Charli XCX doesn’t just release music; she dictates the cultural temperature. After a year dominated by the neon-green “Brat” summer, the pop visionary is pivoting—or perhaps trolling—with her latest single, “Rock Music.” While the title suggests a radical departure into grunge territory, the reality is a sophisticated, high-octane blend of hyper-rock that proves Charli is still the most clever architect in modern pop.
The track, clocking in at a lean two minutes, functions as a bridge between her electronic roots and a newfound fascination with “analog” textures. Produced by her core “Brat” squad—A.G. Cook, George Daniel (The 1975), and Finn Keane—the song isn’t a rejection of the club, but a reimagining of it. “I think the dancefloor is dead, so let’s make rock music,” she declares, even as the heavy drum crashes and electric synths invite the kind of kinetic energy usually reserved for a mosh pit.
Beyond the Brat: The Paris Sessions
A New Sonic Blueprint
In a recent British Vogue cover story, Charli teased that her follow-up to the cultural phenomenon Brat would feature less Auto-Tune and more guitars. “Rock Music” is the first taste of this “analogue” experimentation. Recorded in Paris, the track strips away some of the polished art-pop layers in favor of a raw, “crunchy” guitar loop. However, Charli herself was quick to temper expectations on social media, clarifying that while the aesthetic is rock-coded, she hasn’t abandoned her pop lineage. It’s an “analogue version” of her world—messy, loud, and undeniably cool.
The Visual Riot
The accompanying music video, directed by frequent collaborator Aidan Zamiri (the mind behind the “Guess” remix with Billie Eilish), captures the frantic energy of the track. Featuring a mock-band lineup consisting of her producers—including her husband George Daniel—the video leans into rock tropes like mosh pits and instrument smashing. It feels like a natural extension of her recent work in film, including her soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights and her upcoming roles in Faces of Death and I Want Your Sex.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Rock Music |
| Artist | Charli XCX |
| Production Team | A.G. Cook, George Daniel, Finn Keane (Easyfun) |
| Genre | Hyper-Rock / Electro-Pop |
| Music Video Director | Aidan Zamiri |
| Recording Location | Paris, France |
| Release Impact | First single post-BRAT era focusing on analogue sound |
* Data compiled via Hit-Channel Music Research (2024)