Charli XCX voicemail replaces feature during Djo’s Outside Lands set
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New details have emerged about Charli XCX's surprise cameo during Djo's Outside Lands 2026 set, including the full voicemail message played to the crowd. As Djo performed his 2025 track "Charlie's Garden" on Saturday 8 August in San Francisco, he replaced the song's original spoken-word feature from Stranger Things co-star Charlie Heaton with a recorded voicemail from Charli XCX herself, who told him "I had no idea that you'd written a song about me… I'm honoured", delighting the crowd. Djo, real name Joe Keery, has previously praised Charli XCX's songwriting, telling NME in 2024 that he admires how she "nails" specific, personal concepts in tracks such as "Yuck".
The cameo was one of several Charli XCX moments at the festival: she also headlined with songs from her new album "Music, Fashion, Film" and fan favourites from "Brat", and joined The Strokes on stage for "Take It Or Leave It". In the run-up to the festival she recorded a live session at Maida Vale, played her first full headline show of the new album era at Lollapalooza, and joined Lorde for "Girl, So Confusing" in Chicago. She is next set to make her headline debut at Reading & Leeds this month, ahead of a North American arena tour with Underscores in September, and has also released a "B-sides Edition" of her latest album.
- Charli XCX's full voicemail message to Djo has now been revealed
- Djo previously praised her songwriting ability in a 2024 NME interview
- She's also due to headline Reading & Leeds and tour North America
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Charli XCX and Djo (real name Joe Keery, best known for acting in Stranger Things) are both musicians who have crossed paths through their friendship and shared connections in the entertainment world. Djo's song "Charlie's Garden" originally featured a spoken-word part from his Stranger Things co-star Charlie Heaton, which he swapped out for a message from Charli XCX during a live performance.
The moment happened at Outside Lands, an annual music festival held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which in 2026 featured performances from both artists. Charli XCX has had a major year with her album "Brat" and its cultural impact, and continues to tour and headline festivals, including further UK and North American dates.
Cameos and in-joke moments like this have become a notable feature of festival culture, often shared widely on social media, as artists use them to surprise fans and highlight friendships within the music industry.
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Originally published by NME as “Watch Charli XCX leave Djo a voicemail during ‘Charlie’s Garden’ at Outside Lands 2026”.