Charli XCX recently expressed her emotional response to collaborating with music legend John Cale of The Velvet Underground, revealing that the experience brought her to tears. This collaboration resulted in the song “House,” which is the first track released from the soundtrack for the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, set to premiere next year. The song includes a distinctive spoken word segment by Cale, featuring a dramatic chorus that declares, “I think I’m ‘gonna die in this house.”
In an Instagram post, Charli, born Charlotte Aitchison, shared her admiration for Cale and his work with the iconic band, which was fronted by Lou Reed. Inspired by a documentary highlighting Cale’s perspective on their songwriting as both “elegant and brutal,” she reached out to him for his insights on her own creations. “We got connected and wow… that voice – so elegant, so brutal,” Charli reflected. Their discussions centered around her song “House,” leading to Cale sending her a recording that she found profoundly moving. “It was… well, it made me cry,” she admitted.
The music video for “House” features Charli in a forest setting, while Cale recites his lines, heightening the emotional depth of the piece. The collaboration marks a fresh artistic direction for Charli following the success of her critically acclaimed sixth album, Brat, which was named the best new release of 2024. She expressed her excitement about venturing into “something entirely new,” connecting the themes of Wuthering Heights to “passion and pain,” along with feelings of “determination and grit.”
Cale, now 83, was a founding member of The Velvet Underground, a band renowned for its avant-garde approach and influence on a variety of artists, including David Bowie and Nirvana. Cale’s credits with the band include iconic tracks such as “Sunday Morning” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” making his participation in Charli’s project a significant moment in her career as well as a tribute to the legendary collaboration between past and present musical artists. As Charli XCX continues to push boundaries in her creative journey, this partnership exemplifies the timeless nature of music and its ability to evoke deep emotional responses.