The pop innovator unveils the first track from her upcoming album for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, blending cinematic emotion with Velvet Underground grit.
Today, Charli XCX unveils her hauntingly beautiful new single “House”, featuring the legendary John Cale of The Velvet Underground. Directed by Mitch Ryan, the video immerses viewers in an evocative soundscape that bridges eras and emotions — both “elegant and brutal,” as Charli describes it.
“House” serves as the first glimpse into Charli’s upcoming album, written for Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated film adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The track fuses poetic melancholy with avant-garde textures, paying homage to the emotional chaos of Emily Brontë’s timeless story.
Charli shared the inspiration behind the project, revealing how Fennell’s call last Christmas sparked a creative deep dive:
“I read the script and immediately felt inspired. Finn Keane and I began working on not just one but many songs that felt connected to the world she was creating. After being so in the depths of my previous album, I was excited to escape into something entirely new, entirely opposite.”
Her creative journey was deeply influenced by a moment from Todd Haynes’ documentary on The Velvet Underground, where John Cale described the band’s core aesthetic as “elegant and brutal.” The phrase stuck with her — one she noted in her phone years ago and returned to while composing for the film.
“When working on music for this film, ‘elegant and brutal’ was a phrase I kept coming back to,” Charli said. “I decided to reach out to John to see if he might want to collaborate — and what he sent me made me cry.”
The collaboration resulted in a piece that feels raw, cinematic, and strangely intimate. Cale’s voice — measured, poetic, and resonant — threads through Charli’s lush production like a ghost on the moors.
Alongside her musical projects, Charli’s creative footprint continues to grow. Early next year, she will star in A24’s The Moment, a film based on her own concept and directed by Aidan Zamiri. The project marks the first co-production from her new venture, studio365, solidifying her status as one of pop’s most multi-dimensional creators.
Charli also has a slate of upcoming films, including Daniel Goldhaber’s remake of Faces of Death, Greg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, and Cathy Yan’s The Gallerist — showcasing her range from avant-garde pop to indie cinema.
“House” is now available on all major streaming platforms. Watch the official video and experience the track that captures both the elegance and brutality of love, loss, and creative rebirth.
