Charli XCX goes guitar-heavy on Rock Music

Charli XCX releases Rock Music on 8 May, a new single and video that points toward a more guitar-forward phase after the cultural blast of Brat. Charli is obviously a major pop artist, but her long relationship with underground club music, PC Music, experimental pop and internet-facing music culture keeps her relevant to alternative and indie-adjacent coverage.

Rock Music leans into crunchy guitars while still remaining recognizably part of Charli’s pop universe. The video, directed by Aidan Zamiri, adds to the sense of a deliberate visual and sonic shift.

The release also lines up with Charli’s own comments that her next album will feature more guitars and less Auto-Tune, with A.G. Cook and Finn Keane involved in sessions in Paris. That makes Rock Music more than a one-off stunt. It looks like the first public sign of a post-Brat reset.