Charli XCX responds to criticism of ‘Rock Music’

Why Charli XCX’s new era is sparking debate.

After turning BRAT into one of the most talked-about pop phenomena of recent years, Charli XCX is moving away from the dance floor. Her new single, ‘Rock Music’, abandons the frenetic synths and rave aesthetic that defined her last era to embrace distorted guitars, noise and a much rawer attitude. As expected, her fans reacted immediately; whilst some celebrated the artistic risk, others questioned the change in sound and called for the immediate return of the era that turned the ‘365’ singer into the definitive face of pop summer.

Far from ignoring the conversation, Charli decided to dive headfirst into the debate. On Instagram, the artist said she found it ‘really interesting’ to see the different reactions ‘Rock Music’ had provoked. She even compared the current moment to the initial reception of PC Music and ‘Vroom Vroom’, the hit 2016 EP that ended up redefining much of the experimental pop of the last decade. For Charli, criticism and confusion aren’t necessarily a bad thing; rather, they’re a natural part of a body of work that seeks to push boundaries and defy expectations.

The singer also made it clear that she has no intention of tailoring her creativity to seek immediate public approval. Without revealing exactly what inspired “Rock Music”, she explained that she is interested in creating things that can be fun, honest, chaotic and emotional all at the same time. And that statement sums up quite well the essence of Charli XCX, an artist who has never been afraid to make even her own fans uncomfortable in order to stay true to her artistic intuition.

The B-side of the release

Alongside “Rock Music”, Charli XCX also released the B-side ‘I Keep on Thinking Bout You Every Single Day and Night’ on the alternative Instagram account for this new album, @b.sides, hinting that her upcoming album could be far more unpredictable than many expected following BRAT. And although social media is already divided between those who love this new direction and those who still haven’t got over the electronic hangover from her previous era, the conversation seems to be exactly where she wanted it to be.

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