Charli xcx’s new album pivots from Brat’s digital sheen to a raw, guitar-driven introspection
Following the massive cultural footprint of 2024’s Brat, the pop star releases Music, Fashion, Film, a meta-commentary on identity, self-commodification, and the pressure of sustaining relevance in the modern media landscape.
Pop artist Charli xcx has released her latest album, Music, Fashion, Film, marking a distinct stylistic departure from her 2024 cultural phenomenon, Brat. The new record shifts away from the heavy Auto-Tune and club-rat aesthetics of her previous hit towards a guitar-driven sound, described as more intimate and pocket-sized in scale. The album explores complex themes of identity instability, self-commodification, and personal insecurities, featuring collaborations with producers AG Cook and Easyfun.
The release follows a period where Charli xcx’s success with Brat spawned memes, influenced fashion trends, and contributed to Collins’ word of the year. The cultural impact was so significant that it risked reducing the artist to a caricature, a pressure she previously addressed in a mockumentary titled The Moment. That project critiqued the commercialisation of her success, highlighting the anxiety of sustaining interest after a peak moment that defined a summer and reshaped industry conversations.
Music, Fashion, Film’s title references Charli xcx’s recent engagements in acting and fashion collaborations, framing the work as a meta-masterpiece about the instability of selfhood. Singles such as Rock Music and SS26 served as early indicators of this pivot, with Rock Music featuring lyrics that questioned the state of the dancefloor while affirming creative risk-taking. The album’s structure appears intentionally diffuse, preventing the project from being easily categorised before its release.
The record delves into the mechanics of self-definition and celebrity apologia. Tracks like Card Declined examine the purchase of personality and backstory through luxury goods, while Magic Metal Montana serves as a tribute to long-term collaborator AG Cook, emphasising a creative bond that transcends verbal communication. Conversely, Persona addresses superficial friendships and the performative nature of modern relationships, where life imitates art.
Personal vulnerabilities are laid bare in tracks such as Camera and I’m Afraid. The former confronts anxieties regarding her acting career, reframing the role of pop star-actor as a potential rebirth rather than a dilettante pursuit. The latter explores insecurities linked to her father’s absence and her marriage to George Daniel, drummer of the band 1975, whom she married last summer. The album presents an unsparing look at the contradictions of fame, positioning Charli xcx as a consistent observer of her own evolving identity.