Fresh from working it out on the “Girl, so confusing” remix with Lorde during a surprise appearance in the singer’s Lollapalooza set Thursday night, Charli XCX heads into her own Friday headlining slot with a new album that quite literally puts fashion at its center: “Music, Fashion, Film.” The title reflects three industries the singer has moved between with seemingly increasing ease, while its cover brings designer Marc Jacobs together with musician John Cale and filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Fashion is right there in the billing.
The album cover for Charli XCX’s “Music, Fashion, Film” photographed by Aidan Zamiri. Aidan Zamiri/Courtesy of Atlantic Records.
Aidan Zamiri/Courtesy of Atlantic Records
In the lyrics, however, it is much harder to find. Only four of the album’s 11 songs contain concrete fashion references, split between runway language, a luxury shopping spree, an attempted wardrobe reform and what may be Charli’s own wedding jewelry.
The lyrics may be sparse with fashion references, but Charli saves plenty of room for clothes in the 42-minute companion film released alongside the album. Directed by Charli and presented almost entirely in black and white, it moves between new visuals, studio footage, clothing fittings and behind-the-scenes material from the album’s music videos.
