Rock Music

“Rock Music” is a song by British singer and songwriter Charli XCX, released on 8 May 2026 as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Music, Fashion, Film. The song was written by Charli XCX alongside A. G. Cook and Finn Keane, who also produced the track and was released through Atlantic Records.

The song was released as the lead single from Music, Fashion, Film, establishing a change in musical direction following Charli xcx’s 2024 album Brat. Although “Rock Music” incorporates elements associated with rock, its production remains rooted in the electronic and hyperpop styles that have characterised much of Charli XCX’s work.

 Despite its title and use of distorted guitars, Charli xcx described “Rock Music” as a song that is “not actually rock music”.The idea for “Rock Music” developed while Charli xcx was staying in an apartment above a studio in Paris. She recalled waking up with an idea for a song that amused both her and her collaborators, which led to the creation of the track. It was recorded in October 2025 at Rue Boyer Studios in Paris. The song was written and produced with A. G. Cook and Finn Keane, both of whom are long time collaborators of Charli xcx.

Charli xcx first discussed the direction of the project in an interview with British Vogue, where she previewed the lyric “I think the dance floor is dead, so now we’re making rock music.” She explained that making another dance-oriented album would have felt difficult and that she wanted to explore different possibilities within her music. She later clarified that she was not making a conventional rock album, and described the title of the song as part of the joke surrounding its creation.

 “I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music”, attracted attention online. In May 2026, Madonna appeared to respond to the lyric with a social media caption reading, “If your Dance floor feels dead / Maybe you’re playing the wrong music.” Charli xcx later addressed the reaction by explaining that she did not intend to explain the exact meaning behind the lyric, while stating that she considered the song capable of being humorous, sincere and joyful at the same time.

“Rock Music” is primarily a hyperpop track and incorporates distorted guitar. Although the song uses guitar sounds associated with rock music, its overall production remains rooted in Charli ‘xcxs pop and electronic style.

A music video for “Rock Music” was directed by Aidan Zamiri, who had previously directed Charli xcx’s 2024 single “Guess”. The video was filmed in black and white and uses imagery associated with rock music, including smashed guitars, crowds headbanging and cigarettes. It begins with Charli xcx throwing a television set from a hotel window and concludes with a crowd entering a mosh pit. Charli xcx explained that the song and video were developed alongside one another, with ideas for each influencing the other. Her husband, George Daniel, appears in the video and plays drums.