Charli XCX has entered a new era where public understanding is secondary to her own artistic vision. In her four singles leading up to her new album, Music, Fashion, Film, which drops July 24, Charli experiments with new sounds while stating the message that she will always be herself.
The three singles that followed “Rock Music” build on the Y2K rock-pop sound, which is distinct from her previous releases. The mixed feedback has fans talking on social media. Some say they aren’t fond of the simplicity and lack of bridges in the tracks, while others love it. For Charli, the polarization of her music means that her vision for the project is successful. Songs that bring out questions and conversations are the most effective.
The extreme rise in popularity that came from BRAT created an entire era. The party-bad-girl era cultivated an extreme breakthrough. By teasing her latest album with songs like “Rock Music,” “SS26,” “Wink Wink” and “Camera,” Charli is proving that she is still maintaining the same rebellious edge that skyrocketed her career from the start. The global mania of BRAT summer could have pressured the singer to stay safe in the pop lane; however, the new singles suggest that she is more interested in burning the map.
Her standing strong with her pivot in her music without reacting to the negative comments shows confidence in herself and authenticity in what she creates. The songs are funny and cheeky while uncovering a deeper message of her sense of self for the true fans that peel back the layers. Charli is smart in creating songs that seem “simple” at first listen, but if you listen closely, she is saying exactly what she wants to say. This refusal to conform is, in itself, the essence of being a ‘bad-girl.’
As she explained in her interview with PopSamCam, when it comes to her work identity, visually or sonically, Charli’s never been drawn to anything that’s super polished. “It doesn’t feel like who I am as a person, so I think when things can get a bit gritty and confrontational, whether that be in the production of things or the look of something, that is appealing to me, and I think with this new record it is in a way a little confrontational just because it is so polar opposite from things I’ve done before and that speaks to me in a way I suppose.”
The tracks so far are short, with some fans noting a lack of bridges, and not thinking about the lyrics’ rhyme. “We made this album in a relatively short period of time; that wasn’t intentional, that’s just kind of how it happened,” the singer explains. “When I’m in that sort of [flow] state, it just comes.”
Charli is creating music that is authentic to her while having fun doing it. “I feel so lucky that I get to do what I do in my life. And I feel even more grateful that I get to do it with some of my best friends,” Charli says. “That is a feeling that can’t be replicated, that feeling of making something with the people that you love and genuinely having the best time doing it, not thinking about the consequences of it, and that’s what it’s like when I’m in the studio making things.”
SS26
SS26 is a catchy track that perfectly fits into the “fashion” category of her album title. The track has a deeper meaning to the lyrics. She states that the direction society is going is doomed. The overall message is about politics, celebrities, and the creative industry as a whole– everyone continues to move along, and nothing can save the state of the world. “Yeah we’re on a runway that goes straight to hell / I know.” Charli states that no matter what you do in media, it will get taken out of context or misunderstood. “I was hacked / it got taken out of context, obviously / but I didn’t do it, even if I did / wrote a really good Notes app apology.”
Wink Wink
This track is fun and catchy, accompanying a cinematic, risque music video. The lyricism of spoken verses is an example of the flow state Charli mentioned — artistically having fun without overthinking it. The song is unapologetically her, with a chorus that will stay stuck in your head. The infectious instrumentals of the Y2K-inspired guitar riffs and minimalist percussion give the song a gritty texture. “I used to say ‘Scream if you want to go faster’ / but then I sold my Porsche” “I don’t know why you don’t think I could be an angel girl.” She suggests that she can change and change her image to be polished, but ultimately she is true to herself at her core.
Camera
The track explores Charli’s inner conflict regarding creating what ultimately feels true to her. “Do I want to make music? / am I being fuckin’ stupid / if I try to be a girl on the screen when I’m turning 34?” “Camera” dives into her motivation for creating her current music and her artistic vision. “Daring to fail and be ugly / I’m inspired and alive (Yeah I’m ready).” Charli is choosing to go with her gut on the music she wants to make, not caring if it looks ugly, because she is artistically raw – moving with the flow of inspiration that comes to her. The captivating melodies and introspective lyrics are what make this one of the standout singles. By daring to be “ugly,” Charli isn’t just making an album; she is prioritizing her inner flow-state rather than conforming to the polished expectations of the screen.
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