Charli XCX and John Cale Think They’re Gonna Die in This ‘House’

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Charli XCX is having a remarkably busy period. Since finishing her Brat era, she’s been pursuing acting, sharing her movie reviews on Letterboxd, and recently got married. Her first new music since then is a collaboration with John Cale of The Velvet Underground, featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Wuthering Heights film. The song, titled “House,” and its accompanying music video were released on November 10th, and create a haunting, poetic atmosphere with a driving, industrial beat.

Cale paces around a crumbling old house, reciting lines from his poem. He tells Charli, who is lying on the floor and sometimes covering herself in red wax, “I’m a prisoner to live forever.” A vulture circles inside, adding to the sense of decay. Soon, Charli’s voice joins his, her signature autotune contrasting with Cale’s darker sound. She sings hauntingly, switching between fearing her own death in the house and warning Cale that he’s the one in danger. Later, she’s seen next to a grave—possibly her own. The song’s dark, gothic atmosphere evokes the unsettling feeling of Emily Brontë’s novel. It’s a departure from both Cale’s previous work and anything Charli has released before.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=Xgp7wlBfASA

Charli described how she and John Cale connected after watching a documentary about his band, explaining that Wuthering Heights came to mind when she thought about their potential collaboration. She thought of passion, pain, the English countryside, and a sense of resilience. A key idea that resonated with her was Cale’s description of the Velvet Underground’s sound – needing to be both ‘elegant and brutal.’ After letting that idea sink in over the summer, she contacted Cale to get his thoughts on songs inspired by that phrase and explore a possible collaboration. They spoke on the phone, and Charli was struck by the contrast in his voice – both refined and powerful. She sent him some tracks, and they began discussing a song called ‘House,’ envisioning it as a kind of poem. Cale recorded something and sent it back to her. Although the song has a dark, unsettling quality, Charli emphasized that their collaboration was a positive experience. She sees it not as one artist passing the baton to another, but as a partnership where they share a creative energy and face the challenges together.

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2025-11-10 21:54