Charli XCX addresses "boomer" criticism of autotune use after Glastonbury set
Photo: Reuters
Charli XCX has addressed the online backlash surrounding her use of autotune during her Glastonbury 2025 set.
Following her Saturday night performance on the Other Stage, some viewers criticised the artist’s vocal effects and absence of a live band, prompting widespread discussion on social media.
really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my glastonbury performance. it’s super fascinating to me.
The British pop artist responded by rejecting the notion that using autotune diminishes artistic credibility. She stated that performance styles have evolved, and that deliberate vocal processing is a creative choice rather than a technical limitation.
Charli also commented on the ongoing debate about what defines a “real artist,” adding that reductive attitudes about live music overlook the diversity of modern performance.
like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a “real artist” is like, the most boring take ever. yawn sorry just fell asleep xx
Her set included tracks from her latest album Brat as well as earlier hits. Visually bold, it featured dynamic staging including a flaming “Brat” sign and coordinated on-stage effects. During the show, she gave a shout out to fellow artist Gracie Abrams who has also been performing at the festival.
Charli’s performance coincided with headline acts like Neil Young, drawing attention to the contrasts in genre and stage presentation.
She ended her set with a thank-you message displayed across stage-side signage.