Avant-garde legend John Cale has discussed his unexpected collaboration with Charli xcx, including a surreal kitchen photoshoot for an album cover.
According to Rolling Stone, the Velvet Underground co-founder sat in a black-and-white kitchen for the cover of Charli's upcoming album Music, Fashion, Film (out July 24), flanked by filmmaker Martin Scorsese and fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Each represented a different creative area — music, film, fashion.
"I learned there are no limits to what I could expect from her," Cale said in the interview. The two have already collaborated on "House," a track from the Wuthering Heights soundtrack. "I'm determined to find the next layer with her, maybe an operatic stream of conscious vocal. I'm writing the piece now with her in mind!!!!"
Cale describes Charli as "lively and a social spark" — someone who works fast, pushes hard, and refuses to be boxed in. "She's built herself a type of fortress, surrounds herself with like-minded creatives," he said. "Fearlessly, I might add."
He praised the British pop sensation for her "energy and vivacity mixed with a real knowledge of music, far different from her own." He also noted her ability to engage with cultural shifts without losing her identity.
On working with her, Cale said the magic was in "turning a puzzle into an introspection that was magical." He was careful with the Wuthering Heights adaptation, aware that women are often "put in a box" when it comes to historical narratives. His respect for Charli's artistry runs deep.
Mark July 24 on your calendar.
