Charli xcx Announces New Album ‘Wuthering Heights,’ Releases New Song “Chains Of Love”

Back in December 2024, Charli xcx received a text from director Emerald Fennell. The two had met at a party once, and Fennell sent Charli the script to her forthcoming film adaption of Emily Brontë’s 1847 Gothic novel Wuthering Heights. Charli loved it, and when Fennell suggested she write a song for the project, Charli took it a step further and proposed an entire album, which Charli has officially announce today. Titled Wuthering Heights, it’s slated to arrive February 13.

“I wanted to dive into persona, into a world that felt undeniably raw, wild, sexual, gothic, British, tortured and full of actual real sentences, punctuation and grammar,” Charli wrote on her Substack. “Without a cigarette or a pair of sunglasses in sight, it was all totally other from the life I was currently living. I was fucking IN.”

In addition to announcing the album, Charli has released the single “Chains of Love,” which follows “House,” featuring John Cale, which arrived earlier this week. Whereas “House” is dark, orchestral, and haunted-sounding, “Chains of Love” is slightly closer to what Charli usually does. It’s a high-drama synth-pop song written with Finn Keane, Charli’s main collaborator on Wuthering Heights, as well as Justin Raisen.

In the opening verse, Charli finds herself in a very intense love affair.

I’d rather lay down in thorns
I’d rather drown in a stream
I’d rather light myself on fire
I’d rather wear all these scars
I’d rather watch my skin bleed
In the eye of your storm
(I can’t let go)

On the chorus, she feels there’s no escape from her feelings. Not that she necessarily wants to escape.

Shattering like glass
Yes, they’re breaking up my heart
The chains of love are cruel
I shouldn’t feel like a prisoner

Virtually everything falls away except for the clanking rhythm on the second verse, as Charil reiterates that she’s not going anywhere.

No matter how hard I try
I’m here so permanently, yeah
And I wait for your call
(I can’t let go)

On the refrain, she celebrates the strength of the very chains that hold her prisoner. Even if she could free herself, she wouldn’t.

I know the chains of love won’t break
I know the chains of love won’t break

You can read all the lyrics to “Chains of Love” on Genius now.