Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Serve Queer Euphoria at Tour’s End

Just like that. The Sweat tour is over.

Singer-songwriters Charli XCX and Troye Sivan played their final show right here in Seattle, WA. On October 23rd, 2024, the duo performed at the Climate Pledge Arena. The tour kicked off September 14, 2024, in Detroit, MI, making its way through the country with two stops in Canada. As a fan of both musical artists and their latest albums, I was fortunate to attend.

To gain publicity for the tour, Saturday Night Live performed a sketch in support of the two powerhouse performers. Bowen Yang portrayed Charli while Sarah Sherman portrayed Troye. By gender swapping roles, the skit, while highly comical, added to the inclusion and acceptance for their diverse fan base.

English singer-songwriter Charli XCX first rose to eminence with her early song “Boom Clap” which was released in 2014 as well as being featured on Swedish pop duo Icona Pop’s “I Love It” which was released in 2012 and rapper Iggy Azalea’s single “Fancy” which was released in 2014 to name a few.

Charli XCX has been nominated for two Grammys, four Billboard Music Awards (won one), four Brit Awards, five Teen Choice Awards (won one), four MTV Music Video Awards, and three New Musical Express awards (won two).

Charli XCX’s Brat album on Spotify / The Evergreen Echo

Her most recent accolades consist of the elevation of her song “Speed Drive” which appeared on the soundtrack of Barbie in 2023, as well as her sixth studio album, Brat, released June 7, 2024. Brat, a pop album that swept through the summer, remains on the lips of its fans. Already producing tons of collaborations with Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish and countless TikTok trends, the “Brat” era is ending no time soon.

In her high-energy album, Charli addresses themes of womanhood, generational trauma, acknowledging and overcoming one’s own flaws and insecurities, motherhood, love, breaking gender norms, women’s empowerment, club culture, and many more. With breakout songs like “365”, “Girl, so confusing”, and “Apple,” the album—while relating to everyday insecurities—encourages those to triumph and persevere over them.

So what does “brat” mean? Charli removes the negative connation of the word, which usually resembles childish immaturity, and flips it completely on its head. “Brat” doesn’t have to be a person or a thing, but a mere attitude and identity. Your inner brat breaks down your lasting insecurities to thrive as unapologetically flawed. We all have a brat in us all.

Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan crossed several monumental thresholds throughout the course of his career. As a child, Troye competed in several Australian singing competitions as well as holding acting credits like X-men Origins: Wolverine where he played young Wolverine.

As a YouTuber, Troye gained a rapid and loyal following through his singing. With over 22 billion streams on Spotify, Troye’s reach and hold onto the hearts of his fans is so palpable that some artists only dream of being able to do the same.

Troye has been nominated for two Grammys, two iHeartRadio Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music awards (won two), and three MTV Video Music Awards. Stated in his Spotify bio, “Troye has firmly established himself as a global icon in the worlds of pop music, fashion, and LGBTQIA+ representation.”

Something to Give Each Other on Spotify / The Evergreen Echo

In his third studio album, Something to Give Each Other, released on October 12, 2023, Troye tackles the ups and downs of the Queer experience. Proceeded by his 2020 EP In A Dream, his 2018 album Bloom, and his 2015 debut album Blue Neighborhood, Something to Give Each Other spares no expense when showcasing Troy’s unique abilities as a singer-songwriter and performer.

His latest album tackles a variety of Queer issues: unattainable love, the struggles of conformity, forgiveness, identity, honesty, community, self-love, self-acceptance, and reclaiming and celebrating one’s queerness. With popular songs like “Rush”, “Got Me Started”, and “One of Your Girls”, the album has blown up, making its way permanently in the hearts of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As Queer people, we all deal with our internal struggles and coming to terms with our own queerness in different ways. This album demonstrates the evolution of Troye’s own queerness. When listening to the album for the first time, I found it to be purely authentic, vulnerable, and relatable to my own experiences.

When asked what Something to Give Each Other means to him, fan Arthur Johnson replied, “Something to Give Each Other is a love letter from Troye to his present self just as much as it is to his past self and past lovers.”

From start to finish, the concert served as a beacon of acceptance and positive vibes. Whatever makes someone different or looked down upon in society was celebrated and cherished. I found myself drawn not only to the Sweat duo but also with the crowd itself.

Shygirl, the opening act of the night, told the audience that they are “all main characters tonight.” Everyone used to fading into the background felt seen and heard. Everyone, free to express themselves, made sure not to miss the unique opportunity.

During his performance, Troye kissed one of his backup dancers. Growing up, I never expected a public kiss between two men would be met with not only applause and cheers but true acceptance and love. Masculinity, femininity, and everything in between stood on that stage.

Charli and Troye were truly humbling performers. Charli paid homage to her beginning by singing “I Love It”. During her song “Apple”, which has flooded TikTok with its iconic dance, the audience couldn’t help but follow along with the trend. At the end of the song, Charli, touched by her fans, couldn’t help but tear up.

Climate Pledge Arena wall / The Evergreen Echo

Troye admitted that his first show nine years ago was right here in Seattle. He expressed his thanks and gratitude to the people and the city itself. 

With the performance closing out the tour, Charli and Troye did not disappoint their fans.

During the encore, Troye asked Charlie, “How lucky are we that the end of the tour ends in the best town?” The two branded Seattleites as “the best crowd of the tour.”

The Sweat tour—one fleeting moment in time—had a decidedly lasting impact on all its fans from all realms and walks of life.