Ella Mai has returned with a video for her new single “DFMU,” which happens to be her first single since she dropped “Not Another Love Song” in 2020.
Accompanied by a slick, minimally lit music video telling the story of a romance at risk of turning toxic, “DFMU” stands for “Don’t Fuck Me Up.” Discussing the scarier parts of falling in love with someone, the track sees Ella warn her lover to not engage in a game of tug of war with her heart.
Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1’s New Music Daily said making the “DFMU” was “very hard” for her “because it was like my life in real time.”
She continued, “So it was almost a therapy session when I was in the session. But I think that’s the best way. All the people that I grew up listening to are always very, very honest. And I’ve always just appreciated honesty. I think it’s the best way I think that people can relate to you also so...I was having a very honest conversation with Prince Charlez who I wrote the song with about I was going through at that point. And it just was basically a conversation, and it just came together that way. And I think those are the best songs because storytelling is just conversation really. It was one of the ones during the recording process that I just knew it had to make…”
It’s not clear if the song is taken from Ella Mai’s highly-anticipated second album, but she’s recently wiped her Instagram page. When it comes to a classic Instagram fresh start, that typically means an artist is gearing up to release something soon. Hopefully she delivers the follow-up to her eponymous studio album sometime later this year.
Last year, it was reported that Ella Mai is among the cast of an animated film about sneaker culture. Also starring in the film, produced by Laurence Fishburne, is Roddy Ricch, Macy Gray, Chris Paul, and Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd. “Our film will illuminate and pay homage to the forever growing and popular sneaker culture that continues to inspire and be inspired by musicians, athletes and artists alike,” said Fishburne upon announcing the project. “And I’m thrilled by the cast and crew who have decided to join us on the journey.”
Watch the video for “DFMU” above and stream the track below via Spotify.
