Embracing Dark Romance: Charli XCX on Wuthering Heights Soundtrack
Glossy pop icon turned gothic romantic auteur? Charli XCX has recently appeared to have conquered a musical evolution creating an album filled with original songs tied to Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic, Wuthering Heights. Set for release in February 2026, Charli is redefining her artistic identity, but why Charli?
Approached by director Emerald Fennell, Charli’s involvement began late 2024. Originally offered a single song, the bold and hardworking artist suggested creating an entire album to help capture the story’s rawness. Finn Keane, a longtime collaborator of Charli, wrote and recorded the entire project during 2025 marking a strong departure from her previous album and era (Brat). Instead of club-ready pop beats which easily took to the charts, she has embraced cinematic drama with lyrical depth.
Two tracks released already!
The lead single ‘House’ which released on the 10th of November, Charli collaborated with John Cale, the Velvet Underground legend. Creating an eerie deep tone with dramatic guitars and the repeated lyric “I think I’m gonna die in this house.” The song perfectly encapsulates Brontë’s bleak and turbulent love story and has caused such a social buzz all over social media highlighting Charli’s swift genre change.
Just days later, ‘Chains of Love’ which was released. Already featured in promotional trailers for the film, this haunting atmospheric ballad became enigmatic for fans. Is this Charli’s boldest artistic reinvention yet? Love that is beautiful, love that is wounding, love that is relatable, gothic romance as a genre has resonated universally and perhaps that is why this new and upcoming album has intensely excited fans.
Yes, a new era is beginning for pop icon Charli XCX, but this isn’t just about writing a soundtrack which features a new sound board, it’s about leading a new creative chapter for other pop artists to follow.
This major shift could help redefine how pop artists engage with narrative, film, emotions, and storytelling. Will other artists follow in Charli’s shadowy path and expand their versatility or remain as they are?
Written by Haydn Davis
