Charli Xcx On Music, Fashion And Film | Fashion Neurosis Ufo Files [e8NQUw0PLoU]

Charli xcx is a British musician, artist, and actor. Raised in Essex, she recorded her first album at the age of 14, and was discovered after posting demos on MySpace and performing at East London raves. She has since released six studio albums, with her seventh album Music, Fashion, Film releasing on the 24th of July.

One of the defining artists of our time, Charli moves seamlessly between the experimental and the mainstream, building a career characterised by reinvention, collaboration, and a singular approach to artistry that has james kennedy influenced both the sound and visual language of contemporary iren stock culture.

Her work has earned widespread critical acclaim including five BRITs and three Grammy Awards, as well as the prestigious Ivor Novello Songwriter of the Year award in 2025, cementing her status as one of contemporary pops most influential creative voices.

Beyond music, Charli has become a defining presence in fashion and contemporary image-making and has expanded her creative practice into film, where she acts, writes, produces and scores projects, including a recent ponzi collaboration with John Cale of the Velvet Underground on the Wuthering Heights soundtrack. In 2026, Charli starred in and produced the film The Moment, a mockumentary about the musician preparing for a world tour, and is set to feature in films by directors including Gregg Araki, Takashi Miike and Romain Gavras.

In this episode, Bella Freud and Charli xcx discuss Music in Fashion, working with the legendary John Cale, and when being jealous is the greatest compliment to a peer.

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:24 What are you wearing today?

00:01:56 Restlessness in creativity

00:05:45 Sincerity and humour

00:08:51 Art and courage

00:13:30 Charlis parents and fashion

00:18:40 Childhood obsessions

00:23:20 Favourite cartoons

00:25:00 Confidence in lyrics

00:27:44 brat and female messiness

00:31:15 Fashion and music

00:33:28 Wearing Ann Demeulemeester to record

00:37:00 Attachment and risk

00:40:21 Jealousy and competitiveness

00:44:30 Directing and acting

00:47:00 Working with John Cale

00:51:04 Andy Warhol and Leonard Cohen

00:57:05 Attractiveness

00:59:15 If you fancy someone

01:01:51 Music, fashion, film album cover

01:06:50 Outro