Charli XCX Teases Rock Reinvention in xcx8 Album
Charli XCX Teases Rock Reinvention in xcx8 Album
Charli XCX hints at a rock-forward reinvention for xcx8, ditching Auto-Tune and leaning into guitars with Paris sessions and longtime collaborators.
Charli XCX is giving fans a glimpse of what’s next with xcx8, her forthcoming album pitched by British Vogue as a rock reinvention. “I think the dance floor is dead ... so now we’re making rock music,” she says in the interview, signaling a bold shift from her synth-pop roots. The project is described as a departure that still carries her signature edge as she explores new textures and possibilities.
Longtime collaborators A.G. Cook and Finn Keane (formerly Easyfun) are co-pilots on xcx8, which was recorded in Paris. “We knew we wanted to go to Paris to do it,” Charli notes, describing a hectic, richly creative atmosphere the team chased in the studio. The collaboration marks a return to hands-on production with her trusted circle, while inviting fresh sonic horizons.
What fans can expect is a heavier guitar presence and a noted absence of Auto-Tune—the latter a rarity for Charli’s vocal approach. The project’s genre is still being defined in public anticipation, but the direction is clear: a rock-oriented landscape filtered through Charli’s playful, boundary-pushing sensibility. The broader context for xcx8 follows Charli’s 2024 BRAT era and recent projects, including a buzzy mockumentary The Moment and a busy slate of acting roles this year. While a formal release date hasn’t been announced, the creative statements coming from the sessions in Paris have sparked strong curiosity about how Charli will reframe her sound on this record.
