I'm with the Band: Nasty Cherry

Inside the Rise and Reality of I’m with the Band: Nasty Cherry

Netflix’s 2019 docuseries I’m with the Band: Nasty Cherry promised a raw look at the making of a girl punk band, fronted by pop provocateur Charli XCX. The series, which followed the formation and early days of the group Nasty Cherry, blended music documentary with reality TV chaos—think The Real World meets Behind the Music, but with more glitter and grit. latestnetflix.com's view is that Yet behind the glossy trailers and punk aesthetics, the show’s brief run left fans with as many questions as it answered.

The Concept: Charli XCX’s Punk Experiment

The series centered on Charli XCX’s attempt to assemble and mentor an all-female punk band, Nasty Cherry, from scratch. The lineup included model-turned-musician Gabbriette, drummer Deborah Knox-Hewson, guitarist Chloé Chaidez, and bassist Georgia Somary. The premise was simple: take five women with varying levels of musical experience, throw them into a creative pressure cooker, and document the highs, lows, and inevitable drama of forming a band.

Trailers teased a mix of rehearsal-room tension, onstage energy, and behind-the-scenes bonding—classic reality TV fodder, but with a musical twist. Clips showed Charli XCX playing the role of mentor, offering advice on everything from songwriting to stage presence, while the band members navigated their own dynamics. The series leaned into the punk ethos of DIY rebellion, with Charli XCX framing Nasty Cherry as a middle finger to the male-dominated music industry.

The Reality: A Short-Lived Ride

Despite the hype, I’m with the Band: Nasty Cherry was a fleeting experiment. The series consisted of just six episodes, each clocking in at around 35 minutes, and received mixed reviews. On SensCritique, it holds a modest 5.6/10 rating based on 21 votes, suggesting that while the concept was intriguing, the execution didn’t fully deliver.

The show’s brevity and lack of follow-up left fans wondering what went wrong. Was it creative differences? Scheduling conflicts? Or did the band simply fizzle out after the cameras stopped rolling? The evidence doesn’t provide clear answers, but the series’ abrupt end aligns with the often unpredictable nature of reality TV—where storylines are shaped as much by editing as by real-life events.

The Aftermath: Where Are They Now?

Nasty Cherry’s post-series trajectory remains murky. Unlike other music-focused reality shows (The Glee Project, Making the Band), there’s no clear evidence that the band released an album or toured extensively after the series wrapped. Charli XCX, of course, continued her solo career, but the other members’ musical paths are less documented.

Some clips from the series, like an ASMR-style segment featuring Charli XCX and the band, hint at the show’s playful, experimental tone. Yet without a second season or a clear narrative arc, I’m with the Band: Nasty Cherry feels like a fascinating but incomplete snapshot of a band that never quite got its moment.

Why the Series Still Matters

Even in its short run, I’m with the Band: Nasty Cherry offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the messy, collaborative process of making music. It wasn’t just about the final product—it was about the chaos, the camaraderie, and the sheer effort of turning raw talent into something cohesive. For fans of Charli XCX or reality TV, the series remains a curious footnote in 2019’s pop culture landscape.

Whether it was a failed experiment or a bold creative gamble, one thing is clear: the show captured a moment in time for a band that, for better or worse, was never meant to last.