Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film Reflecting on the Cultural Impact of Brat
By Emily DeSanto — November 5 2026
The release of Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film marked the official end of the Brat era. The new album steers away from Charli’s familiar hyperpop sound and leans more into indie rock.
The Brat era had a huge influence on pop culture, creating a lifestyle trend known as “brat summer.” Despite societal pressures to match the impact of Brat, Charli purposefully transformed her sound on her recent album.
The songs of Music, Fashion, Film represent a deeper meaning. The album is not just a genre shift, it is a reflection of Charli’s most influential era.
The album starts off with “Rock Music,” sparking controversy with the lyrics, “I think the dancefloor is dead / so now we’re making rock music.” Artists such as Madonna and John Summit quickly responded saying the dance floor was not dead, Charli was just playing the wrong music.
However, Charli does not actually believe the dancefloor is dead. In Nicky Reardon's, Nicky At Night, Charli says, “That lyric from that song is about my relationship with Brat,” clarifying it is just a personal pivot for her and the end of her party girl era.
The fourth song on the album, “Camera,” makes it clear that Charli is not afraid to fail or disappoint people. After Brat launched Charli into new levels of fame, the public expectations for her next album were daunting. The outro of the song features the lyric, “I don’t feel embarrassed even if I suck.”
Music, Fashion, Film was not an attempt to please people, instead it was a way for Charli to express a new version of herself while disregarding the potential discourse.
“Magic Metal Montana,” the tenth song on the album, is a tribute and shoutout to Charli’s long-term producer, AG Cook. In a Variety Article, Charli and Cook explain how they share a creative mindset, and when they work together, ideas flow. The lyric “you make it easy for me,” is repeated throughout the song, expressing a feeling of gratitude for Cook’s dedication to their work.
Closing out the album, “No One Lasts Forever featuring David Cronenberg,” dives into a deeper point of reflection with a philosophical outlook. The song explores themes of breakthrough, ego, and morality.
Throughout the song, Charli’s success is brought up various times. She expresses this through the lyrics, “Where one minute you know you’re the worst / And the next minute you know you’re better / Than everyone in the room / But know that nothing’s gonna last forever.” This lyric demonstrates the mental rollercoaster of failure and success in the music industry, particularly with Charli’s recognition before and after Brat.
A main recurring theme in this song is morality. In Cronenberg’s monologue at the end, he says “oblivion is freedom,” creating a core message for the entire album. This line signifies the importance of experimenting with art and moving on from one's past identity.
The entire monologue builds on the idea that art can be so influential that it lives on past the artist themself, while in the ending Cronenberg repeats “they are dead, they are gone, no one lasts forever.” This heavy phrase shows the value of ignoring societal standards placed on artists.
For more fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, keep reading Square Magazine. Follow Square on Instagram.
All images belong to their respective owners.