 streams for the original. Additionally, tracks like ‘Guess’ saw a dramatic increase in streams: 3.75 million in its first week on the original album to 37.21 million on the remix with Billie Eilish.

Charli xcx’s remix project of BRAT works as a prime example of how a remix album can be considered a genuine artistic endeavour. Each song feels fresh and distinct, building on the original vision while allowing collaborators to inject their own unique creative styles. From new verses in songs like ‘Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek’ to innovative claps in ‘Club classics featuring bb trickz’. This remix album manages to stay true to the original energy of BRAT whilst proving reinterpretation can lead to imaginative musical experiences. Released only four months after the original, the remix already evoked a nostalgic feeling of the initial versions of the song, whilst almost resembling an entirely new album. Charli’s take on the remix album is undeniably influential.

Fancy Some More? echoes Charli xcx’s brat remix project

Looking at a more recent release, PinkPantheress’ Fancy Some More?, a remix album for Fancy That,  adds 22 songs to the original track list. Fancy Some More? echoes Charli xcx’s BRAT remix project in the sense it includes an array of artists to feature and collaborate. As reported on Billboard, PinkPantheress stated in a press release: “Hearing other artists reimagine it has been so inspiring. Each remix brings a new energy and texture, while still keeping the heart of the track intact. It’s been so exciting to see Fancy That take on these new, international lives & global perspectives.”

Split into two discs, the remix features vocalists including K-pop stars SEVENTEEN and Yves, alternative pop artists such as Oklou, and icons in pop culture Zara Larsson and Kylie Minogue. The second disc includes producers such as Basement Jaxx, Joe Goddard, and Nia Archives, just to name a few.

Artists are not just revisiting their work but reimagining it entirely

The rise of remix albums prompts the critical question of whether these projects are genuine artist endeavours or potentially mere “cash grabs” in which artists release albums inflated with songs as an attempt to extend the album’s commercial life without contributing new content. In an album review by Nmesoma Okechukwu from Euphoria. she questions whether PinkPantheress can be called a “prolific artist’ referencing the four versions of the hit ‘Stateside’ added in Fancy Some More?. Okechukwu raises the question whether some versions of songs hold too many similarities between them, a potential shortcoming of the album. Without originality, it risks coming across as an effort to maximise streaming numbers rather than introducing new creations.

Perhaps what we’re witnessing in the shift toward remix albums is artists are not just revisiting their work but reimagining it entirely. This new wave, influenced by the remix album of BRAT, provides an opportunity for artists to explore the creative approach of reconstructing and deconstructing songs to create limitless versions. Particularly in today’s streaming culture, these innovative approaches, allowing various artists to come together and remix each other’s work, captures the creativity and essence of modern music.