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Charli xcx’s 2024 album Brat marked a turning point in her career, but it also brought an intense level of attention that followed her everywhere.
That shift became a key source of inspiration for The Moment, the British dance pop artist’s mockumentary which premiered on Jan. 30. Directed by Aidan Zamiri, the high energy film offers an exaggerated reflection of Charli’s Brat era rise. Speaking to Billboard in a video interview shared on Monday Feb. 2, the singer and songwriter said the project was shaped by the real life “transition” she experienced during that period.
“I’d been this relatively niche artist, and then had suddenly been opened up to this huge new audience, some of whom really connected with me, some of whom only connected with aspects of me, some of whom liked me, but didn’t really get me,” Charli said during a Zoom conversation with Zamiri. “How much you’re under scrutiny, in the spotlight, being listened to, watched, is a really interesting thing. It made me so acutely aware of how hard that transition can be.”
Brat was released in June 2024 and climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, marking the highest chart position of Charli’s career so far. The album also earned her three Grammy Awards. She sustained that momentum later in the year with a Brat remix project featuring a roster of well known collaborators, followed by the Brat Tour which wrapped up in August 2025.
In the time since, Charli has made it clear that the Brat chapter is behind her, noting that her attention has shifted toward acting roles and soundtrack work. In the coming weeks, she is set to release her Wuthering Heights companion album tied to Emerald Fennell’s upcoming film adaptation of the classic Charlotte Bronte novel.
“Nothing lasts forever — and no one lasts forever,” Charli told Billboard when explaining why she chose to close out the Brat era on her own terms. “I think I’ve alway’s known that. It’s cooler to just leave it all behind.”
That said, she still found joy in recreating the relentless club energy that defines The Moment, which she and Zamiri shot across 29 days. “Every single weekend, we would just go out and party,” Charli said of keeping the atmosphere alive on set. “Sometimes Aidan would just blast The Prodigy whilst they were setting up a shot.”
Watch Charli and Zamiri’s full interview with Billboard above.
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Johnny Marr has released his latest song, ‘It’s Time’, which finds the musician confronting “assholes with dodgy views”. Listen to it below.
The single provides another preview of Marr’s forthcoming fifth solo record, ‘The Age Of Everything’, which arrives on October 2. He has already introduced the project through ‘Spin’ and ‘Ophelia’.
On ‘It’s Time’, Marr addresses corruption and cynicism while holding on to a sense of hope. Discussing its meaning, he said: “‘It’s Time’ is my way of singing about some worldly issues but finding defiance in idealism.”
“I wanted a lyric that matched the exuberance of the music but is actually about resisting cynicism and corruption: ‘Everybody ain’t making it, change the weather and breaking it. Mobilise to know the truth. Open eyes to know the truth.’ I guess it’s about the assholes with dodgy views,” he added.
The accompanying video was captured earlier this year during the largest headline concert of Marr’s solo career. Filming took place at his sold out homecoming performance at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester. Watch it below.
‘The Age Of Everything’ follows Marr’s 2022 release ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1–4’. In its four star review, NME described that project as “a soulful record fuelled by fresh ideas”.
Marr also issued a concert album titled ‘Look Out Live!’ last year. The 22 song collection was recorded at London’s Eventim Apollo during his 2024 ‘Spirit Power’ tour.
More recently, Marr appeared on Gorillaz album ‘The Mountain’ and joined the group onstage in London last September. He also participated in the celebrity filled ‘Help(2)’ benefit album for War Child. In 2023, Marr put out a career spanning compilation, which included the previously unreleased song ‘Somewhere’.
Elsewhere, Morrissey and Marr recently contributed to a rare new seven inch pressing by The Smiths for an upcoming Rough Trade collection.
The famous independent London label will issue the second instalment of its newly manufactured classic singles series, ‘Rough Trade 45s: Volume 2’, on October 30. The collection will contain music from The Fall, Aztec Camera, Mazzy Star, Scritti Politti, Robert Wyatt and additional artists. Only 1,000 copies will be available when it arrives on October 30. Place an advance order here.
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