Charli XCX: Moving Beyond the ‘Brat’ Era with ‘Music, Fashion, Film’

Beyond the Green Glow: Charli XCX’s Bold Pivot to ‘Music, Fashion, Film’

For many, 2024 was the year of the Brat. Charli XCX didn’t just release an album; she sparked a cultural movement. From defining a new adjective for “confident, independent, and hedonistic” attitudes to becoming an unexpected soundtrack for a US presidential campaign, the impact of Brat was nothing short of era-defining. However, while the world was still dancing to 360 and Apple, Charli was already looking toward the exit.

Just when we thought she was heading for a well-deserved break after a grueling global tour, the artist returned to the studio. The result? A raw, guitar-driven, and deeply introspective project titled Music, Fashion, Film.

Not ‘Brat 2.0’: A Conscious Departure

One of the most striking aspects of Music, Fashion, Film is Charli’s refusal to play it safe. In a recent interview with Vogue, she made it clear that this is not a sequel to her previous success. To Charli, repeating the same dance-leaning formula would be artistic stagnation.

“To be boring is to die right there on the spot,” she told her fans, emphasizing the need for constant evolution.

The new project consists of 11 short, punchy tracks that serve as a sonic diary of her whirlwind last two years. While Brat was about the club, Music, Fashion, Film is about the friction of existence.

The ‘Rock’ Controversy and the Electronic Root

The transition hasn’t been without drama. Upon hearing the track Rock Music, some critics and fellow artists—including Madonna and Courtney Love—questioned if Charli was abandoning her electronic roots for a “rock reinvention.” Charli was quick to clarify on Instagram that she isn’t switching genres; she’s shifting her perspective.

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• The Sound: While guitars dominate, the tracks are still laced with manipulated vocals and electronic flourishes.
• The Intent: The songs explore her relationship with the Brat phenomenon rather than a rejection of club music.
• The Identity: Charli remains an electronic artist at heart, using these new tools to avoid repetitive patterns.

Art, Excellence, and the Price of Fame

The visual identity of this era is just as curated as the audio. Instead of a typical pop star portrait, the project is promoted with a black-and-white image featuring legends John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese. This trio represents the pinnacle of their respective fields, mirroring the album’s obsession with immortality and artistic excellence.

But this pursuit of excellence came with a physical cost. Charli revealed that the intense physicality of the Brat tour caused nerve damage in her neck, affecting her sleep and forcing her to rethink how she performs live. Recent secret shows in London suggest a more stripped-back, band-led approach that maintains the energy without the body-slamming risks.

Lyrical Honesty: From Sarcasm to Panic

Lyrically, Charli is more vulnerable than ever. She tackles the paradoxical pressure of being a “good” celebrity in the digital age. In the track SS26, she satirizes the expectation for pop stars to be politically perfect, while Wink Wink explores the performance of maturity.

Perhaps the most poignant moment is I’m Afraid, a song that strips away the glamour of engagement. Instead of romance, Charli sings about the panic of losing her identity: “I’m nothing without him / What if I ruin it?”

The Philosophy of Oblivion

The album closes with a profound conversation with filmmaker David Cronenberg. Discussing the legacy of art, Cronenberg offers a liberating perspective: “Oblivion is freedom.” He argues that artists shouldn’t be burdened by whether their work survives for thousands of years, as the experience belongs to the living.

By embracing the ephemeral and the flawed, Charli XCX has successfully escaped the shadow of her own success. Music, Fashion, Film is not just an album; it’s a declaration of independence from expectations. For more on the intersection of music and avant-garde film, check out the BBC Culture archives.