Charli XCX playfully mocks the music industry with her new album

Charli XCX has released her seventh studio album, "Music, Fashion, Film," which playfully subverts expectations set by her single "Rock Music." Despite announcing a foray into rock, the album delivers what the publication describes as "good dirty pop," characterized by a digital distortion of guitars rather than a traditional rock sound.

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I think the dance floor is dead / So now we’re making rock music.

The album's lead single, "Rock Music," is presented as a satirical pose, mocking the music industry's tendency to declare stylistic shifts as entirely new eras. Charli XCX's lyrics, such as "I think the dance floor is dead / So now we’re making rock music," and "Yeah we’re on to the next," highlight this critique of manufactured reinvention.

While the album incorporates more guitar elements, they are treated with the same digital manipulation Charli XCX typically applies to synthesizers, resulting in a sound that remains distinctly pop. The artist explores themes of fame, the passage of time, and the pressure to constantly reinvent oneself, particularly as she approaches her mid-thirties. Songs like "SS26" and "Camera" delve into the anxieties surrounding maintaining relevance and the potential for a "persona" to become stale.

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Yeah we’re on to the next

Beyond music, Charli XCX is also venturing into film. She has had early acting roles, including a performance as a "confused tourist in Warsaw" in "Erupcja," which garnered praise from film critic Richard Brody. This expansion into acting suggests a broader artistic exploration beyond her established pop music career.

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Am I being fuckin’ stupid / If I try to be a girl on the screen when I’m turning thirty-four?