Why "Rock Music" Was Charli XCX’s Natural Next Move

While many fans were surprised when Charli XCX announced, "the dance floor is dead, we're making rock music now," this transition seemed almost inevitable to those who have been paying attention to her two primary producers. Finn Keane and A.G. Cook have been working with Charli for roughly a decade. Amidst accusations that her most recent album, Wuthering Heights, was lifted, at least in part, from old Sky Ferreira demos—which Sky was disallowed from releasing while signed to Capitol Records—it makes sense for Charli to forge a new, post-brat identity with her closest collaborators. Love it or hate it, the two-minute track certainly signals the beginning of a new sound and upcoming album from the acclaimed electropop hitmaker. 

So the question remains: why are you hearing guitars riffs and rock inspiration from two of the biggest names in, and influential founders of, hyperpop? In recent years, Finn (who formerly released music under the moniker EASYFUN) and A.G. have devoted their attentions to their band Thy Slaughter. Thy Slaughter combines electronic elements with electric guitars and acoustic drum kits. In fact, Charli's vocals even appear on their track "Heavy" from their debut (and only, currently) 2023 album Soft Rock.

"Why're you wasting all of your time tryna love me/When I don't want love, I just want something else?"

 While looking for insight into where Charli's sound will go next, I would recommend giving a listen to the album linked below. I personally love "Immortal", with the unmistakable vocals of Caroline Polachek and the ballad-like "If I Knew." The late avant-pop icon SOPHIE is a co-writer on the expansive, exquisite track "Lost Everything," as is Wolf Alice's Ellie Roswell, who provides the vocals.

Honestly, the whole album is great. If Music, Fashion, Film manages to successfully emulate similar production elements without the self-aware "rock" pastiche overwhelming them, then the Angels are in for a treat.

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