Charli xcx returns with banging new track ‘Rock Music’

Praise the musical gods, Charli xcx is back with a new banger in tow! Her first new music proper since her 2024 cultural phenomenon ‘brat’ (not including this year’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ soundtrack), today (Friday 8th May) she’s returned with brand new single ‘Rock Music’, and it’s a stormer of an offering.

Introduced via a gnarly black and white video that wraps up rock’n’roll clichés and makes them look edgy again (think sculptures made of ciggie butts and headbanging-induced neck braces), the track seems to move away from hyperreal club that lay at the heart of ‘brat’ and towards something that bit grittier. 

But never fear, it’s not the massive sidestep from the pop icon that people had been expecting - despite it’s title, she’s already taken to Instagram to confirm the track’s “not actually rock music which is funny because i never said i was making a rock album”. We’d expect nothing less.

Check out the video for ‘Rock Music’ - which comes directed by Aidan Zamiri, and features an all-star band made up of The 1975’s (and Charli’s husband) George Daniel, as well as producers A. G. Cook and Finn Keane - below, and remind yourself of Charli’s upcoming live performances underneath the player.