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Shortly after her controversial pivot to “Rock Music,” Charli xcx is making noise online once again with her fashion-inspired new single, “SS26.”
First teased with a short concept video via her Instagram on May 20, the clip sees the British singer-songwriter seated at a runway show in France, looking chic in a brown fur coat and black sunglasses. Beside her, French fashion director Carine Roitfield says, “Fashion won’t save us, but let’s go on the runway and walk.”
Following her previously released single “Rock Music,” “SS26” officially arrived on May 22 at 7 AM PHT, leaning towards a soft, indie rock genre. The track introduces a slower, grungier sound, in contrast to her usual experimental, hyper pop releases.
Accompanying the single, its music video plays with the theme of an exclusive fashion show, keeping with the song’s reference to the Spring/Summer 2026 collection. “Walking on a runway that goes straight to hell,” the visualizer sees Charli rocking several high-fashion looks on the catwalk.
The release comes as a bold move for Charli after “Rock Music” received criticism for its cliched rock tropes, repetitive structure, and short runtime. Addressing the backlash on X, the BRAT hitmaker stated, “i’m not trying to repel people away or convince people into liking me. i’m doing what i feel is truthful to me.” She also added, “if you get me, you get me and if you don’t, you don’t. and thats ok. <3″
Speaking about her newest single “SS26,” she expressed her excitement for listeners to hear the track, sharing, “i can only ever make what feels true to me. i’m not thinking about anything else while i’m making it. not reception or audience or anything else. just my connection with it and whether it feels honest to me.”
Check out Charli xcx’s “SS26” below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Charli xcx officially released her new single “SS26” on May 22, 2026 at 7 AM PHT. The fashion-inspired track was first teased through a short concept video on her Instagram on May 20, featuring the British singer-songwriter seated at a runway show in France.
Charli xcx’s “SS26” is a fashion-inspired single tied to the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, leaning into a soft, indie rock sound. Its music video plays with the theme of an exclusive fashion show, with Charli rocking several high-fashion looks on a catwalk “that goes straight to hell.”
Charli xcx’s previous single “Rock Music” received criticism for its cliched rock tropes, repetitive structure, and short runtime. The BRAT hitmaker addressed the backlash on X, stating she isn’t trying to repel listeners or convince anyone — she’s simply doing what feels truthful to her.
“SS26” introduces a slower, grungier sound, marking a noticeable shift from Charli xcx’s usual experimental hyperpop releases. The track leans into a soft indie rock genre and is paired with a fashion-forward music video that contrasts her past high-energy aesthetic.
Charli xcx shared her excitement about the release, stating, “I can only ever make what feels true to me.” She added that while creating the track, she wasn’t thinking about reception or audience — only her personal connection and whether the song felt honest to her.