Charli XCX on why she uses autotune

Charli XCX chats to Ben and Liam about her use of autotune. Watch her Like A Version performance here: • Charli XCX covers Wolf...
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[@majorshipper5311]

I really only noticed the autotune on pop 2 her newest mixtape which has a very futuristic electro feel that the autotune fits perfectly in.

[@girlsdrinkfeck]

yes because thats PC music ,its 100% electro and u need the pitched voices to make it work asa genre

[@josecxrnxlx]

it's pretty noticeable how she plays with autotune in n°1 angel too

[@oliviarodriguez7945]

A FEKLW SWUFTIE

[@LuckyXCX]

Agreed

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Heard an "acoustic" version of her song Boys and it makes sense why an autotune is usually needed and used especially with loud songs like that, the instruments can easily drown her voice out. Still, she has a nice voice. Autotune is there to aid an already existing good voice not create one from scratch.

[@AccidentalProtege]

At the end of the day...who cares? Saw her live once a couple years ago, and this beautiful woman put on one helluva show...

[@JT-wu2if]

yep, not much talent of a singer but shes entertaining sure

[@brianxcx]

@@JT-wu2if untrue

[@JT-wu2if]

@@brianxcx definitely true when autotune is needed yep

[@judeheiner]

@@JT-wu2if this was also four years ago, also you still need to sound good to sound good hsing auto tune..and it also matches her music.

[@CALLMEMRCHAD]

@@JT-wu2if bro just stay quiet💀💀☠️

[@noelleirina5628]

She's literally saying she's using it because she's damaged her voice with too much performing

[@tomogutu]

Maybe she should have done vocal warmups because her voice on her first two albums are amazing

[@monkyjamman]

no that is not she is saying. When you use auotune in the studio all the time it dosent matter if you hit the note dead on (being on pitch) because the tune will correct it so you essentially "forget" that skill or just dont excersice it. instead you can do amazing melodies and falsettos.

[@Valentine-jo7ls]

@@monkyjamman not exactly. pitch correction and melodyne do that, autotune enhances whatever note you are singing

[@monkyjamman]

@@Valentine-jo7ls wait no it dosent. It only corrects the note, and the robot effect it gives is just a biproduct of the only feature autotune is, is that it corrects the tone.

[@Gettothegone]

How convenient lmao

[@dontknow562]

Charli actually can sing, or at least could, not sure if she messed up her vocals. But her old stuff she sings well, watch her Stay Away Dalston Heights performance video

[@romoelena13]

I saw her in concert last month, she sounded pretty good live... 🤔

[@dontknow562]

Was it at Halsey's show?

[@romoelena13]

Dont Know yep... now I’m wondering if she used the live auto tune lol

[@dontknow562]

I was super close to going to that show (One in SoCal) but it didn't pan out in the end lol

[@romoelena13]

Dont Know it was incredible. Halsey is so amazing live. Her stage presence.. everything ugh 😩😍

[@melodynoneyabussiness6050]

Majors respect to her for admitting this big deal if she uses autotune she still has the wow factor and theres a reason why she is famous!

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmm1109]

and also like...she’s a part of PC Music to some extent..A.G. Cook...Danny Harle...Hannah Diamond...SOPHIE...GTOFY...theyre all usin robot voices and strange scary noises for the future of POP

[@jared9203]

Jesus people, there's no need to criticize her. Try being nice for once, it actually makes the world better

[@AlexWilliams-yd4dv]

Being nice all the time does not make the world better

[@Psyquar97]

Being a crap human being to everyone different to you is a great way to improve the world.

[@AlexWilliams-yd4dv]

Niceness shouldn't be a virtue

[@AlexWilliams-yd4dv]

Jared It would sometimes

[@atsuyak768]

This is about quality of music and genuineness. Being nice is irrelevant

[@Danieeeification]

Who cares , her music is bomb., she is bomb and she’s unique. Love her and the sound of her voice

[@SEARDOGG]

Her music is the literally the shittest

[@johnjacobsarabosing150]

@@SEARDOGG it's okay, not everyone has taste

[@SEARDOGG]

@@johnjacobsarabosing150 i dont have the same taste as an 8 year old no

[@johnjacobsarabosing150]

@@SEARDOGG ok boomer

[@nicktubara]

@@johnjacobsarabosing150 pffft that's so 2017. It was funny before, but not now.

[@NeeheeBanana]

why is everyone so offended by autotune lmaoo chill out

[@honperryhill]

neehan right lol

[@tssdr9419]

Because technology in music = bad!!1 ONly guitars are real music!!

[@drewfastiggi4341]

Tassadar oh for fuck's sake expand your horizons

[@steeqhen]

casper xo sksksk you do know they were mocking people who say shit like that not an actual person saying that lmao

[@strawberrykicker2]

neehan I think if people overuse it or conversely try to act like they're not using it then it's a fair criticism,but if it's used as a tool in the proper way then there's no problem

[@5ammusic]

Amazing writer, singer, performer - she is one of my favorites. She can write the hell out of a song.

[@imasavage4898]

She actually can sing very well without autotune so I don’t really care.

[@ortur129]

Is it really fake if she's saying it straight away?

[@robmrsh]

@WillieIIIreborn it's not fake either way, it's a stylistic choice and is meant to sound futuristic and computer-y

[@robmrsh]

@WillieIIIreborn the fact that she makes the autotune sound over the top and uses it as an instrument of sorts does not make it any less admirable in my opinion, as she is paving the way for a futuristic sound, and I think that it is quite artistic. The on-pitch aspect of it is artificial, but I don't think that takes away from it when you consider her niche.

[@ryantyler9823]

WillieIIIreborn boomer logic

[@pcjack6528]

I LIVE FOR CHARLI MUSIC!!

[@KaiInMotion]

She legit said she used to be able to sing but she damaged her voice trying to put out so much material and working so much, but y'all are still gonna hate on ear and say she has no talent.

[@paige5841]

Kai Bishop yeah you’re right... she has no talent

[@michaelangst6078]

@@paige5841 She has more talent than at least 95% of artists though when it comes to songwriting and creativity alone... Regardless if think she is a talented singer..

[@gregchristensen9195]

TBH I don't mind the autotune as long as she's making the songs she wants to make and she doesn't act like a horrible person.

[@darowchdawg]

I love that she is so unabashadly showing her using auto-tune like she has no intentions of trying to pass it off as her, she knows her limitations and what will sound best for her music, she has never claimed to be some vocal protige and thats fine You have to Love her

[@mashupotato_]

I feel like the concept of 'using autotune' has become so much negative because it usually connotes a 'fake artist', but now that hyperpop is on the rise, people are starting to recognize its unique contribution to pop music.

[@bigbadwolf6731]

At least she's honest and she know her voice and cares about her voice

[@dancingonmy0wn]

She makes the best songs! Her last ep is perfection and she used autotune a lot. Love her

[@Ghostflowers]

She's never really been a strong vocalist to begin with. Most of her strengths come from her songwriting and musical experimentation. She's not truly awful like some singers, but her vocals are not why I listen to her. She's still great!

[@punxie89]

People don't seem to realize that you still have to be a relatively good singer in order for it to sound good. Plenty of bad singers use it and it sounds like shit. There's only so much it does. Even her little run and then what the radio dude sounded like trying it out after her, huge difference between what they sounded like with it. And she has always had electronic effects in her music, people shouldn't even think twice about it

[@NICKASAURWORLD]

I love Charli so much, and so glad she's not afraid to admit she makes mistakes, and that she says her pitch can be bad at times. She can actually sing very well, I love her older albums, especially True Romance, and Heartbreaks and Earthquakes.

[@bigsimp6137]

Aww its so nice that she is fully honest about this 💖

[@DanielCowman21]

All right, show of hands. How many of you shitting on Charli for using autotune in her tracks cream yourselves for artists like Kanye and Bon Iver who also use technology to alter/enhance their voices for effect but get a pass because they're not pop?

[@matthewugh4294]

you.... you mean.... men... use autotune.... and nobody calls them out..... LIES

[@drummerAVA]

Yep... plenty of people out there that think it's cool to hate pop or cast blanket statements, as if "all pop" is bad... but then they can't even admit to, or identify the good stuff. There's good and bad everything. Charli is a phenomenal pop artist!

[@GLamoRousCooKie]

They get a pass because they're male. Period. The bar for female artists and performers is sky high, and the bar for male "vocalists" is in the gutter.

[@abub-bj5vz]

@@GLamoRousCooKie But kanye was shitted on during the time 808s was made. Oldheads hated him cause it wasn't "real rap", fans hated cause it wasn't like his other work, and he got called a gay fish on south park cause of his "watery use of autotune". He only gets praise for it now cause he influnced travis, drake, and most of the sing rappers wave.

[@yoloyolo-bj3by]

people have a problem when women use it but praise men for the use... classic

[@joaomarques7341]

I goes really well with her music. I mean, it’s part of her brand and her style. Her best songs wouldnt even make sense without it.

[@jasmineblack9778]

always sounds great when she uses it as she uses it cleverly

[@yenleaks]

Autotune is an effect its not somethung bad the way she utilizes it fits her genre

[@bedirascioglu8243]

Her music is good

[@Gabriel-lt8bo]

Finally, an honest artist :) also she can still sing! She just uses it for little mistakes

[@ihearjerusalembells]

just saying autotune isn't used for just singing. its used to make a cool effect on vocals. its for artist purposes too

[@lanacrowley7337]

she's keeping it real and I appreciate that, love you charli baby!

[@anniehindley2866]

Her use of autotune is ICONIC.

[@---gi4sr]

i don't care just give me something like true romance pt 2

[@stanconnorstan4266]

FYI, her albums before Vroom Vroom were NOT GOOD and DID NOT SELL. She's never going back, I mean she's making music she likes and has more success with. She was never meant to be mainstream, so she's doing something that works for her.

[@drummerAVA]

N1A is like True Romance 2.0... and POP 2 is like 3.0 lol

[@AndreaAlison]

I guess she likes to edit her voice, it is not about her voice bad or not. Her voice is pretty cool, you can check her old songs, she can sing well there. I feel like as I listen to her song and there's no edited part, "omg, this is not her"

[@Captain_Rhodes]

to be honest I found her records after the second album unlistenable because of the autotune. Shes realy talented and her voice was fine. I know its a matter of taste and so many people these days think autotune is good. Ive realy tried to get used to it but all singers sound the same to me and its like the autotune has replaced their voices. When roger troutman used it, it was cool because he was the only person doing it like that and he had a unique style. these days i realy feel its taking away from music.

[@CALLMEMRCHAD]

I don't know why auto tune is considered bad when it's literally an artform in itself. You'd be surprised how many good singers use auto tune. It's not to cover up "bad singing", it's just to give the vocals a new dimension. People are so weird lol

[@gasparsuarezbrigati3314]

I love the sound of autotune tho

[@purple455]

Why are people hating on autotune again? I forgot their arguments because all of them are either entirely subjective or easily avoided by not listening to the artists' music.

[@deccers6459]

Purple Demon People dont like it because its basically cheating. Autotune makes you sing better so people hate it because its not her real voice

[@purple455]

but like, what's wrong with using modern tools to improve what you have? In other forms of art people use LITERALLY every tool and advancement in technology they can to improve what they do. nobody calls out digital artists for cheating, because they shouldn't. Being a good musical artist is not just how well you sing, it's about how you use the voice, how you produce the track, what do you do with the voice. As long as you make it enjoyable in the end does it matter what you use? If you market yourself as an amazing singer and use autotune yes it is cheating but she literally just admitted that yes she uses autotune and that's her music.

[@deccers6459]

Purple Demon Can you give an example of other arts using 'enhancements' (i dont spend that much time in the other arts so inform me pls)

[@purple455]

CaseyUK well other than the digital art example there's also a lot of new handy artist tools such as a large amount of synthetic pigments for paints, one can argue that someone using those pigments isn't that good of an artist because they can't blend those colours on their own, but who cares as long as the finished painting is beautiful, there's also special chemical sprays such as Krylon that makes oil dry faster, there's a plethora of cinematic effects and cameras that can make a recording feel interesting and captivating with far less work. Humans are trying to make things easier for themselves, autotune doesn't hurt anyone, people with great voices will continue making great voices, autotune just allows those with mediocre voices but creative vision to create music as well.

[@JayZer0]

Charli admitting to using autotune is more respectable than Britney or J.Lo hiring sound-alikes to record their albums for them.

[@babyhag]

people give artists so much shit for using autotune and i never understood it

[@Blazing234]

Singing live is hard on tour all the time. Sometimes your pitch sucks and sometimes it's good.

[@ihearjerusalembells]

its just for a futuristic effect. its not like people are acting like they cant sing. they usually can sing. autotune just makes the vocals dynamic/dance influenced

[@ihearjerusalembells]

Sean Clark Sean Clark you literally don’t understand why she is using it. Auto tune is adding to the music. It creates to the pop dynamic. She isn’t saying she can’t sing. It’s for add an artistic effect.

[@juju-vl7oj]

I’ve never cared about if an artist uses autotune. To me I like an artist more for their originality and creativity rather than their ability to sing or play instruments. Not that being able to sing and play instruments isn’t impressive, it’s awesome and I wish I could but I just feel that a musician and music artist are 2 different things that don’t need to be compared.

[@laurenb3070]

I can understand being critical kind of but we know she can sing relatively well so I don’t mind it in a stylistic sense.

[@shadowxcx6503]

She will stay is my favourite If she uses autotune or not. She knows how to use it well and her amazeness and her hotness just a cherry top of the cake! ❤️

[@Cuttersway]

It’s obvious from the records she uses auto tune. Who gives a shit. She has a good voice, but like Kayne, she uses effects as an aesthetic choice, and to give the music a futuristic texture, which extends far beyond autotune on records like Pop 2 (which is awesome). I mean Kanye actually can’t sing, whereas she can sing quite well, but they both use it for similar sound-building ends. It’s part of the theme of her music. She talks about the future and robots. It’s not like she’s ever tried to hide that she uses autotune. lol

[@--..__]

Damn she's awkward irl... Same

[@fuckya1260]

HONESTY, I actually respect that.

[@danidkg4071]

she's actually a rly good singer, she just uses autotune for the effect i think?

[@randyfemrite7525]

The song has "so many words", has to be "Don't Delete the Kisses". My fav and I still don't know all the words by heart...

[@aztre]

HUH WTF? I DIDN’T KNOW THAT PEOPLE CARED ABOUT THIS. There are artists out there who use autotune as a stylistic choice and for the sake of the sound it creates. This not about her not knowing how to sing or being lazy, this is about her taking music into another level, a fun, mesmerizing and futuristic way.

[@chadduff05]

She was honest

[@kaiookalanikanuha2613]

She’s Mommy she can use whatever she wants

[@gl1tt3r3]

I love how autotune sounds as a stylistic choice

[@alliexcx5576]

I love autotune

[@UniqornGleek29]

I was trying to read her settings, but they're hard read clearly.

[@fasai4277]

I mean at least shes not faking like some other artists and be true to everyone...ilove her

[@WrenHuang]

If you've seen her live she can sing really fucking well.

[@omargonzalez6579]

Charly eres la megor 💯

[@melody5463]

At least she’s being real about it 😂

[@andrewlockett4569]

Well then, Charli is quite welcome to hold something of mine whenever she's singing, phoooaaawwww!!!!!

[@deccers6459]

Andrew Lockett aha

[@fallenpoj17]

honestly who cares if people use autotune .. we listen to music because it's good not because *"oh um I only listen to singers who can actually sing live ahem."*

[@claroca7619]

0:36 😆😆😆😆

[@Trientaarianag]

At least she is honest

[@omargonzalez6579]

Osea Charli xcx es la mejor música de todo américa latina

[@omargonzalez6579]

Eres la megor,💯

[@tonyvalois5499]

her sogs really changed since the true romance, is more futuristic.

[@batorsagandszerelem4474]

I don't really mind her using autotune because it fits with her style and the genre of her music (electropop/hyperpop). The robotic quality that autotune lends to her voice makes her sound like a singing android sometimes, and I think that's cool.

[@deccers6459]

For those who think it is an 'effect' autotune is often related to people who cannot sing because it takes whatever note your singing, and changes it to the perfect pitch. So basically however flat or sharp the singer is, autotune changes it to make it a perfect note. Correcting how you sing, so with autotune a dying cat could sing just aswell as whitney houston

[@Blazing234]

That's not true at all, why don't you give it a try then. Autotune sounds like shit if you're not hitting the notes.

[@deccers6459]

Blazing234 it is true actually. The reason it sounds like shit is because it makes an unnatural transition to the note if you dont actually hit it. Which is why you notice autotune. If someone sang perfectly on key, autotune wouldnt have to do anything other than cut out whats in between each note

[@stanconnorstan4266]

NOPE. It's actually VERY hard to sing with autotune. I've tried. If you aren't correct enough, it'll correct to the wrong note. The only thing it does is correct pitch. So you're just going to ignore the literal dozens of other elements to produce a good sound? Because of course autotune can fix your awful tone, vowel shape, nasality or breathing technique. SMH. People need to learn about things before they trash something they don't understand.

[@MultiMediaSam]

I love how shameless and cool she is about it. As long as it sounds good then it's fine. Otherwise anything but acapella wouldn't be considered art. Throw your guitar away Ed, you fucking cheat

[@soaribb32]

At least she makes her music

[@JasonTopo]

what does she mean when she says her pitch is so bad?

[@ScottOctober]

she means she cannot determine the pitch to sing in. Or she cannot continue to sing in pitch.

[@WrenHuang]

I've seen her live 3 times, none of those times she used autotune. It's sad she's come to the point because her voice has gotten bad. If you've seen her live you'd totally understand. She tends to go ALL OUT in her vocals. Haven't seen her live since 2015... I wonder if she takes the autotuner with her now.

[@herculesbrofister265]

Im thinking that was just a sarcastic remark since it was followed by "trying to be kanye all the time" and then later "its a fun effect". Guitarists (even ones like vai) will have entire pedal boards loaded with effects, or $1k+ multi-fx processors and no one bats an eye. But a singer uses fx on their vocals and everyone loses their minds. Too funny.

[@JasonTopo]

Hercules Brofister TRUTH

[@drummerAVA]

@@herculesbrofister265 People don't "know" music... that's really it. They like like to comment and judge, but they don't really know what they're talking about. Spend some time in studio writing/recording/producing music and then see what you think... ya know? Everyone uses pitch-correction on vocals, and it can be applied so subtly, most people never notice. There really isn't any reason NOT to use it... then what people know as "autotune" isn't really even the same thing.

[@AlexRestinandNafanka]

i thought this fucking song was big in germany what the fuck are you doing

[@roserimmer987]

Charli's original pitch is good and better ! Auto tune just makes her music less popular and off EDM :(

[@stanconnorstan4266]

Please, by all means go back to when Charli had no press, hated her music, was under even more pressure by her label than now and had very little creative control over her music.

[@aurora3655]

I had a wah wah pedal once that sounded like a voice.

[@michaelangst6078]

Seems like i'm one of the few which think her best tracks are the ones that use less auto tune. Not a fan When she sounds like a 100% autotune robot

[@yurakmisty4164]

Autotune is an instrument you need to know how to play, it's not just a thing that would make everybody a good singer, trust me

[@lucii2122]

I think Charli could take a break from the lack of auto-tune she uses in her songs. I mean it’s pretty obvious XD and she no Selena Gomez, she can sing.

[@30251]

I have such mixed feelings about Charli. on one hand I love a LOT of her music, especially Pop 2 which was the most autotune heavy but still one of the best albums of the past decade imo... but on the other hand I'm getting tired of her relying on the same PC music cling clang formula, it's getting boring now and the lyrics on a lot of her songs are pretty childish and immature for someone nearing 30...plus her voice isn't damaged from performing lmao it's from her partying, drinking and taking a lot of drugs.

[@snatched.8135]

I mean at least she ownded up to it.

[@oftheHowl]

Can't sing, can't remember her lyrics. Yo nobody needs talent anymore lol the companies just do all the work for them all they have to do is look good on stage

[@BinLadenDied]

why isn't she friends with marina anymore

[@Savemelord7776]

😍😍

[@entropyshade2120]

Me on nwhy i couldn't even show my skills because no recording machine (my comments online) and yess watching real skills is just as important its the difference between peace and hell on earth like yah hell is always on earth its just the opposite of human organization and human nature. Btw writte down my shit if u want coz theres no book àfter all u wont even teach a lesson to ur futude children if u have any

[@nickybigg1773]

Do they auto refocus her face too? 😝

[@josepha5885]

Such a pity. There was a time, not that long ago, when she didn't need to use autotune.

[@JavenarchX]

Love her...but the Auto tune on White Mercedes just got to me.....

[@zachdeleon4706]

awwww poor charli. i can really see her social anxiety in this video

[@nicktubara]

Or shes just being cute without trying to an attention seeker.

[@Hastur876]

Next, let's all shit on Kraftwerk for using a vocoder.

[@chronicallyhormomal]

Auto tune is dumb.

[@sethhill5850]

yall impressed by someone who cant sing?

[@ree3492]

yall impressed by someone who's a singer but can't write and produce her own shit

[@flinchus]

Can't sing for toffee that's why

[@yunjinsgf6875]

I had no idea she was English, tf.

[@Northafrican2097]

I thought she’s American

[@BinLadenDied]

why does she look so different here

[@lichyyyyy]

oatmeal No make up

[@KaiInMotion]

People's looks change constantly. We gain and lose weight, I know my weight fluctuates from week to week and month to month, lmao. Also her hair isn't looking the best here. There's a lot more factors and variables in looks and beauty than just being hot or ugly, we all have good days and off days.

[@hugosachiowijaya1624]

because she doesn't use make up ?

[@Chanel-Number6]

Isn't autotune a different thing tho? I thought this was vocoder..

[@Macconator2010]

She’s not the only one that’s in and out of the studio, on tour, etc. There are those who work more than her, no doubt. This is not really an excuse to use auto tune. Lyrics on the phone too... wow... what a joke.

[@theghoststunes8267]

sad hey :(

[@giselle4958]

It's her voice she can do whatever she wants with it.

[@Macconator2010]

gay fauna Didn’t say she couldn’t, what’s your point?

[@lilahduncan9474]

I mean her entire album leaked along with about 40 other songs. So she’s been recording hundreds of songs over the past year. But it doesn’t matter. She said that’s she’s been self conscious about her vocals and that she likes autotune anyway. Why can’t she do what she wants? It’s not even an “excuse” for autotune as she’s not ashamed of using pitch correction

[@97HawksFly]

Can I ask why it matters to you whether a vocalist needs help with pitch or not? I often wonder why people can't seem to take good music at face value and feel the need to expose the artists. Also, I wouldn't say she sings terribly, pitch control is just one element of good singing, so if she needs some help with that one thing, I don't think that makes her a terrible singer, just maybe not a great one.

[@dpfishn]

I don't care why anyone uses it, triplej should ban all songs with auto tune

[@lostdilettante]

Lol ban? Talk about pretentious, her music isnt about her music skills, its about her music, that should go for a lot of artists, its not your thing, stop acting like you're better because of it.

[@Psyquar97]

I don't care why anyone uses it, triplej should ban all songs with

[@SpMoose]

d p there’s definitely too many songs using it at the moment. Auto tune would feature in 1 out of 5 songs right now. Found switching to Double J has fixed the problem.

[@manicpixiecassidy]

holy wow, there would be no songs for triplej to play! seriously. it's more than 1 in 5. it's 4 in 5, if not more. there's nothing wrong with autotune.

[@Fiyeroification]

Ooops, there goes James Blake

[@noobbll]

I'm seeing a double chin there i think yes

[@jonathanmichael99]

nobul ok and?

[@noobbll]

dankmemesjonny do you have 1 too?

[@KaiInMotion]

Congratulations on having eyes?

[@bmet102]

So many excuses for a crap performance she hadn't even done yet.

[@gavinbatker6691]

I like her a lot and have no problem with auto tune as an artistic device, but it will save her so much anxiety and trouble in the future if she just takes care of herself and her instrument. Pitch and breathing issues are easily fixed with coaching, I really think it would be a worthwhile investment for her.

[@mikecorbett8760]

Raygun singer