Pop superstar Charli XCX has unveiled a visually striking and surreal new music video that features an army of clones and includes a surprise cameo appearance from reality television personality and business mogul Kylie Jenner. The nearly three-minute video for the track "Residue" serves as a promotional piece for Charli XCX's upcoming satirical film, The Moment, which offers a fictionalised account of the cultural phenomenon surrounding her 2024 album, Brat.
A Surreal Visual Experience
Released on Tuesday, the music video opens with the 31-year-old singer, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, dressed in a distinctive 'Brat era' ensemble comprising a white tank top, black shorts, and leather boots. This outfit previously appeared in her "360" music video, creating a visual continuity for fans. After casually dropping a cigarette, Charli XCX puts on black sunglasses and confidently struts through the dimly lit hallways of an industrial warehouse setting.
As the camera follows her movement, flashes of the signature 'Brat' green colour that defined her 2024 album appear throughout the environment. These visual cues include stacks of her album merchandise T-shirts, reinforcing the branding associated with her musical project. The surreal nature of the video intensifies when a clone of the singer crosses her path before she enters a room filled with numerous Charli look-alikes.
Clones and Cameos
The army of clones stands before a prominently lit sign that reads The Moment, creating a striking visual tableau. The screen then flashes various words and phrases including '365', 'girl move on', and 'it's over', adding textual layers to the visual narrative. The clones subsequently begin whipping their hair and gyrating across the warehouse floor in synchronized movement, creating a hypnotic dance sequence.
In a clever twist that concludes the video, a single Charli-like figure appears in front of the illuminated sign. This character's identity is then revealed to be Kylie Jenner, who takes a final puff of a cigarette before the screen fades. Jenner, widely recognised for her appearances in the long-running reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians and for her successful beauty brand Kylie Cosmetics, adds celebrity intrigue to the artistic project.
The Upcoming Film Project
The Moment, produced by the acclaimed studio A24, chronicles Charli XCX's journey leading up to a world tour in a satirical format that blends reality with fiction. The film stars the 33-year-old singer as a fictionalised version of herself alongside a notable cast that includes Jenner, Alexander Skarsgård, and Rosanna Arquette. The soundtrack has been composed by AG Cook, who also collaborated with Charli XCX on "Residue" and the broader Brat project.
Critical Reception
Early reviews for The Moment have presented a mixed response from critics. The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "more fan service than funny" in their assessment, though the publication went on to praise Charli XCX as a "natural, engaging actor" who demonstrates considerable screen presence. Entertainment website The Playlist offered more enthusiastic commentary, noting that the pop star delivers a "borderline heartbreaking" monologue in the film and describing her acting as "startlingly good."
Release Information
The Moment is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on 30 January, with British and Irish cinema audiences able to view the film from 20 February onwards. The "Residue" music video serves as both a standalone artistic piece and promotional material for this cinematic project, blending Charli XCX's musical and visual aesthetics with celebrity collaboration in a uniquely surreal package.
