"Rock Music" by Charli XCX
- Nicole Dzitkowska
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
A New Single
Charli XCX has officially entered a new era with her new single, "Rock Music", released on May 8, 2026. Charli wrote the song with producers Alexander Guy Cook and Finn Keane. The track is expected to be the lead single off her upcoming album, and it has already become one of the most talked about pop releases of the month.
Moving Beyond the "Brat" Era
With the massive success of "Brat", many fans were expecting Charli to keep making club-focused hyperpop. Instead, she offered her listeners something different, something surprising. In an interview with "British Vogue", Charli explained that she wanted to expand her artistic direction.
A New Sound
"Rock Music" combines hyperpop production with distorted guitars and Auto-Tune while remaining true to Charli XCX’s signature pop sound. The lyrics include references to nightlife, friendship, and self-aware humor, matching her playful and conversational style. Even though the song is titled "Rock Music" it sounds more electronic and experimental than traditional rock.
The Music Video
The music video for "Rock Music" was teased a day before the song’s release and shot in black-and-white. It was directed by Aidan Zamiri, who previously collaborated with Charli XCX on "Guess" and "The Moment". The video is filled with rock-inspired imagery, including smashed guitars, headbanging crowds, and piles of cigarettes, and it ends with a frozen shot
that turns into a mosh pit. Charli said the song and video were developed together, with each influencing the other, and her husband George Daniel appears in a cameo as a drummer.
A New Direction for Charli XCX
Overall, "Rock Music" shows Charli XCX continuing to experiment with her sound and visual style while moving beyond the expectations set by her previous work. The single has certainly caused attention and discussion. The release confirms that Charli is still pushing boundaries and redefining pop music in unpredictable ways.
Page design: Zofia Kitlas
Bibliography
Wikipedia. 2026. “Rock Music (Charli XCX song).” Wikipedia. Last modified May 2026. Accessed May 10, 2026.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Music_(Charli_XCX_song)
Stereogum. 2026. “Charli XCX Addresses ‘Rock Music’ Discourse.” Stereogum. Accessed May 13, 2026.
https://stereogum.com/2498885/charli-xcx-addresses-rock-music-discourse/news
Pitchfork. 2026. “Charli XCX – ‘Rock Music’.” Pitchfork. Accessed May 13, 2026.
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/charli-xcx-rock-music/
Pitchfork. 2026. “Charli XCX Goes Full ‘Rock Music’ in Video for New Song.” Pitchfork. Accessed May 14, 2026.
https://pitchfork.com/news/charli-xcx-goes-full-rock-music-in-video-for-new-song/
Vogue. 2026. “Charli XCX British Vogue Interview.” British Vogue. Accessed May 14, 2026.
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/charli-xcx-british-vogue-interview
Youtube. “ Charli Xcx - Rock Music (Official Video).” Youtube.com, www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=6TObyMMv&id=98F8BB9B6F57ABB63D53E8CCF421A8CBEE9EAE75&thid=OIP.6TObyMMvkeskEnBFRNbcNAHaEK&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fi.ytimg.com%2fvi%2fox1Eemj8FDo%2fmaxresdefault.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.e9339bc8c32f91eb2412704544d6dc34%3frik%3dda6e7suoIfTM6A%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=720&expw=1280&q=%22Rock+Music%22+charli+xcx+music+video&FORM=IRPRST&ck=7550AC7AFC1C6C318F99D586D1226BC3&selectedIndex=1&itb=0&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0. Accessed 7 June 2026.
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