Where Are The Women On The New Charli XCX Album?

Charli XCX has finally announced the follow-up to Brat. Titled Music, Fashion, Film, the new album arrives on July 24 and continues a period in which the British pop star has become one of the defining cultural figures of the decade.

Photography By: AIDAN ZAMIRI

Few albums in recent memory have had the impact of Brat. What began as a club-focused pop record quickly became something much bigger, spawning trends, memes, fashion moments and endless online discussion. The album dominated social media feeds throughout 2024 and cemented Charli's status as an artist whose influence stretches well beyond music.

Her next move appears to embrace that crossover appeal completely. Music, Fashion, Film takes its name from three creative worlds that have increasingly shaped Charli's career and public image. The album artwork reflects that idea too, though not in the way many fans might have expected.

Instead of featuring Charli herself, the cover centres on three influential men: musician John Cale, filmmaker Martin Scorsese and fashion designer Marc Jacobs.

Cale represents the music side of the equation. Best known as a founding member of The Velvet Underground, his work helped shape alternative and experimental music for generations. Scorsese's place is equally obvious. Across a career spanning more than five decades, the director has become one of cinema's most celebrated figures, responsible for classics including Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Departed. Completing the trio is Marc Jacobs, whose influence on contemporary fashion has made him one of the industry's most recognisable designers.

The choice has already prompted discussion online. For an artist who has frequently worked alongside and championed female collaborators, some fans have questioned why an album built around music, fashion and film is represented by three men. The cover may simply reflect three personal inspirations, but it also raises wider questions about who is typically positioned as the defining figureheads within creative industries.

The announcement follows the release of recent singles ‘Rock Music’ and ‘SS26,’ both of which hinted at the album's themes. While ‘Rock Music’ suggested another stylistic shift from the sound that powered Brat, ‘SS26’ leaned heavily into fashion-world imagery and further blurred the lines between pop music and broader cultural commentary. Whether Music, Fashion, Film proves to be a celebration of artistic influence, a commentary on cultural power, or something else entirely, Charli XCX has once again found a way to get people talking before the album has even arrived.

Music, Fashion, Film is released on July 24.