Music, Fashion, Film: A “Mature Addition” to the Charliverse
Following up one of the decade’s biggest moments in pop music is daunting. Especially for Charli XCX, after years of being a niche pop star. She was open with her discomfort towards her future in interviews, her mockumentary The Moment and her remix album of Brat. With Music, Fashion, Film, she not only alleviated herself of that pressure, but solidified her position in music as an intentional and authentic auteur.
Upon starting the album, listeners will find it is not Brat’s successor. Instead it’s a transition from one genre to another, still within Charli’s sound. With “Rock Music” and “SS26,” Charli invites her audience into a realm of steady guitar and bass with catchy quips that beg to be earworms. The sonics of both songs set a tone for the album, creating a space for reminiscence and nostalgia.
The consistency that comes with that sound really leaves room for nothing but applause for the producers. A.G. Cook and Finn Keane clearly love music, and they love making music with Charli. “Card Decline”, “Yeah”, and “2007” are great examples of cohesive songs that maintain the thrown-together vibe of the record without trying too hard. That’s something that I really appreciate with Charli’s music. There isn’t a forced appeal or need to please with her discography. Music, Fashion, Film does a really excellent job of highlighting that coolness without losing its impact.
Charli XCX’s last two singles “Wink Wink” and “Camera” achieve what I believe was her intent with the album. “Wink Wink” keeps her unserious persona alive and reminds us that music is fun. She crafts silly lyrics over a beat that’s difficult to keep still to. “Camera” captures the wistfulness of life and the comfort of existentialism. I imagine Charli thinks a lot about herself, her life, and all the factors that contribute to where she is.
Beyond defeating the expectation to outdo Brat, Charli XCX continues her role in music as someone who pushes outside of the box. Instead of doing something expected and making Brat 2.0 (or 3.0), she chose to highlight what’s important to her. That being her friends, loved ones, and even her own insecurities. The last two tracks exhibit all of these elements, with “Magic Metal Montana” being an ode to her best friend and producer A.G. Cook and “No One Lasts Forever” embracing her fears and finding a way to sit with that discomfort. Music, Fashion, Film is a mature addition to her discography, amplifying her work as an introspective, innovative, and thoughtfully “messy” artist.
