Maybe it’s time for Mabel to change her number…or downgrade to handwritten correspondence.
The 22-year-old British Breakthrough Act Brit Award-nominated siren – who happens to already be legendary by blood as the daughter of Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack‘s Cameron McVey, and remains one of the few Ones To Watch™ of the Modern Era worth watching – returned on Friday (January 18) with her new single, “Don’t Call Me Up,” a follow-up to her fantastic, similarly cellular-minded 2018 collaboration with Jax Jones, “Ring Ring.”
But this time, she’s done – she’s hanging up on you.
Like all popular odes to telephonic turmoil – from “Hung Up” to “Telephone” to “Hello,” “Don’t Call Me Up” is a decidedly solid tribute to the missed connection, and a great way to kick off 2019 in pop.
The track was co-written by Steve Mac (which explains why there’s a hint of Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape Of You” in its DNA, too), as well as Kamille Purcell, who co-wrote “Ring Ring,” as well as Demetria Lovato‘s undeniable “Solo” with Clean Bandit. It’s also got a hint of Rita Ora, as well as Dua Lipa‘s own ode to keeping the phone off the hook, “New Rules.” (The accompanying music video, which leans in on pastel-colored female friend solidarity, also serves several shades of Lipa.)
“Don’t call me up / I’m going out tonight / Feeling good now you’re outta my life / Don’t wanna talk about us / Gotta leave it behind / One drink and you’re outta my mind…so don’t call me up,” Mabel monotones as the song pulses across the speakers, delivering a similarly stone-faced stoicism in the accompanying visual.
In under a year’s time, Mabel’s gone from “Hello? You there? / Real talk, you got me going crazy” to “Don’t call me up.”
“Don’t Call Me Up” was released on January 18. (iTunes)
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