**Charli XCX Predicts Next Album May ‘Flop’ Despite ‘Brat’ Triumph**
Charli XCX has spoken candidly about the prospects for her next album, suggesting it is unlikely to replicate the remarkable success of her critically lauded album ‘Brat.’ The singer-songwriter, who soared to the top of the charts with ‘Brat’ in 2024, appears remarkably unconcerned about matching or surpassing her latest peak, telling fans she feels no undue pressure to deliver another blockbuster.
In an interview with Culted, the ‘Von Dutch’ hitmaker reflected on her journey with ‘Brat.’ Despite the album’s wide-reaching impact on mainstream pop last year, Charli confessed she never anticipated such a visceral connection with her audience. “I was really doing it for myself,” she admitted. “I had no clue people would connect with it the way they did. I don’t feel the pressure because you can never really do the same thing twice. My next record will probably be a flop, which I’m down for.”
Charli XCX’s relaxed stance comes as a refreshing contrast to the usual anxiety felt by artists following a major commercial breakthrough. Rather than fearing the expectations set by ‘Brat,’ she appears to embrace the reality that musical reinvention carries risks as well as rewards. Her humility and willingness to acknowledge unpredictability in the music industry have resonated with fans and peers alike.
The singer has also shared her difficulty in moving on from the ‘Brat’ era, noting how the project became deeply intertwined with her sense of self. In a heartfelt statement on TikTok, Charli said, “It’s really hard to let go of ‘Brat’ and let go of this thing that is so inherently me, and become my entire life.” While she understands that every artistic chapter has a natural lifespan, she also confessed a reluctance to close this one.
Charli’s musings led her to consider trends within pop culture, where artists oscillate between periods of overwhelming presence and strategic retreat. “When you get a level of success, you can become oversaturated and then people want you to disappear – which I understand,” she observed. Nonetheless, she also finds the ‘tension of staying too long’ to be a fascinating phenomenon, hinting she is not quite ready to bid farewell to the world of ‘Brat.’
Reflecting on the future, she suggested the ‘Brat’ period might persist for a while yet. “It’s obviously hard to just be like, ‘Ok. It’s over now.’ I kind of want it to go on and on because it is who I am. I’ve been thinking about ‘Brat’ long before the record came out. I’ve sat here on my own for two years prior thinking about how I’m going to communicate this record to the world, not just the music but the whole visual identity of the album.” Her comments underline the personal significance and careful planning invested in the album.
The album ‘Brat’ has left an indelible mark beyond music, spawning the ‘Brat Girl’ persona that reverberated through online trends, fashion, and even political discourse. The album’s distinctive neon green cover colour inspired waves of TikTok trends, and Charli herself sparked headlines after dubbing US Vice President Kamala Harris “Brat” during the 2024 US presidential campaigns. In a testament to the album’s pop culture reach, the word “Brat” was even selected as Collins Dictionary’s word of the year.
Charli XCX’s willingness to discuss her fears and hopes with such candour adds a relatable, human dimension to her growing legacy. Her nonchalant approach to potential setbacks, paired with her fascination for pushing artistic boundaries, has only furthered her reputation as one of pop’s most unpredictable innovators.
While the music world waits with anticipation for what comes next, Charli herself seems content to ride the waves of cultural curiosity she helped create. Whether her forthcoming album soars or, as she puts it, ‘flops,’ her impact on the contemporary pop landscape remains firmly assured.