Charli XCX Teases Guitar-Based Album with Clairo Inspired by Lou Reed

Charli XCX Teases Guitar-Based Album with Clairo Inspired by Lou Reed

Charli XCX has hinted at the possibility of collaborating with Clairo on a guitar-driven album, drawing inspiration from rock icon Lou Reed.

The two pop stars recently joined forces to perform Clairo’s hit song Sofia from her 2019 debut album Immunity at the Laneway Festival in Melbourne, Australia, on Valentine’s Day (14.02.25). During the performance, Charli teased a potential new direction for their music, suggesting a guitar-based record that might echo the sound of Reed’s era.

In a video shared online, Charli said, “I really had fun doing it and it got me thinking, what if we made a record with guitars or strings or both. Lou Reed era maybe, I dunno, just saying.”

The collaboration between Charli and Clairo has sparked excitement among fans, especially as Charli’s producers recently hinted that her next project could mark a departure from the dance-pop sound of her 2024 album Brat.

Charli, who won three Grammy Awards for Brat—including Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package—has been known for her experimental approach to music. Her lead producer A.G. Cook revealed that while they’ve yet to discuss concrete plans, the creative process for Charli is often impulsive, and new ideas are constantly evolving.

Co-writer and producer Finn Keane (formerly known as Easyfun) added that Charli has expressed a desire to take her music in a completely different direction. “There’s a desire in her to do the complete opposite thing again,” Keane explained. “Some of the conversations we’re having and music we’ve been playing around with in the last few months have been completely the opposite [of Brat]. It’s the iconoclastic impulse to rebuild something completely different.”

As Charli looks to explore new musical territories, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s next after the success of Brat and its star-studded remix album, Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, featuring artists like Lorde and Ariana Grande.