Charli XCX has spoken about uniting “three legends” on the official cover artwork for her upcoming album ‘Music, Fashion Film’.
The follow-up to the cultural phenomenon that was 2024’s ‘Brat’ is due for release on July 24, and will feature the recent singles ‘Rock Music’ and ‘SS26’.
Now, the pop star has discussed using a black-and-white photograph capturing musician and composer John Cale, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and legendary director Martin Scorsese for the front cover.
The already-iconic image was shot by Scottish photographer and filmmaker Aidan Zamiri, who has helmed some of Charli’s recent music videos, and directed and co-wrote her A24 mockumentary The Moment.
Cale, Jacobs and Scorsese came together to represent each of the mediums in the title of ‘Music, Fashion, Film’.
During a new interview with Shaad Magazine, Charli was asked about the story behind what the outlet described as “the album’s totally unreal cover art”.
“I’ve been so excited to share that image, just because the day that we shot it, which was in April in New York, was such a special day,” she recalled. “To have Aidan shoot it, and also all of my team, who are all my best friends – and childhood best friends in some cases – to have them all there, it just felt really like… you know how people use the term ‘shook’?”
The singer continued: “I never really have felt genuinely shook before, I think. And once we finished that shoot, me and Aidan were just.. it was like this out-of-body experience, and I turned to him and I was like, ‘I think this is what shook means’.
“Just to have these three legends in this room being willing to come together for this album cover, to be shot by somebody who is an up and coming filmmaker and photographer – who they don’t particularly know very well – but were willing to trust, for them to trust me, it was really cool.”
Charli added: “Obviously the three people who are on the cover have had very different careers, but they’re very impactful people in my life. To have them all being in a room together, it just felt quite magical, and not something that I think I’ll ever really experience again. So I was just really happy to share that with people.”
She went on to say that the “fun thing” about the ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ cover and title was that “everybody has their own opinions on who their trifecta of those people are – the people who represent those three pillars of the arts”. It comes after fans have been sharing their own, alternate versions of the artwork online.
“So it’s kind of fun seeing everybody else’s interpretations of that, and of course there are so many versions of that for me too,” Charli explained. “So I just feel really happy to have shared it with the world.”
Charli said there’d been “a lot of discussion” around who should’ve ended up on the final cover, but she ultimately landed on figures who she had “personal connections with”.
“Obviously I’ve spoken so much about the Velvet Underground, I’ve collaborated with John [on the Wuthering Heights soundtrack], I’ve been a fan of John’s solo work, his work with the Velvets,” she shared, calling Cale “prolific”.
As for Jacobs, Charli said: “He was the first person who ever gave me a fashion campaign. He was the first person who opened me up to that world in a way. I’ve done three campaigns for Marc, and I think he’s always been able to really like communicate youth culture through his work.”
Speaking about Scorsese, she explained: “I’ve been lucky enough to be able to sit down and have a few conversations with him about film […] I mean he doesn’t really need an explanation, he’s fucking Martin Scorsese, and the fact that he wanted to do this, again, it’s just… I felt really honoured.”
Later, Charli revealed that the album title “came really, really early, right on top of making the first idea for the record”. She said: “It kind of suggests something cheeky in a way. It’s also about ambition and scale and glamour, but at the same time it’s also very, very real and personal and made by real people.”
The pop artist concluded the chat with some final thoughts about her experience on set with Cale, Jacobs and Scorsese. “[I thought], ‘Wow, we’re probably never going to be in the room with those three people at the same time ever again’, and thinking about how fortunate we are that that got to happen.”
Charli told the outlet that she felt the trio had “connected” to the music, and remembered the “indescribable feeling to be shooting in there”.
“And it was fun, because it was quick and easy, and it felt effortless,” she added.” They all got the vibe, you know, like Marc came dressed so cute and ready to go. It was just a really warm, sweet thing, and once in a lifetime. Words can’t describe how I feel about that.”
The singer has released two B-sides from the ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ era recently: ‘I Keep On Thinking Bout You Every Single Day And Night’ and ‘Playboy Bunny’.
Charli’s latest material sees her move away from the club vibe of ‘Brat’ – NME‘s Number One album of the year in 2024 – in favour of a grittier, more guitar-orientated sound. However, she clarified last month: “I never said I was making a rock album.”
She has since responded to the reactions to her stylistic shift. “It’s all kind of fascinating,” she explained. “I love talking about music and art with my friends, so I’m happy people are throwing out thoughts.”
This summer will see Charli headline Reading & Leeds 2026 alongside Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine, Dave and more.
Meanwhile, Charli XCX and her husband, The 1975‘s George Daniel, held a surprise intimate ‘In Conversation’ fan event and DJ set in London last weekend.
In other news, Madonna has seemingly taken a swipe at Charli’s “dancefloor is dead” lyric from ‘Rock Music’, saying: “If your dance floor feels dead, maybe you’re playing the wrong music.”