The Charlies

Icelandic girlband The Charlies have today come out with a new single and video – the intriguingly titled ‘Hello Luv’.

It’s a genre defying, unclassifiable, piece of anything-but-pop music. Down-played coolness, then shouty brazenness, but always a totally warped sense of delivery. It takes a couple of listens. And then a couple more. Then you’re either gonna resent us for making you waste more time than you needed to on getting used to a song which is clearly awful, or you’re gonna thank us for encouraging you to have the persistence needed to appreciate this masterpiece.

My, haven’t they come a long way since ‘Losing A Friend‘?!

More on The Charlies and their ever so slightly brilliant EP release from last year here.
- ScandiPop

The lovely Charlies are back with a new sound. Its quite the grower. - LOFT965

Meet The Charlies.

They’re formed from the remains of formerly-famous Icelandic pop group Nylon.

And they’re about to change your life forever.

Nevermind the history, here’s the facts: The Charlies have released the best pop EP to ever be released (yes it’s even better than Sky Ferreira’s As If! EP).

The track that first turned me on to these girls was “Let That Body Breathe.” (below)


coy. “I’m just a girl with the nerve and I do what I want. Make a boy wanna beg on his knees for my love” one of the girls sings (I honestly have no idea which) in the song’s first verse over some nice pop production. then things get serious in the pre-chorus where the production grows into a tense “hit me up boy, hit me up boy boy boy!” part. Then there’s the oh-so-delicious chorus “So baby baby please just oh yeah yeah yeah let that body breathe!” they sing in the chorus over some sick synthesizers that would make any pop producer jealous. As if this wasn’t enough to give Max Martin a run for his money, there’s a dubstep breakdown. And it’s magnificent.

Ok, so these girls are good, but how good? That’s when you listen to “Tickin’ Like A Bomb.”


The instantly technolicious beats will raid your ears like nothing has since Madonna debuted “4 Minutes” (not that the songs are at all alike). The lush synthesizers that back the girls in the chorus of this track are so amazing that Dr. Luke, or RedOne, or Fernando Garibay (well maybe he could) could ever compare. The producers, StopWaitGo, produced the entire EP and thanks to them, this EP has such a great, textured sound. During the song’s chorus the girls sing “You got me tickin’ like a bomb. Tick, tick, tick, tickin’ like a bomb. I’m about to go o-o-o-o-off. I’m ‘bout to go off,” when finally the beat drops and the winding synths writhe around the song while the girls triumphantly shout “I’m about ooooooooooooff!!” It’s sheer ecstasy.

By now you’re probably thinking, “Hmm, these girls are really good. But they’re label is probably pulling a Jessie J* I think you’re ready to listen to “Monster (EAT ME!)”


“Monster” is the band’s most provocative song. While in “Let That Body Breathe” they merely suggested at ridding oneself of excessive clothing, they now proudly proclaim their intentions loud and clear, over and over, in a fabulous stuttering fashion, over a sick electronic instrumentation. “You’re a monster! And I just want you to eat me,” they sing in the song’s first chorus, then the chorus turns into this crazy, glitchy replay of “ee-ee-eat mehhh” in assorted fashions. It’s freaking great. But wait, it gets better. After the song’s bridge, the song’s pre-chorus ends up turning into the song’s last chorus (WHAT?!). You’re probably thinking that such a thing is not possible. It is, my friends, it is. The pre-chorus gets a mayjuh facelift and serves as the last chorus of the song which then segues into the previously mentioned glitch affair and it just ties in so well. It’s like watching one of those psych thrillers where it’s good but the ending makes everything kind of click and come together. Like that, except instead of murder, it’s sex. Make sense?

Now you’re like: “these girls are freaking awesome, but they’re so overproduced. It’s like listening to Britney Spears up in here! (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Cue the girls’ cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow” or their acapella version of “Game Over.” There’s not much to say about that except: “Wow.”

And now you’re sold. “I want this damn EP but I have no balance left on my iTunes gift card!” No need to panic. The Charlies are giving this EP up for download on their official website for FREE!


Thank me later. Now, just go download their EP Start A Fire here.


Just click on the big mixtape that reads “Download Mixtape”

Easy as pie.

The girls have signed with US record label Hollywood Records (ex-home of flawless Hilary Duff) and are set to release a full-length album this year.

P.S. The album’s best track is the only unmentioned song on here. I wanted to leave it as a pleasant surprise.

*Pulling a Jessie J is releasing incredible singles that are next level ish and releasing an album full of three years ago shiz.

Make sure to Reblog, Like, and Follow if you like any of the content!
- http://popisabloodsport.tumblr.com/

Anyone still bumping some Nylon on their iPod?

If you’re not already familiar with the Iceland-bred girl group troupe (trust me, no one’s judging you), a brief recap: The girls were a huge success abroad in their homeland throughout the mid-’00's, crafting three #1 albums (two in Icelandic, one in English), loads of hit singles including “Holiday,” their own reality show and a book deal.

The girls even enjoyed some moderate international success with their cover of The Real People‘s “Losing A Friend,” which peaked in the Top 30 of the UK Charts in 2006, along with their version of The Eurythmics‘ oft-covered “Sweet Dreams”, which peaked at #1 on the UK Dance Charts. Plus, they opened for the Almighty Girls Aloud on tour! (Talk about a true seal of approval!)

But like most tried-and-true girl groups, the original roster was rocked: In mid-2007, founding member Emilia ditched the group (on good terms, ALLEGEDLY) to spend more time with her husband, resulting in a scrapped UK release of their English record 100% Nylon and a rush release their greatest hits collection, Best Af Nylon. The remaining ladies announced a hiatus for the band shortly thereafter, promising fans that they’d be back one day.

Well, they’re back–this time in the form of a trio known as The Charlies.

On November 11 (11/11/11), The Charlies released their first (100% free) mixtape: The Start A Fire EP, produced by Icelandic production troupe StopWaitGo.

It’s an entirely amazing listen from start to finish, heavily inspired by the throbbing Scandinavian pulsations of Britney‘s Femme Fatale–from the four-to-the-floor space-age synthesizers to the unmistakable “Hold It Against Me”-inspired dubstep breakdowns.

There’s the dooming, equal parts sexy and silly “Monster (Eat Me!)” (What can I say? I’m a sucker for a girl begging for you to eat her–right, RiRi?), to the gorgeous, sauntering “Start A Fire,” to the all-out smutty club affair of “Let That Body Breathe,” to my current obsession: “Ticking Like A Bomb.”

While the song is a fairly straightforward lyrical affair about going out and blowing up, it’s armed with one of the immediate, unstoppable–and dare I say, explosive!–choruses I’ve heard all year: “I’m about to go o-o-o-out!” the girls scream-sing before the song’s surging beats come pumping into the speakers. Waves of pleasure, friends. Waves of pleasure.

There’s even a sweetly sung cover of Coldplay‘s “Yellow,” which showcases the girls’ pleasant, skillful crooning to the forefront. It’s so sweet!

Having already hit the studio with The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars), J.R. Rotem and Jukebox, it seems like we’re going to see the girls doing big, big things in 2012.

Start counting down to the explosion now!
- www.muumuse.com

3.) The Charlies, "Let That Body Breathe"

Before The Charlies were The Charlies, they were Nylon -- a successful mid-'00s Icelandic girl group with three No. 1 albums, 10 No. 1 hits and even a UK Top 30 hit (2006's "Losing A Friend") to their name. But now the name's changed, and the girls have headed back into the studio with some major pop producers, including J.R. Rotem (Britney Spears) and The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars), as well as up-and-coming Icelandic production team StopWaitGo.

The first fruits of their labor come in the form of a free mixtape released earlier in November: The Start A Fire EP, complete with six surging pop tracks including the utterly manic, cannibal-minded "Monster (EAT ME!)" and an absolutely gorgeous cover of Coldplay's "Yellow."

One of the best tracks of the bunch? "Let That Body Breathe," a sizzling electro-pop scorcher. "We're only animals/So right that it's wrong," the girls purr before launching into the robo-tastic chant of a chorus. With its dub-tastic breakdown and surging beats, the track screams pure Femme Fatale deliciousness -- that is, with a distinctly Scandinavian crunch. Ones to watch! + LISTEN TO THE CHARLIES, "LET THAT BODY BREATHE"
- MTV buzzworthy

3.) The Charlies, "Let That Body Breathe"

Before The Charlies were The Charlies, they were Nylon -- a successful mid-'00s Icelandic girl group with three No. 1 albums, 10 No. 1 hits and even a UK Top 30 hit (2006's "Losing A Friend") to their name. But now the name's changed, and the girls have headed back into the studio with some major pop producers, including J.R. Rotem (Britney Spears) and The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars), as well as up-and-coming Icelandic production team StopWaitGo.

The first fruits of their labor come in the form of a free mixtape released earlier in November: The Start A Fire EP, complete with six surging pop tracks including the utterly manic, cannibal-minded "Monster (EAT ME!)" and an absolutely gorgeous cover of Coldplay's "Yellow."

One of the best tracks of the bunch? "Let That Body Breathe," a sizzling electro-pop scorcher. "We're only animals/So right that it's wrong," the girls purr before launching into the robo-tastic chant of a chorus. With its dub-tastic breakdown and surging beats, the track screams pure Femme Fatale deliciousness -- that is, with a distinctly Scandinavian crunch. Ones to watch! + LISTEN TO THE CHARLIES, "LET THAT BODY BREATHE"
- MTV buzzworthy

3.) The Charlies, "Let That Body Breathe"

Before The Charlies were The Charlies, they were Nylon -- a successful mid-'00s Icelandic girl group with three No. 1 albums, 10 No. 1 hits and even a UK Top 30 hit (2006's "Losing A Friend") to their name. But now the name's changed, and the girls have headed back into the studio with some major pop producers, including J.R. Rotem (Britney Spears) and The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars), as well as up-and-coming Icelandic production team StopWaitGo.

The first fruits of their labor come in the form of a free mixtape released earlier in November: The Start A Fire EP, complete with six surging pop tracks including the utterly manic, cannibal-minded "Monster (EAT ME!)" and an absolutely gorgeous cover of Coldplay's "Yellow."

One of the best tracks of the bunch? "Let That Body Breathe," a sizzling electro-pop scorcher. "We're only animals/So right that it's wrong," the girls purr before launching into the robo-tastic chant of a chorus. With its dub-tastic breakdown and surging beats, the track screams pure Femme Fatale deliciousness -- that is, with a distinctly Scandinavian crunch. Ones to watch! + LISTEN TO THE CHARLIES, "LET THAT BODY BREATHE"
- MTV buzzworthy