Confidence has never been a costume for Lydia Habtemariam. Born in Toronto to Ethiopian roots and now based in Los Angeles, the Canadian singer-songwriter has spent the better part of the past decade building an alter ego in Chxrry — one that is sexy, self-assured and unapologetically larger than life.
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Formerly known as Chxrry22, she made history in 2022 as the first female artist signed to The Weeknd’s XO label, introducing herself to the world through a blend of R&B, pop and braggadocious storytelling that felt both glamorous and emotionally raw. Her 2023 EP, Siren, hinted at an artist with undeniable star power, but three years later and one year removed from dropping the “22” from her name, Chxrry sounds more certain than ever about who she is and what she wants to say.
That certainty powers her debut album, U, Me & My Ego. After scrapping an earlier version of the project, Chxrry rebuilt the album from the ground up alongside rising producer Believve, relying on an unspoken creative chemistry that allowed her to lean fully into radical honesty, confidence and self-examination. Across records like “Main Character” and confidence anthem “Hall of Fame,” she challenges the way people perceive ego, questioning why self-assurance, particularly in women, is so often mistaken for arrogance.
