Charli XCX teases release of "mainstream" fifth album

Charli XCX has begun to tease the release of her fifth album and her return to "mainstream" pop music. 

The quasi-announcement came after Charli posted to Instagram after fans noticed that she was an answer on UK daytime chat show The Chase.

Quite awkwardly, the quizmaster of the episode got the answer to the question (What is the stage name of English pop singer Charlotte Aitchison, if you were wondering) wrong - choosing Charli SFX instead of Charli XCX.

"Ok guys..." she wrote in the caption. "Much-needed mainstream album coming soon, I promise."

Little to no details are available on the prospective album yet, but Charli has talked about the record being inspired by the music of a melting pot of 80s synth-pop influences and most notably Janet Jackson. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charli (@charli_xcx)

MORE: View Charli XCX's full Official Charts history here

The LP would Charli's first drop since 2020's How I'm Feeling Now, which was written, recorded and released in just a few weeks during the first lockdown last year. 

The album hit Number 33 on the Official Albums Chart - her third Top 40 record - and was also nominated for the prestigious Hyundai Mercury Prize, but lost out to Michael Kiwanuka.

Charli may have moved away slightly from mainstream Top 40 sonics during the last half a decade - instead focusing on the glitchy alt-pop showcased on her two mixtapes and 2018's Charli - but she does have a particularly trustworthy track record when she does embrace them. 

So far, she's logged one Number 1 hit on the Official Singles Chart, dance classic I Love It with Swedish girl group Icona Pop, which hit the top spot in 2013. She's also racked up a further three Top 10 singles too, including Fancy with Iggy Azalea (Number 5) solo hit Boom Clap (Number 6) and the super-charged Doing It with Rita Ora (Number 8). 

Image via Atlantic