Charli XCX previews new album with surprise Brooklyn show and exclusive listening event
The British pop star utilized an intimate New York venue and a strictly phone-free session to build industry momentum ahead of her upcoming record release.
British pop artist Charli XCX held a surprise performance at the 650-capacity Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, using the intimate venue to preview her upcoming project. The concert serves as a strategic marker ahead of the release of "Music, Fashion, Film", the follow-up to her Brat album, which is scheduled to arrive in less than two weeks.
During the set, the singer delivered live debuts of several new tracks, including "Playboy Bunny", "SS26", "Wink Wink" and "Rock Music". She also introduced unreleased material to the audience, performing "Camera" and "Take Away The Music" for the first time. The performance rounded out with established fan favorites, featuring selections from How I'm Feeling Now alongside the viral hit "Apple".
The event also functioned as a collaborative showcase, highlighting the artist's network within the contemporary pop sector. She was joined by her upcoming tour opener, the electronic artist Underscores, to perform the track "Music", while Kim Petras and Clairo made guest appearances to perform the Detour single "Jeep" and "Sofia" respectively. The inclusion of these specific collaborators demonstrates a deliberate effort to cross-pollinate audiences within the highly competitive music industry.
Beyond the live performance, the artist employed exclusive marketing tactics to drive engagement. On Thursday, July 9, she hosted a strictly phone-free listening event at the Metrograph in New York. This session featured accompanying visuals reportedly inspired by director David Cronenberg, who appears as the sole guest on the new record.
The cultural footprint of the artist continues to intersect with broader public life and media, highlighted by a notable public exchange between the singer, Clairo, and the Peppa Pig franchise. The animated character recently shaded Clairo in a Pitchfork interview, stating, "I don't know her," which sparked a widespread cultural dispute. Such intersections between pop culture and legacy media franchises highlight the expansive commercial reach of modern recording artists.
