India Shawn may be wrapped in your charm, but she advises you to tread lightly in her new song, “Don’t Play With My Heart.”
Produced by D’Mile (H.E.R., Victoria Monét), the glimmering track is dipped in equal amounts of funk and soul, giving a slight nod to the disco era. In the first verse, she sings, “You’ve been spending time in my mind / And the butterflies are flying / Running through my veins like vines / I should stay away but.”
Shawn has also debuted a David Camarena-directed visual with the new song, which opens with her throwing a vinyl on the record player. Surrounded by records from female vocalists, including The Jones Girls and Donna Summer, the tunes transport the singer into her own groovy world.
Inspired by iconic divas such as Donna Summer and Diana Ross, Shawn said in a statement, “My intention is to serve a fresh and nostalgic take on their legacies. The visual expresses my interpretation of the unique, feminine style and their ultimate creative power.”
This year, Shawn is now two for two with releases, having blessed fans with the mid-tempo jam “Too Sweet” in February. Since releasing the song, she appeared on Dixson’s song “Yours” from his recent EP DARLING.
In January, Shawn was named one of Rated R&B’s 11 R&B Artists to Watch in 2021. We caught up with her last year in an in-depth interview.
Listen to “Don’t Play With My Heart” by India Shawn below.