The Main Challenge for Charli XCX and Troye Sivan in 'SWEAT TOUR', Transforming the Stage into a Club

Kapanlagi.com - Even before Charli XCX dominated the summer with her critically acclaimed new album brat, there was already internal chatter about plans for an arena tour with Troye Sivan.

“At first, I was a bit unsure how this would work, I thought, ‘This is going to be a big challenge’ and it seemed like everyone felt that way.” recalls Imogene Strauss, the creative director of the tour. She explained that this is quite rare, considering both artists would take turns performing their songs in one setlist.

In the end, bringing together two separate tours — Charli had started her solo brat tour during the album launch week at Primavera Sound in June, while Troye had already been on his European and UK tour for his third album Something To Give Each Other in May — for a joint tour in the fall turned out to be easier than expected. The Sweat tour kicked off on September 14 in Detroit and quickly became one of the most anticipated music tours, with tickets selling out, including for shows at Madison Square Garden and Kia Forum, which even featured special guests like Lorde and Kesha.

The tour finally concluded in Seattle on October 23, and it became an extraordinary musical journey for both fans.

1. Unique Visuals and Cinematic Touch of 'SWEAT TOUR'

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"This is truly an exciting journey, changing and adapting according to the scale of the tour, but also due to the intense collaboration within it. In the end, lighting becomes a factor that can really unify both performances," said Strauss, who has been collaborating with Charli since 2019. Together with Jonny Kingsbury from Cour Design, they heavily relied on lighting as a unifying element for this tour.

Kingsbury added, "Usually, pop singers are highlighted with bright lighting, but here we are actually using intense strobe effects, as if you are watching someone walk through a club in a movie throughout the event."

Kingsbury revealed that this concept fits perfectly with Charli's brat aesthetic. "Like when Charli pushes the cameraman, spits on stage, and then seems to 'merge' with her energy. Everything feels very brat."

The result is a unique performance, dynamic visuals, and a viewing experience that feels cinematic and brings the club atmosphere to the big stage. It is a successful blend and has become the hallmark of their Sweat Tour.

2. The Perfect Blend Between Charli XCX and Troye Sivan

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Strauss's favorite part of the Sweat tour shows how strong their creative synergy is. In the middle of the performance, when Troye was finishing the song Stud on the main stage and Charli was preparing to perform 365 from the scaffolding, the screen went dark and suddenly Charli's distinctive voice could be heard with bumpin' that from the speakers.

"Musically, their worlds really blend well together, and being able to express it visually... it feels amazing to see these two worlds collide in such a perfect way," Strauss expressed. Along with Kingsbury, he praised Mitch Schneider, the music director, who successfully integrated Charli and Troye's music as the main foundation of the show.

Strauss added, “At first, many thought this tour would just be like, Troye performs first, then Charli. But Troye, Charli, and the whole team agreed, ‘If we want to make this happen, everything has to be intertwined—musically, visually, everything.’”

(kpl/bma)