Post Malone is in his calm and reflective era, and even more so with his latest single. The question is, what would you give up to be with someone you love? In “Overdrive,” Malone is ready and willing to give up his tattoos. I mean if that isn’t commitment in “Overdrive,” nothing is.
“Overdrive” comes in as the ninth track on Malone’s fifth studio album, AUSTIN, and is about the lengths one can go to become worthwhile in a lover’s eyes. “I could be more like him if that’s cool to you / I’d do anything to be cool to you,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “I’d remove my tattoos if that’s cool to you.”
“I spend my nights on overdrive / I live my life so uninspired / There ain’t no angels in this world,” the “Hollywood’s Bleeding” hitmaker pensively sings in the acoustic guitar-driven track.
Malone teased the song for the first time on July 8, across his social media channels. Four days later, on July 12, he followed it up with a teaser video showcasing what could possibly be songs that didn’t make it into the album. On Friday, July 14, the single was released as the third song from the album.
Malone wrote and produced the song with Louis Bell, watt, and Billy Walsh. Eight violinists performed on the track, with David Campbell as the string arranger, and Bell playing piano and keyboards. A Vevo Official Live performance of the song followed its release and hears Malone singing the song in a way that happily complements the song’s message.
“Overdrive” follows Malone’s recent singles, “Chemical” and “Mourning,” which are both emotionally charged songs about the need to protect one’s mental health in a sad and ever-changing world.
“It’s been some of the funnest music, some of the most challenging and rewarding music for me, at least — trying to really push myself and really do some cool stuff,” he said of the album, AUSTIN, which gets its name from his real first name. “I played guitar on every song on the record, and it was a really, really fun experience, and I’m super, super excited to share it with you.”
The album will feature 17 songs, including “Something Real,” a song Malone teased last month. In the snippet, fans hear a haunting choir sing about “something real,” while Malone joins in with his emotive vocals.
Already, fans are convinced that this will be Malone’s most vulnerable and raw record to date. And if Malone’s brave enough to sing about removing his tattoos to be a better man for a lover, it’s got to be.
