Charli xcx announces her new album ‘Music, Fashion, Film'

[Murakami27 8,064]

If these are the figures she reveres the most in these creative fields, I really don’t see what the issue. Their work clearly means something to her and likely influenced her the most. I don’t see why she has to find ‘alternatives’ just to fulfill some diversity quota. It would feel very inauthentic to me if she forced herself to pick a woman or POC whose works meant little to her. 

If I had to choose what my top 3 are:

Music - Radiohead

Fashion - Dries Van Noten

Film - Sofia Coppola

I say all this as a non-White person. These artists’ works speak to me the most and they’re all White. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect the works of Yohji Yamamoto or Wong Kar Wai or Janet. 

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,310]

Just now, Jill said:

 

This is the problem I have with identity politics, the idea that something is inherently better because it's "diverse" in a very abstract and non-inclusive way. Charli could be very well be inspired by these figures in particular, be it man or woman, so why would she replace them with other people just because they happen to be white men? And to include someone that perhaps doesn't inspire her as much just so people won't complain online. Identity politics is surface level politics. It's all appereance, no sustance.

And most of that is a completely valid take even though identity politics can and does go far beyond surface level. 

I don't even agree with the criticism of the 3 people on the cover being white. I don't see anything wrong or sus about it. I pointed the response out and tagged the users reacting positively to it because we can all have the same discussion without saying "thank you" to a post making a gross DEI comment. 

[Jill 31,659]

3 minutes ago, onTheBrink said:

I think the hostility came from the fact the original commenter equated race representation with the stereotypical inauthenticity of a white collar HR department. If I was POC, I'd be concerned too if people treated both as the same. Think we're reducing to the argument to something it was not intended to be.

The race (a term that isn't used anymore) comment was itself weird, that's what that user's response was pointing at. Other users already said it but it didn't even cross my mind to think about "oh wow charli is racist and sexist" when I saw the cover. I interpreted the response as a jab to the fact that they were acting like an HR department, which famously only includes "diverse people" very strategically and superficially (hence the "token black guy" meme for example), & not as a real gesture. That was my interpretation.

Edited Monday at 06:26 PM by Jill

[gagzus 21,332]

15 minutes ago, princedeeblebleble said:

Didn't care for Rock music. But Ss26 is pretty fantastic, intrigued to what she'll bring since the WH soundtrack was FANTASTIC!

not sure what to think about the cover thou 

She’s going more back into her Indie Sleaze roots, everything is more Sucker but more rock-y for instance 

[princedeeblebleble 3,281]

Just now, gagzus said:

She’s going more back into her Indie Sleaze roots, everything is more Sucker but more rock-y for instance 

I get that, but rock music just cuts off, like I wish there was MORE!  also the cover is cool  in a way, but similarly to how I feel with Brat, Mayhem or like Tension  /Kiss me once  its just not pleasant to look at when I look at my phone to check the clock or whatever. Like a lot of recen releases have such meh covers.

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,310]

23 minutes ago, dynamite said:

Or some of us just have less free time than others and don't see the need to invent issues for the sake of it lol I barely know what's going on with this thread but I saw that comment in passing and happened to find something I agreed in it

It's not that deep

Takes even less free time not cosigning a DEI comment in 2026 ✨️

Inventing issues. "Not that deep". There's that ignorance again. 

But I addressed what should be called out so I'm done with this disappointing thread. Off to listen to charli and enjoy the first day of pride month 🏳️‍🌈

Edited Monday at 06:34 PM by Roughhouse Dandy

[Sepsami 20,558]

5 hours ago, A D A M said:

"Nothing's gonna save us, not music, fashion or film" - SS26

I love this cover and concept, especially that she is more involved with film industry. It also causes further confusion to her brat audience because there is no slay queen factor on cover, more respect to her for being in her own lane.

Same! The concept is great, and very Charli. It's again existential dread when you're out, this time at some type of techno rock concert. I think she's genuinely great at getting people to think about life but still have that party twist to it.. the real type of purposeful pop. 

[SpadesToStart 3,772]

Dance, Sex, Art, Pop, Tech

[Nycboy 1,158]

My initial thoughts:

"Music, Fashion, Film" sounds like Gaga in her Fame Ball intro, hehe.

Putting artistic references on the album cover reminds me of ARTPOP with Koons & Bottecellli. 

A popstar desparately associating with other capital A-artists to come off as the holy tastemaker reminds me a lot of the ARTPOP strategy and we all know how that went... to me, it's more effective if you love film, to just act in a good film rather than bragging about it to your fans lol. it's off-putting. 

[Bronco 22,709]

5 minutes ago, Nycboy said:

My initial thoughts:

"Music, Fashion, Film" sounds like Gaga in her Fame Ball intro, hehe.

Putting artistic references on the album cover reminds me of ARTPOP with Koons & Bottecellli. 

A popstar desparately associating with other capital A-artists to come off as the holy tastemaker reminds me a lot of the ARTPOP strategy and we all know how that went... to me, it's more effective if you love film, to just act in a good film rather than bragging about it to your fans lol. it's off-putting. 

I am a resident charli basher

And even i think you're reaching.

[Killa 18,702]

Damn that Is cool

[mamo 20,353]

1 hour ago, onTheBrink said:

I think the hostility came from the fact the original commenter in a sweeping judgement seemed to equate the concept of race representation with the stereotypical inauthenticity of a white collar HR department. If I was POC, I'd be concerned too if people treated both as the same. Think we're reducing to the argument to something it was not intended to be.

 

1 hour ago, Mars said:

I understand your point but I genuinely feel that these are her personal pioneers in those fields. 

Its going a bit far to judge anothers choices just because theyre not demographically diverse enough, especially someone who is themselves a biracial woman.

Just so everyone is aware, if we're discussing race and identity politics, I want to make it clear that I am fully POC myself. Because of that, I generally choose not to engage in debates on that topic with people who don't share that lived experience. In my view, if you haven't experienced something firsthand, there's a limit to how much authority you have in defining what is or isn't harmful, appropriate, or acceptable.

I also want to clarify that I wasn't attacking Charli's choices. I was simply observing them and found them interesting. If she's genuinely inspired by those artists, that's completely fair and understandable. Personally, though, some of it comes across as slightly out of touch. That said, I do think it's a cool cover, and I like the overall concept.

1 hour ago, Jill said:

This is the problem I have with identity politics, the idea that something is inherently better because it's "diverse" in a very abstract and non-inclusive way. Charli could be very well be inspired by these figures in particular, be it man or woman, so why would she replace them with other people just because they happen to be white men? And to include someone that perhaps doesn't inspire her as much just so people won't complain online. Identity politics is surface level politics. It's all appereance, no substance. And people get mad when this superficiality doesn't happen!

I briefly looked at her Wikipedia page and checked some of the artists and influences she's previously cited as inspirations. So my observation wasn't coming from a place of trying to be "woke" for the sake of it. It was based on information she's shared herself. That said, I appreciate your concern. 

1 hour ago, gagzus said:

I think the point is more she picked 3 people who influence her specifically. She wouldn’t choose random people just for the sake of choice, they’re there to represent what the album is gonna sound like and visually represent.

Shes an indie sleeze kid so she probably doesn’t care about Gaga, Madonna, Janet Jackson or anything along those lines. Plus, like I said, TVU have been her biggest inspiration her whole career for experimentation.

i think it would feel inauthentic if she just randomly put in a woman when she predominantly looks upto men (like Gaga does) and specifically her idols all happen to be white (like Gaga’s) and it’d be more box ticking. Obviously representation of course matters but she’s being very specific about her references this era.

Although I heavily disagree with some people on this sites negative and quite weirdly racist opinion towards why she didn’t choose them (the DEI comment for instance). 
 

TLDR; these are people she looks upto and have inspired her this era. 

Thank you for replying with kindness and understanding. I appreciate the points you made and they're all completely valid. It's a shame though how ignorant people still are when it comes to these sensitive topics. I kind of regret commenting my initial post. I should have held myself back because the response was inevitable.

[gagzus 21,332]

6 minutes ago, mamo said:

Thank you for replying with kindness and understanding. I appreciate the points you made and they're all completely valid. It's a shame though how ignorant people still are when it comes to these sensitive topics. I kind of regret commenting my initial post. I should have held myself back because the response was inevitable.

No problem don’t hold yourself back I say, these things need to be debated. And I didn’t personally read your post as malice it felt like a question, so I just gave you the real answer.

In this case the choice of three people who happen to be white and men isn’t intentional in that sense. But it is still intentional on the people she chose. If that makes sense?

Edited Monday at 07:41 PM by gagzus

[Luv u Sum 2,508]

3 hours ago, mamo said:

 

I totally understand that but there are countless iconic, influential, and pioneering figures across music, fashion, and film who are still alive and working today. Choosing three white men who happen to represent those three fields feels like a very specific choice. I totally get if she's inspired by them and I'm not arguing that they aren't significant figures within their respective industries, but she could just as easily have drawn from a much broader pool of contemporary cultural icons. 

Music: Cher, Madonna, Debbie Harry, Björk, Grace Jones, Kate Bush, Janet Jackson, Dolly Parton, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Sade, Siouxsie Sioux etc 

Fashion: Rei Kawakubo, Miuccia Prada, Donatella Versace, Yohji Yamamoto Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney, Grace Wales Bonner, Edward Enninful, Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, or Pat McGrath.

Film (directors): Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee, Jane Campion, Chloé Zhao, Greta Gerwig, Claire Denis, Kathryn Bigelow etc 

Film (actors): Meryl Streep,  Sophia Loren, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Isabelle Huppert, Michelle Yeoh, Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand, Angela Bassett, Charlotte Rampling, Penélope Cruz etc

The point is that there is no shortage of living figures whose influence on music, fashion, and film is undeniable. That's why the choice stands out to me when there are so many possible alternatives across generations, genders, and disciplines. 

shes not going to be performative for the sake of making some people feel better.... and its weird to expect her to

[Luv u Sum 2,508]

2 hours ago, Roughhouse Dandy said:

Nah, some of y'all are just ignorant. Willfully or not doesn't matter at this point. It's trashy and very weird to see on a site like this. But I'm sure it's fun deploying snarky gay stock responses instead of doing some reflection for 5 seconds. Really brings the community together.

Happy pride month or whatever

get offline and go outside