Charli XCX has opened up about her relationship with Madonna, after the pair appeared to end speculation of a feud by partying together in Paris.
Charli’s recent single ‘Rock Music’, taken from her upcoming album ‘Music, Fashion, Film’, caused debate over its bold declaration: “I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music”.
The lyric arrived as Madonna was gearing up to release ‘Confessions II’, the long-anticipated sequel to 2005’s ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor’. She later appeared to respond on Instagram, writing: “If your Dance floor feels dead, maybe you’re playing the wrong music.”
However, the pair were spotted together in Paris in the last week, bringing an apparent end to speculation of tension between the two pop stars.
Now, Charli has given an interview to Nick Grimshaw on BBC 6 Music, where she discussed her recent “mini-break” with Madonna.
“Me and Madonna had a mini break together, essentially is what happened. We went to Paris and we just couldn’t stop hanging out with each other. And it was fab!” Charli said.
“We’ve met before in the past but I don’t know that she knows that – but we were put together on a group text just a couple of weeks ago, which is obviously insane.”
Charli went on to explain that the pair then ended up throwing parties together in the French capital.
“So we did – but then we actually accidentally threw two parties,” she said. “She’s very like… I mean, she’s so cool. And she is so interested in really talking about the music that she makes, and how and why, and I found it very inspiring to hang out with her.”
Charli also admitted that she was not necessarily a Madonna fan when she was younger, but came to appreciate her work more deeply as she grew older.
“I think when I became like a bit more interested in how music is art and artful – I think that’s when I began my Madonna time,” she said. “My first big song that I fell in love with of hers was ‘Hollywood’. That song really hit me in a way.”
The two artists were seated next to one another at the Saint Laurent menswear spring/summer 2027 fashion show on June 23, and were later seen smoking and chatting with other stars in attendance, including actors Connor Storrie and Debi Mazar.
At the end of the night, the two danced together to Madonna’s hits, like ‘Thief of Hearts’ and ‘Hung Up’, from behind the DJ booth at the after-party.
Charli has since clarified that ‘Rock Music’ was not intended as a literal dismissal of dance music. “That lyric is very much about my relationship with ‘Brat’, and my personal experience with that album,” she explained. “Dance music is in an incredible place.”
She also pushed back on the idea that her next album is a straightforward rock record, saying: “I know that there’s been a lot of conversation around me making a rock album, which is something that I never said.”
‘Music, Fashion, Film’ is set for release on July 24, and features a black-and-white cover shot by Aidan Zamiri with John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese. You can pre-order it here.
Elsewhere, Charli recently spoke candidly about her mental health, saying: “I’m in the worst place mentally that I’ve been in my life.”
She added that she was “struggling” in the wake of the ‘Brat’ era, while also moving into a new creative chapter across music, fashion and film.
She will return to the stage to make her headline debut at Reading & Leeds in August, topping the festival bill alongside Fontaines D.C., Raye, Florence + The Machine, Dave and Chase & Status. Visit here for tickets.
Madonna’s ‘Confessions II’, meanwhile, will be out on July 3 and you can pre-order it here.
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