Charli XCX has shared her reflective new single ‘Camera’, accompanied by an Aidan Zamiri-directed video starring Vincent Cassel – watch below.
The track is thelatestpreview of hernewalbum‘Music, Fashion, Film’, whichisreleased this Friday (July 24) via Atlantic. It followson fromthe singles‘Rock Music’, ‘SS26’ and ‘Wink Wink’,and you can pre-order the recordhere.
‘Camera’ is a restrained, mid-temposliceof guitar-led electronic pop,with Charli once again trading inthe harder clubsoundsassociated with‘Brat’for something hazier and morepersonal.
Lyrically, she appears to addressher insecurities about embracing an acting career, singing: “It makes me question what I’m doing / Do Iwannamake music / Am I being fucking stupid / If I try to be a girl onthe screen when I’m turning 34?”
The video, meanwhile, shows Cassel as an actor struggling on a film set, with Charli directing from behind a massive studio camera. Cassel becomes increasingly frustrated, referencing his iconic pose from La Haineas hepointsa finger gun at his own head.
Check it out below.
Cassel rose to international prominence through his performance in Mathieu Kassovitz’s 1995 filmLa Haine. The French actor has since appeared inIrréversible,Eastern Promises, Black Swan,Ocean’s TwelveandJason Bourne.
Zamiri, meanwhile,is a longstanding Charli collaborator who directed her videos for ‘360’, theBillie Eilish-featuring ‘Guess’, ‘Rock Music’ and ‘Wink Wink’. He also directed Eilish’s ‘Birds Of A Feather’ video and made his feature debut with the Charli-starring mockumentary The Moment.
The black-and-white artwork for ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ was also shot by Zamiri and features John Cale, fashion designer Marc Jacobs andMartin Scorsese.
Charli gave ‘Camera’ its live debut atan intimate Brooklyn pop-up show earlier this month. She also performed unreleased songs ‘Playboy Bunny’ and ‘Take Away The Music’, while Kim Petras,ClairoandUnderscoresappeared as special guests.
She will makeher headline debut at Reading & Leeds next monthbefore beginning a North American arena tour withUnderscoresin September.Ticketsareavailablehere.
Charlialso recentlyopened up about spending time in Paris with Madonna, after the pair appearedto end speculation of a feud by partying together in the French capital. She said she found it “very inspiring to hang out with her”, adding that she had enjoyed hearing Madonna discuss her own relationship with pop, fashion and the dancefloor.