Charli XCX joked she has “sold her soul” on her upcoming album and embraced the “ultra popstar” version of herself.
The British pop star is releasing single Good Ones in early September ahead of a new album said to have the working title XCX5.
The singer announced an intimate gig at London’s Lafayette on Sunday 24 October to showcase the new tracks.
Good Ones’ will be Charli’s first new music since ‘How I’m Feeling Now‘, an album she wrote, recorded and released last year over a six-week period during a coronavirus lockdown.
Speaking about her new music, Charli said she decided to “unlock top tier level of myself” and go all-out pop.
She told the Standard: “New music is coming, it’s very good, it is very pop. It feels like Charli ultra popstar, all-out, sell your soul, kind of version of myself. I feel like I have unlocked this kind of ultimate top-tier level of myself and it is fun to get to know her a bit as well.”
When asked why she’d decided to embrace her pop side, the 29-year-old said: “Firstly, because the previous lockdown album was very much the opposite, it was very DIY. I made it with my fans very quickly. I kind of wanted to go in the opposite direction. Secondly, it is my last album on a major label in my record deal. So, I thought: ‘Why not?’”
As well as new music, Charli XCX is releasing a podcast - called Best Song Ever. For it, she will interview famous faces - including Beabadobee, Mark Ronson and Christine and the Queens - about the most important tracks that have shaped their lives.
She said producing a podcast felt natural to her.
“I like having conversations with people so, you know, it wasn’t completely alien.
“I like getting to know people and talking rubbish. Not that this podcast is rubbish, it is excellent, but I enjoy seeing where a conversation will take me. Also I have been talking about myself for ten years now. It is nice to hear what someone else has to say.”
Charli XCX’s Best Song Ever premieres on BBC Sounds on Monday
