{"id":486651,"date":"2026-05-15T21:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T21:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/486651\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T21:25:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T21:25:14","slug":"charli-xcx-responds-to-reactions-to-her-pivot-on-rock-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/486651\/","title":{"rendered":"Charli XCX responds to reactions to her pivot on ‘Rock Music\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charli XCX<\/a> has discussed her recent single \u2018Rock Music\u2019 and revealed that she found it \u201creally interesting\u201d to see people have such strong responses towards it.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Von Dutch\u2019 singer dropped the track last Friday<\/a> (May 8), and it saw her take a step back from the club vibe of the hit 2024 album \u2018Brat<\/a>\u2019, and instead lean into a more gritty, guitar-led sound.<\/p>\n

It came with a grungy music video that featured collaborators A.G. Cook<\/a>, Finn Keane (formerly known as Easyfun) and her husband, The 1975<\/a>\u2018s George Daniel, as her rock band \u2013 and soon sparked a mixed reaction from listeners, with some embracing the new direction and others being less complimentary.<\/p>\n

Now, Charli has weighed in on the discussion and shared that she has found it intriguing to see people have such strong opinions about it \u2013 both good and bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing all the different reactions to my song \u2018Rock Music\u2019 has been really interesting,\u201d she wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy friends and I have been discussing how, in ways, it reminds us of the initial discourse around pc music, how the label was deemed as almost critiquing or looking down on pop music or something,\u201d she said, adding that she also felt a similar way when she dropped her third EP, \u2018Vroom Vroom<\/a>\u2019, in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all kind of fascinating. I love talking about music and art with my friends, so I\u2019m happy people are throwing out thoughts,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019m not gonna explain where I was coming from with \u2018Rock Music\u2019, but all I know is that things can be funny, earnest, sincere, and joyful all at the same time and that\u2019s what I feel about a lot of the things I make.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyways, just was thinking about things and thought I\u2019d put them on the internet, will probably regret it,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n

Since sharing the single, Charli has also gone on to drop the stripped-back b-side, \u2018I Keep on Thinking Bout You Every Single Day and Night\u2019<\/a>, alongside its lo-fi, black and white video.<\/p>\n

Both tracks arrive following her team confirming last month that the singer was finishing work on her new album<\/a>. Her last studio album was 2024\u2019s \u2018Brat\u2019 \u2013 the release which became a cultural phenomenon<\/a> and sparked \u201cBrat Summer\u201d \u2013 and since then Charli has released a soundtrack album for Emerald Fennell\u2019s Wuthering Heights.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Charli xcx shares her thoughts on the reaction to her single \u2018rock music\u2019:<\/p>\n

\u201cmy friends and i have been discussing how in ways it reminds us of the initial discourse around pc music, how the label was deemed as almost critiquing or looking down on pop music or something, and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/4HiGi78xiq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pop Base (@PopBase) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Speaking to British Vogue about the upcoming album<\/a>, Charli first unveiled the \u2018Rock Music\u2019 lyric: \u201cI think the dance floor is dead, so now we\u2019re making rock music\u201d \u2013 sparking rumours that the new record would see her shift to a heavier direction.<\/p>\n

She would later clarify things<\/a> by telling fans: \u201cI never said I was making a rock album.\u201d<\/p>\n

More details about the new album are expected to be announced soon. At time of writing, the release date and title is still unknown.<\/p>\n

As well as working on the soundtrack for Wuthering Heights, Charli also penned music for the A24 film Mother Mary<\/a>\u00a0and starred in her own mockumentary The Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other on screen roles include an appearance in the\u00a0romance Erupcja<\/a>, a spot in fantasy 100 Nights Of Hero, playing a comedic version of herself in the TV show Overcompensating<\/a>, and being cast alongside Supergirl star Milly Alcock in a new horror film<\/a> directed by Takashi Miike.<\/p>\n

This August, she\u2019ll return to the stage to make her headline debut at Reading & Leeds<\/a> \u2013 topping the festival bill alongside Fontaines D.C.<\/a>, RAYE<\/a>, Florence + The Machine<\/a>, Dave<\/a> and Chase & Status<\/a>. Visit here<\/a> for tickets and more information.<\/p>\n