I Like U

"I like u" is a single by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo, released after her fifth album 'Dirt Femme' (October 2022), and following her single 'Borderline', which was co-written with English singer-songwriter Dua Lipa. The track was developed in collaboration with producer Timfromthehouse, who had previously worked with Tove Lo on multiple tracks from 'Dirt Femme'.

In "I like u", Tove Lo sought to create another song that draws from the inspiration of the '90s and Y2K-era dance music, similar to her earlier single '2 Die 4'. The song's production process was unique, with Timfromthehouse working on the track independently for a significant period, before finding a way to make the melodies stand out with an unconventional pop arrangement. The final product was intended to be an epic dance moment, leading up to the chorus melody.

Thematically, "I like u" is inspired by Tove Lo's personal experience, particularly the first time she saw her husband. Although the song embraces more of the dance genre, Tove Lo sees it as an extension of the 'Dirt Femme' world, maintaining a link to the themes she explored on the album. The song is expected to feature on a deluxe version of 'Dirt Femme', set for release at a later date.

Despite battling writer's block during the creation of 'Dirt Femme', Tove Lo expressed to NME that she was feeling creatively inspired at the time of "I like u"'s release. However, she noted that a new album may not be imminent, as she was considering focusing on writing for other artists, a process she greatly enjoys.

Tove Lo's collaborative work includes writing with renowned artists like Dua Lipa, Lorde, and Ellie Goulding. She expressed a desire to collaborate with Australian singer-songwriter Sia, who had previously expressed admiration for Tove Lo's 2014 collaboration with Alesso, 'Heroes (We Could Be)'.

Prior to the release of "I like u", Tove Lo released 'Dirt Femme (Stripped)', an album consisting of acoustic renditions of tracks from 'Dirt Femme'. She also joined English band Duran Duran on stage to perform 'GIVE IT ALL UP (feat. Tove Lo)', a track from their 2021 album 'Future Past', during their set at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival in California.

Tove Lo continues to perform live shows, with upcoming appearances including a slot at London’s All Point East Festival in August, headlined by American band Haim. According to Tove Lo, fans can expect an hour of "emotional dance music" at these performances.