Songfacts®:

• "In The City" is a collaboration between Charli XCX and Sam Smith. The tech house anthem is about the thrill of discovering a deep connection amid the euphoria of wild nights.
• Charli XCX kicks things off, lost in the music, lights, and magnetic vibes. She's all about that moment of total abandon.
  
  Then, on the pre-chorus, she celebrates newfound happiness. Where did she find it? Just like countless others in the city, in the dark.
  
  Smith takes over, pinpointing the city we're raving about. And from here, it's pure ecstasy.
  
  Finally, the two unite to declare they've found their tribe and they're living their best lives.
• Charli XCX told BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo the song harks back to when she was 16, venturing to London to perform in queer clubs. Growing up, she hadn't been exposed to much queer culture but these clubs opened her eyes to a whole new world of fashion, art, music, and language. She was overwhelmed with inspiration, and those environments left a lasting impact.
  
  Charli reminisced about the days when she'd wear children's toys on ribbons around her neck. In those clubs, she felt a sense of belonging for the first time, where people truly understood her. Many of those she met during that period are still a part of her life today. This song is like a love letter to that time when she found a community that made her feel safe and understood even before she understood herself.
• Charli XCX shared with Clara Amfo that she and Sam Smith go way back, coming from the same town, which is a bit of a hidden secret. They attended the same school, or at least she knew the school they went to, and vice versa. They both recognized their shared roots when they met in the music scene.
  
  In 2014, they hung out at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards and Charli covered Smith's "Stay With Me."
  
  The idea of a collaboration had been brewing for a while, and this one felt just right. The two singers both have a strong connection to the LGBTQ+ community and creating a love song for those spaces felt incredible.
• In her music video for the single "Speed Drive," Charli XCX dropped a tantalizing clue about an upcoming collaboration with Smith through a phone call. Their conversation hinted at something exciting when they discussed a "new mix" and encouraged Charli to "submit" it.
  
  On October 7, 2023, Charli teased a snippet of a new studio creation, describing it as "upbeat dance-pop." Smith officially confirmed the collaboration four days later in an Instagram post where they strutted down an Osaka, Japan alleyway to another teaser of the track. Charli finally unleashed the song on October 19, 2023, marking her debut release under Atlantic Records after fulfilling her five-album deal with Crash (2022).
• Charli XCX and Sam Smith wrote "In the City" with help from Charli's frequent collaborator A. G. Cook, Omer Fedi (Lil Nas X, The Kid Laroi), and Ilya Salmanzadeh. (Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez). Fedi and Ilya were part of the writing team that penned Sam Smith's smash hit "Unholy."
• Fedi and ILYA share production credit with Charli and George Daniel of the band The 1975.