Charli xcx on the New Meaning Behind the 'Sympathy Is a Knife' Remix — and How Ariana Grande Embodies It (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

WhenCharli xcxwas looking for the right person to feature on a remix for “Sympathy Is a Knife,” she thought ofAriana Grande.

In a clip shared exclusively with PEOPLE from the “360"singer’s interview with Apple Music’sZane Lowe, she opens up about how she found common ground with Grande.

“I think what’s interesting about the remix album… is I was writing the original record when I was in a very different position than I am post the release ofBratworking on the remix album. So my perspective has changed a lot,” Charli, 32, says.

Since the success ofBrat, Charli found herself under the spotlight like never before — and she’s had to learn to navigate it.

Zane Lowe and Charli xcx.Chad Griffith/The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1

Chad Griffith/The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1

This experience gave her “empathy for bigger artists who go through that on a daily basis.”

“It’s hard. It’s hard to be constantly scrutinized for things that you have said. It’s hard for your words to be taken out of context and then really kind of feel that you just can’t defend yourself because that would open a whole other can of worms.”

Charli xcx.Chad Griffith/The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1

Because of this, the remix of “Sympathy Is a Knife” became about her understanding that “you are only really knowledgeable about your own position” — but it’s hard to complain.

“I had heard that Ari wanted to do something and I was like, this is somebody who definitely knows this feeling moreso than me,” she says of the “Eternal Sunshine” singer, 31.

“So when she wanted to kind of take this phrase, it’s a knife, obviously, we’re so lucky and blessed to be in the situation that we are in — all artists who are able to make music at the level that they’re making it financially support themselves from creating art. It’s like we are lucky because not all artists get that.”

The full episode with Lowe is out Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. ET on Apple Music.

The singer-songwriter — who is currently on herSweat Tourwith Sivan —released the full track listto her remix album on Instagram on Oct. 7.

Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, out Oct. 11, has been teased on Billboards around the world featuring the guest names inBratfont and a lime green background.

Charlipreviously released a music videoto the “Guess” remix with Eilish, andmost recently, “Talk Talk” with Sivan. She also released the remix to “Von Dutch” with Rae and A.G. Cook, as well as “Girl, So Confusing” featuring Lorde.

source: people.com