Alpha

It’s rare for a remix to not just make a song better, but to literally complete it by providing the other side to a story. On “Girl, so confusing”, Charli xcx talked about someone with whom spending time is “a bit awkward/’Cause we don’t have much in common”. That person turned out to be Lorde, who added a verse to the song in its remix: “The girl, so confusing version with lorde.” The track is vulnerable and genuine from both sides—Charli questions herself and deals with intrusive thoughts, while Lorde speaks honestly about her challenges with body image. It’s not the kind of thing you hear in pop songs very often, and there is so, so much strength in it simply being said. It’s exactly why we’re featuring it on Alpha, a space for redefining the meaning of a woman’s power. Many of the extraordinary artists on this playlist are, indeed, history-makers and game-changers. But Alpha’s more than that. These songs touch on every facet of what womanhood might look and feel like, to one woman—or many. Here, you’ll find love and intimacy, hope and validation, intensity and rawness. It’s a place for starting conversations, uplifting one another and challenging notions through the simple matter of being. Now, that’s real power. Check back often, as we regularly update this playlist. If you hear a song that gives you power, add it to your library.