Charli XCX shifts musical direction toward rock with new album

Charli XCX is transitioning from the EDM-focused sound of her 2024 album "Brat" toward a rock-influenced style with her new project, "Music, Fashion, Film." In the track "Rock Music," she signals this shift, stating, "I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music." The new album features a visual aesthetic inspired by cult figures, with cover art including John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese.

During a performance at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Charli XCX joined The Strokes on stage for a surprise collaboration. Performing the song "Take It or Leave It," the appearance followed a friendly competitive period between the two acts regarding their simultaneous July album releases. The Strokes' frontman, Julian Casablancas, joked about her commercial success, telling the crowd, "You have defeated us in album sales. You are the new queen of everything, Charli XCX."