Ella Mai is on a roll. The British singer has released “Leave You Alone” from her forthcoming album, Heart on My Sleeve.
With co-songwriting and co-production input from Harmony Samuels, “Leave You Alone” sounds like an urban radio smash waiting to happen.
It is a well-written song that manages to have Mai experiencing romantic flashbacks when she responds to a text from a bad boy she should’ve had on the blocked list.
“‘Cause every time you say you wanna chill / I end up naked /Could it be the pain and the pleasure that you’re making? / Make me act a fool for ya / Fool in love / I drown in us / All over you baby,” Mai sings.
“Leave You Alone” arrives just hours after Mai unveiled the official tracklist for Heart on My Sleeve.
Arriving on May 6 via 10 Summers/Interscope Records, Mai’s sophomore album has 15 songs and features guest appearances from Lucky Daye, Latto, and Roddy Rich.
D’ Mile, Mustard, and J. Holt are some of the names who worked behind the board on production.
“I poured my whole heart into this album, more so than ever before. I am overly excited for this sophomore journey. Let’s do it all over again,” said Mai.
Heart on My Sleeve includes early tracks, “Not Another Love Song” and “DFMU,” which is noted as the album’s lead single. The former tune was certified gold in June 2021 after it rose to No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
In a Q&A with fans on Twitter, Mai shared the inspiration behind her new album title.
“The title came towards the end of the process, before the tracklist was complete but it just felt right, felt like it best described the music i was making and me very well,” she tweeted.
the title came towards the end of the process, before the tracklist was complete but it just felt right, felt like it best described the music i was making and me very well!
— Ella Mai (@ellamai) March 31, 2022
She also noted that “basically every song on the album” has a bridge.
come to think of it, basically every song on the album has one 🕺🏾
— Ella Mai (@ellamai) March 31, 2022
Mai is booked to perform at Mary J. Blige’s inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit during Mother’s Day weekend (May 6-8).
Listen to Ella Mai’s new song “Leave You Alone” below.