Splicetoday

Pop Culture
Dec 05, 2025, 06:27AM

They Wanted a Wonky Bass Line

A 2021 Brooklyn Rail interview with artist Radcliffe Bailey vs. a 2012 Self-Titled Mag interview with pop star Charlotte “Charli XCX” Aitchison.

Charli xcx press photo 2024 credit harley weir.jpeg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Charlotte “Charli XCX” Aitchison: I like the whole scene–the cult imagery, the upside down crosses.

Radcliffe Bailey: I didn’t really know exactly what they were doing, but they were dressed in their Sunday best.

Aitchison: It’s about being in a club, and being cool. They wanted a wonky bass line.

Bailey: So it's an incorporation of that, as well as the sounds of the ocean and the sounds of trains; a constant movement and migration.

Aitchison: An aerobics video. (Laughs) Everything just snowballed.

•••

Bailey: There’s also a radio that’s playing.

Aitchison: I know just the hits really.

Bailey: Right. It’s a good feeling to be able to put your fingerprint somewhere.

Aitchison: In the East London illegal raves that I was performing at, they didn’t care what I was saying.

Bailey: Living in Atlanta is different than living in Georgia, I can tell you that for a fact.

•••

Aitchison: Ha ha.

Bailey: No windows.

Aitchison: That much I can acknowledge.

Bailey: And on top of where the keys are, there’s a Plexiglas blue glaze that shines over it.

Aitchison: Yeah, but I’m not embarrassed by it and I think it looks amazing on T-shirts.

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