Charli xcx on ghosts, grief and her new album Music, Fashion, Film
Synopsis
Charli xcx believes in ghosts — but won't go looking for them. In a candid podcast interview, the 'Brat' star also opened up about writing through grief after losing a close collaborator, and previewed her emotionally charged new album Music, Fashion, Film, dropping 24 July.
Key Takeaways
Charli xcx revealed on the Mainstage Interviews podcast that she believes in ghosts but chooses to 'keep it at a distance.' She said she thinks about death often, describing an equality in mortality: 'everybody's just really the same, aren't they?' The singer has written songs about grief following the death of a close friend and musical collaborator.
She described songwriting as 'cathartic' for processing loss, covering both regret and positive memories.
Her new album Music, Fashion, Film is set for release on 24 July .
Pop star Charli xcx has revealed that she believes in ghosts — but is careful to keep that belief at arm's length, saying she has no desire to go 'digging spiritually' for proof. The singer made the candid admission during an appearance on the Mainstage Interviews podcast, ahead of the release of her new album Music, Fashion, Film on 24 July.
What Charli Said About the Supernatural
Speaking openly on the podcast, Charli said: 'I believe in ghosts, but I don't necessarily want to like engage with it. But I respect it. My whole take on it is I do believe, but I like to kind of just keep it at a distance.'
She went on to add: 'I like to sort of, like, just keep it at a distance and not go like digging where I'm not supposed to be digging spiritually.' The remarks offer a rare glimpse into the personal philosophy of an artist better known for chart-dominating anthems like 'Apple', 'Brat', and 'Guess'.
Contemplating Death and Equality
Charli also shared that she thinks about death frequently — and finds a certain comfort in its universality. 'I think about death, I was talking to a friend about this recently … I guess in death, you know, everybody's just really the same, aren't they? Which is quite cool,' she said.
This is not a passing preoccupation for the singer. Themes of mortality and loss have been woven into her music for years, and her reflections suggest a deeper, ongoing engagement with what lies beyond the everyday.
Grief, Loss and the New Album
Charli confirmed that the loss of a close friend and musical collaborator has directly shaped her songwriting. She described the experience of writing about grief as cathartic, noting that her work has allowed her to process emotions that might otherwise be difficult to articulate.
'Having had a friend and close collaborator pass away. Yes, I have written songs about grief and sort of like the regret around, you know, things I could have like said or done in that specific relationship. But then I've also written really positive songs about like the memories I have of that person,' she said.
She added: 'Grief is a funny thing, I think for anyone who goes through it, right? It's so sort of specific to each person. I lost someone who completely changed my life. And so there's a lot of feelings to work through with that, especially because they were so attached to my creative life and my creative self, in a really positive way, but also sometimes, you know, in like a difficult way. Being able to sort of express those feelings through my work has been really cathartic for me.'
What to Expect From Music, Fashion, Film
The new album, due on 24 July, is expected to carry both the grief-driven introspection Charli described and the high-energy pop that has defined her public persona. The combination of raw emotional material and her signature sonic identity positions Music, Fashion, Film as potentially her most personal release to date.
Point of View
But paired with her reflections on death and grief, it signals something more deliberate — an artist actively building a philosophical framework around mortality and using it as creative fuel. Her upcoming album Music, Fashion, Film arrives at a moment when pop's biggest names are competing on spectacle; if Charli leans into this emotional depth, it could be the differentiator that separates a good album from a defining one. The mainstream coverage will focus on the ghost headline — the more interesting story is how grief over a lost collaborator is reshaping one of pop's most commercially instinctive voices.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charli xcx really believe in ghosts?
Yes, Charli xcx confirmed on the Mainstage Interviews podcast that she believes in ghosts, though she said she prefers to 'keep it at a distance' and has no interest in seeking out proof by 'digging spiritually.'
What is Charli xcx's new album and when does it release?
Charli xcx's new album is titled Music, Fashion, Film and is scheduled for release on 24 July. The album is expected to include songs about grief and loss alongside her signature pop style.
Who did Charli xcx lose that influenced her music?
Charli xcx has written songs inspired by the death of a close friend and musical collaborator. She has not publicly named the individual but described the loss as transformative, saying the person 'completely changed my life.'
What did Charli xcx say about death and grief?
She said she thinks about death frequently and finds a kind of equality in it — 'everybody's just really the same, aren't they?' On grief, she described songwriting as cathartic, helping her process both regret and positive memories of the person she lost.
What songs is Charli xcx known for?
Charli xcx is known for hits including 'Apple,' 'Brat,' and 'Guess,' among others. Her music spans high-energy pop and more introspective, emotionally layered material.
