A few weeks ago, I was in Hyde park when I heard the intro of ‘Hot to Go!’ Chappell Roan’s hit single. A dozen teenage girls had abandoned their picnic and gathered spontaneously around a speaker- about to dance to the cheerleader-style choreography.

The bit-pop sound, reminiscent of 90’s arcade games, and upbeat tempo made their excitement infectious to everyone nearby.

Singing along and spinning each other around, the girls earned a few bemused smiles- something rare in the chaos of central London. This, I thought, is something few artists could achieve.

Chappell Roan wearing the outfit her ‘Hot to Go!’ Music video

Credit: Courtesy of Leesa Allmond- @leesology on Instagram

Beginnings of stardom

While she may seem to have risen to stardom overnight, Chappell Roans success is a result of years of hard work. After uploading her original song ‘Die Young’ to YouTube in 2015, she was noticed by Atlantic records. Her stage name ‘Chappell Roan’ is a touching tribute to her late grandfather, Denis Chappell, who’s favorite song was ‘the strawberry roan’ by Marty Robbins.

Roans self-proclaimed ‘dark, witchy and serious’ sound in ‘Die young’ has taken a complete metamorphosis. The mix of despair and angst couldn’t be further from her 2020 single ‘Pink Pony club’, which was named as the 2021 song of the summer by vulture who described it as a “synthy infectious bangarang.”

Following this release, she was dropped from her label but this only fueled her determination. For a period, the singer worked odd jobs including as a nanny, barista and cabin counsellor.

The change in her art mirrors her coming of age journey, as a young queer woman moving from her hometown to the city of Los Angeles. In an interview with the Rolling Stones she said: “I feel allowed to be who I want to be here.”

Chappell Roan at the Vogue theatre

Credit: Jason Martin from WikiCommons

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Crowning the Midwest Princess

Her 2023 debut album, the Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is what catapulted her into the spotlight. Her first single ‘Good luck Babe’ is filled with frustration, flirtation- but most importantly self-love, as she walks away from a relationship with someone who is trying to deny fate.

‘Good Luck Babe’ begins unsuspectingly, as an upbeat pop power-ballad. But it quickly becomes an almost prophetic message about being yourself, before you loose yourself- and the person you love.

Her anger at a lover who is scared to be in an openly queer relationship melts into her bittersweet understanding for them. The song slows and fades out mirroring Roans lyrics- ‘you’ll have to stop the world just to stop the feeling’.

‘Good luck babe’ topped global charts reached #3 in the UK and #6 in the US Hot 100. Despite this, it is a very unconventional hit. It’s loud, it’s moody, it’s emotionally intense and far from the minimalist songs trending right now. There’s no official music video or visualiser- the music just speaks for itself.

Chappell Roan has also collaborated with artists such as Olivia Rodrigo who she opened for at the GUTS world tour and gave backing vocals on tracks such as ‘lacy” and ‘get him back!’.

Roan supported Olivia Rodrigo on her Guts world tour

Credit: Olivia Rodrigo/Wikimedia Commons

Iconic looks and moments

Alongside her new found stardom, Chappell Roan is becoming known for her iconic pop culture moments and activism. A prime example is her performance at the Governors Ball, New York, where she emerged from a giant apple dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

She revealed that she had recently turned down an invitation to a White House pride event, and wouldn’t attend until there was ‘liberty, freedom and justice for all’.

Addressing the crowd she quoted Emma Lazarus poem written on the base of the New York monument- ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to be free.”

“That means freedom in trans rights, that means freedom in women’s rights, and … it especially means freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories,” she said, taking a moment to collect herself.

During the same performance she proclaimed ‘I’m your favourite artists favourite artist!’ in reference to drag queen Sasha Colby. Drag and creative makeup expression is a major influence is Roan’s art. Her introduction is not exactly wrong with her notable fans ranging from legend Sir Elton John as well as modern pop princess Sabrina Carpenter.

Chappell Roan at the Governers Ball, NY

Courtesy of Leesa Allmond- @leesology on Instagram

Freedom through music

With trend cycles moving increasingly fast, it’s getting harder to maintain the publics attention. But Chappell Roan’s art has certainly captivated many, with fans genuinely unaware of what direction she will take next.

Roan’s 80’s pop style sound sounds familiar but also fresh. Her music is drawing comparisons to Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks and Marina and the Diamonds, yet her personality and genre bending songs are also something entirely their own. She’s taking on a sound we all secretly love, but the songs are overplayed now. She’s doing it her own way.

What is so captivating about Chappell Roan is the distinctive world her music takes you into- tons of glitter and freedom. It’s the mixture of escapism yet simultaneously feeling entirely yourself.

The juxtaposition of honest lyrics mixed with a dream-like vocal quality, is invigorating. Through the drag project of Chappell Roan, she’s somehow able to create music that feels more authentic, raw and unapologetic than anything we have seen before.

In an interview with vanity fair she spoke about how letting go of the need for perfection and leaning into the ‘tacky pop-star image allows her art to flourish.

She said: “it's like when you're a kid, when you're playing dress up you’re never thinking about anything. You're just thinking like, oh my god, they're so pretty. “That's how I view my project. Is this what would've made little me happy?”

Her music comes at a tumultuous time with LGBT rights and tolerance where there is progression but also regression. The success of ‘Good luck, babe’ could be the start of a more inclusive shift in mainstream pop.

At the 2024 VMA’s, she dedicated her Best New Artist award to ‘the queer and trans people that fuel pop’. But she isn't just using her platform for representation; proceeds from her shows are also donated to LGBT causes such as For the Gworls, The Glo Project, The Kaleidoscope Trust as well as humanitarian relief charities.

Chappel Roan at the Hollywood Palladium

Credit: Justin Higuchi from Wikimedia commons

Sapphic representation

A major part of Chappell Roans appeal, is that her music gives femininity to sapphic identity that many of us feel we don’t deserve. For many women who realize they are queer, it can feel like you loose a huge part of girlhood.

Liking and dating men is often portrayed in the media as a crucial part of that girlhood coming of age. Stories like Roan’s, of finding yourself in queer spaces or being in relationships tangled by comphet? That isn’t seen so much. But with gorgeously extravagant femininity and openly sapphic lyrics, Roan is giving us something different to hold onto.

She’s not just topping charts. Through upbeat tempos, raw lyrics and infectious, shimmery pop ballads, Chappell is healing so many of the queer community. Sometimes, you need reminding that you are entitled to some glitter too.

Courtesy to @leesology on Instagram for photos.