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Charli XCX revealed in her recent Vanity Fair interview that she’s working with Jack Antonoff to compose music for the film Mother Mary — and that the direction is unlike what she’d do on her own albums. “We were making music that I don’t think I’d ever make for my artist project — but still music that I truly love,” she said.
The collaboration represents a creative pivot for Charli as she explores film scoring and genre-bending soundscapes. Antonoff — known for his work with Taylor Swift, Lorde, and others — brings a production palette that complements her adventurous approach.
Adding fuel to public interest: the timing of the news coincides with renewed rumors of tension between Charli and Taylor Swift. Swift’s recent track “Actually Romantic” has been widely speculated to be a veiled response to Charli’s Brat song “Sympathy Is a Knife.” Charli declined to confirm any drama in her Vanity Fair profile, stating simply, “People are gonna think what they want to think.”
Charli also addressed past speculation around “Sympathy Is a Knife,” which fans interpreted as referencing Taylor and Matty Healy. She maintained the track reflects her internal struggles — not a diss: it’s about anxiety, comparison, and self-doubt.
This new phase marks Charli’s move beyond pop albums into a soundtracking and cinematic realm. And whether or not the Swift rumors stick, the Antonoff collab is one to watch — especially if her score work ends up colored by her introspective, genre-blurring style.