Charli XCX has recently released a haunting, yet catchy song “Chains of Love”. Initially finding fame with singles such as “I Love It”, “Fancy” and Boom Clap”, Charli XCX became a global sensation with her 2024 album Brat, which won a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2025 and propelled her to a Glastonbury headline slot on the Other Stage earlier this year. The song follows the release of previous single “House” featuring Velvet Underground musician John Cale. Both tracks will feature on the soundtrack for Wuthering Heights based on the novel by the same name by Emily Brontë and is set for release on February 14th 2026.
The track is much darker and moodier than Charli XCX’s previous work but still retains some of those signature sounds that are associated with her unique blend of electronic and experimental styles. A powerful synth bassline dominates the track and comes to the forefront when the song crescendos into the choruses. Accompanying this, a quieter strings section counterbalances the authoritative synth sound which gives the track a more gothic tonecompared to Charli’s other work. This leads to the song sounding less like a party anthem and more like a melodic ballad to soundtrack an intense love affair.
The lyrics focus on the psychological impacts of the obsessive love between Cathy and Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights’ protagonists. Such love itself manifests in the narrator’s inability to form a healthy relationship and becoming over dependent on her partner. This is shown by the repetition of the line in the pre-chorus and post-chorus “the chains of love won’t break”, indicative of the descent of the characters’ love into passion, destruction and revenge.
“Chains of Love” is a testament to Charli XCX’s versatility as an artist. It pushes the boundaries of what is possible as an artist, leaving many to wonder what is next in her post-brat career. It perfectly bridges the gap between the dark imagery of Wuthering Heights and experimental pop, simultaneously summoning an atmosphere of a packed arena and the Yorkshire moors.
