Charli XCX speaks out on mental health struggle: "I’m in the worst place mentally that I’ve been in my life"
Charli XCXhas opened up about her struggles with her mental health. The musician is gearing up to release her new album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’, on July 24. Ahead of that, she’s appeared on the cover ofRolling. . .
Charli XCXhas opened up about her struggles with her mental health. The musician is gearing up to release her new album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’, on July 24. Ahead of that, she’s appeared on the cover ofRolling Stone, where she’s reflected on life in the spotlight. “The discourse is loud, and sometimes that can be very overwhelming,” she told the magazine. She also opened up about how social media impacts her anxiety. “I have actually been a lot more offline,” she said. “I don’t really look as much anymore. It’s just better for my brain. I know people probably won’t believe me, because I am inherently, at least in the past, a very online artist. But I recently have been really struggling with my mental health to the point where, if I’m being real, I’m in the worst place mentally that I’ve been in my life. ”Later, she revealed she has been talking to Matty Healy of the 1975 about her struggles with her mental health. “He was being … helpful in his way,” she said. However, she added that she can struggle to come to terms with online discourse about her. “I am finding it tough to … I don’t know,” she says. “I’m finding my emotions are very, very volatile at the minute, I’ll be honest. ”‘Music, Fashion, Film’ artwork. CREDIT: Aidan ZamiriElsewhere in the interview,Charli clarified that her new album is not a rock album. It comes after Charli’s team previouslyconfirmed that she was finishing work on her new album, and shortly afterwards, the artist toldBritish Voguesome of the lyrics to ‘Rock Music’– prompting speculation that the album would take a heavier direction. ButCharli later clarifiedthat she “never said” she was making a rock album. Before then, the singer made it clear that she was wanting to distance herself from the sound of ‘Brat’, and lateradded that she found it interesting to see the polarised reaction to the lead single. The lyric even promptedMadonna, who iscurrently gearing up to release the long-anticipated sequelto 2005’s ’Confessions On A Dance Floor’ with ‘Confessions II’,to respond: “If your Dance floor feels dead, Maybe you’re playing the wrong music”. Charli has now clarified: “That lyric is very much about my relationship with ‘Brat’,and my personal experience with that album. My husband [The 1975‘sGeorge Daniel] runs a dance-music label. There’s been such a wealth of incredible dance/electronic-adjacent records that have been coming out recently, whether it’sSlayyyterorUnderscoresorPinkPantheress. Dance music is in an incredible place. ”Earlier this month, she spoke abouther album coverwhich features musician and composerJohn Cale, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and legendary directorMartin Scorsese. Charli XCX live at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Derek Bremner for NMECharli said there’d been “a lot of discussion” around who should’ve ended up on the final cover, but she ultimately landed on figures who she had “personal connections with”. “ObviouslyI’ve spoken so much about the Velvet Underground, I’vecollaborated with John [on theWuthering Heightssoundtrack], I’ve been a fan of John’s solo work, his work with theVelvets,” she shared, also calling Cale “prolific”. Despite that, now she has said that despite her love for The Velvet Underground, she would not be using them as a musical reference point on the new record. Charli added: “To be honest, when I make music, I’m thinking less about other music as a reference point. I actually shut myself off, and we just escape into our own world. I’ve spoken at length about lovingLou Reedand John Cale and the Velvet Underground. But would I say that the record sounds like any of that? No. ”So far, two songs have been shared from the forthcoming album, the gritty, guitar led lead single ‘Rock Music’, and the edgy ‘SS26’. You can pre-order ithere. She will return to the stage to makeher headline debut at Reading & Leedsin August, topping the festival bill alongsideFontaines D. C. ,Raye,Florence + The Machine,DaveandChase & Status. Visit herefor tickets. For further help and advice on mental health:“Am I depressed?” – Help and advice on mental health and what to do nextMITC – A collective of musician industry therapistsTONIC Rider – Bespoke training and support for music industry professionalsHelp Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musiciansMusic Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issuesYOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeingCALM – The Campaign Against Living MiserablyThe Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day