Charli XCX has spoken about her friendship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy and the pair’s new collaboration, while praising the band for “taking risks” with their creative output.
Healy is set to appear on the star-studded ‘Brat’ remix album alongside the likes of Ariana Grande, Julian Casablancas, Lorde and Bon Iver. He will feature on a reworking of ‘I Might Say Something Stupid’ with Jon Hopkins.
- READ MORE: It’s Charli XCX’s world and we’re just living in it: a timeline of ‘Brat’ summer so far
During a new video interview with Apple Music, Charli spoke to Zane Lowe about the huge success of ‘Brat’ and the unstoppable cultural phenomenon that was 2024’s “Brat summer”.
She also shared details about ‘Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat’ – which is due for release this Friday (October 11). At one point in the chat, Lowe described Healy’s contribution to the remix collection as “really moving” and “eye-opening”.
“I really wanted him to do the song. He’s like my brother now, you know?” explained the pop star, who is engaged to The 1975’s drummer/producer George Daniel.
“And I hope he wouldn’t mind me saying this but I have an endless amount of respect for him as a songwriter and him as a person. But I sometimes want to strangle him.”
She continued: “Even before being with George – years and years ago – I’ve always been such a fan of their work. His thinking of the way everything is digested in terms of their work, their artwork, their font, their videos, their everything… it’s very, very holistic.
“All I’ll say from my perspective in terms of [The 1975’s] show is like, I just really enjoy people who take a risk in terms of what they’re putting out there artistically. And I think that show is a little divisive, but I think great art is divisive.”
Earlier in the conversation, Charli explained that she had been inspired by the viral “selling petrol” moment in The 1975’s live show.
A lyric in the group’s 2018 single ‘It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)’ has acquired cult status among fans. “And Danny says we’re living in a simulation / But he works in a petrol station,” Healy sings, before the crowd chants the backing vocal “SELLING PETROL”.
“Obviously being with George, I’m going to their shows a lot,” Charli said. “And I just remember this line, “selling petrol” or whatever. That moment in the crowd goes off. No one knows who the fuck Danny is – it’s one of their old childhood friends.
“But that moment in the show always really fascinated me because it’s like the audience really responds to these super-specific personal references. Because it kind of is like a window into the artist’s life.”
You can watch the interview in full above.
In 2021, Charli, Healy and Daniel appeared together with No Rome on the joint single ‘Spinning’.
Daniel recently earned co-writing and production credits on his fiancé’s latest album, ‘Brat’. He is credited on ‘Club Classics’ – where Charli declares “I wanna dance with George” – and the viral hit ‘Apple’.
In June, Daniel made a guest appearance during Charli’s DJ set at Glastonbury Festival 2024. That same month, Healy confirmed his engagement to Gabbriette Bechtel – a close friend of Charli’s who stars in her ‘360’ video.
Bechtel shared the news by posting a photo of herself wearing an engagement ring at Charli’s gig in New York. “MARRYING THE 1975 IS VERY BRAT,” she captioned the image. The model and singer previously fronted the Charli-curated pop-rock band Nasty Cherry.
Speaking to NME at this year’s BRIT Awards, Charli responded to whether her fans are more intense than those of The 1975.
“Good question! I think the super fans of both parties really do have something quite intense about them,” she said. “I think it would be a fight to the death to be honest, which I hope never happens…”
In a four-star review of ‘Brat’, NME wrote: “On the self-described “club record”, XCX offers pure party girl hedonism. Percolating beats, brash synths, left-field production and vocal lines that flit between bratty quips or honest one-liners.
“With ‘Brat’, XCX demonstrates that going her own way will always sound pretty good.”
Charli XCX is due to embark on a run of UK arena shows with Shygirl next month, with the trek including a stop at The O2 in London. Find any remaining tickets here.
The pop star is currently out on her North American ‘Sweat’ tour with Troye Sivan – check out the setlist from the first night here.
In a five-star review of their New York concert – where Lorde made a surprise appearance for the ‘Girl, So Confusing’ remix – NME wrote: “It’s clear that they’ve both not just mastered their craft but are now getting the recognition they deserve.
“‘Brat’ summer might be over, but these two are just getting started.”
