In their collaborative 4-track EP, Heat, artists Tove Lo and SG Lewis use the inevitable passion and desire of a club dance floor to shed light on their loyal and energetic queer fanbase. The combination of pop hits such as “Heat,” “Let me go OH OH,” “Busy Girl” and “Desire” work together to capture the exhilarating essence of LGBTQ+ nightlife. With seductive lyrics and a house beat that begs to be danced to, the culmination of Pretty Swede Records’ newest EP is a tribute to the spaces that allow individuals to truly embrace their identity.
Inspiration behind Heat
Along with Heat’s release, the duo collaborated with director David Wilson to create four distinct music videos (“Heat,” “Let me go OH OH,” “Busy Girl,” “Desire“) centered around a fictional, queer London nightclub titled “Club Heat.” The EP’s visuals revolve around the experiences of protagonist Ali, who is seen encountering all that “Club Heat” has to offer.
With this EP we wanted the visual aspect to reflect the free, open and sexy energy we’ve put into the music, surrounded by our queer fans who inspired us to make these songs. – Tove Lo
“Heat”
The NSFW visuals for the EP’s titular track sets the scene for a raging night club bathed in golden yellow light. With lyrics such as “I know you want me, obviously” and “I already know you can’t take the heat,” this piece calls for flirtatious behavior. The sweaty dancers encapsulate the passion strangers hold for each other given the right atmosphere.
“Let me go OH OH”
With a variety of synth beats, driving tempi and catchy lyrics, the narrator of this second track urges their lover to either reciprocate their affection or let them go.
We wanted to make something with a similar temperature as Kylie’s “Can’t get you out of my head” . . . sexy, cool and hypnotic. – Tove Lo
“Busy Girl”
Heat‘s third track creates an irresistible environment with Tove Lo dancing provocatively on a runway surrounded by other members of the club. Lo sings lyrics such as “I push, I work / I’m such a busy girl / I’m lush, I’m first / I get what I deserve.”
We wanted to revive some of that 2000’s dirty electro-house like Fedde le Grand or Mason, and TEED & I had worked on the perfect instrumental together for that purpose. – SG Lewis
“Desire”
Lewis described this closing song as the project’s “90’s trance moment,” with the accompanying visuals depicting Ali put under a trance by Tove Lo’s character. Face to face with lust, Ali appears to be confronting new fascinations until they finally let loose and dance by themselves.
I wanted it to be really emotional, something that could be played at the end of the night. It felt like the perfect way to close off the EP. – SG Lewis
The Vision behind the scenes
Wilson has also directed videos for artists such as Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, Christine & The Queens and Mabel. The four music videos were filmed on location at Electrowerkz, a prominent LGBTQIA+ London club. Lo and Lewis provided Wilson the complete freedom to fully immerse audiences into the diversity of nightlife experiences.
The queer nightlife scene in London has fuelled and inspired me throughout my whole adult life, so I was beyond thrilled to be selected as the director to bring this to life. This is a depiction of queer London night life now: the queer scene in 2024, where the non-binary queer crowd is the predominant force. These are parties that organically house the diversity in queer spaces whilst also including the binary. Everyone is celebrated. The aim was to represent queer joy personified, uncensored and undiluted. – David Wilson
Heat‘s Debut
In celebration of Heat‘s successful release, Tove Lo and SG Lewis held “CLUB HEAT” party in West Hollywood surrounded by friends, fans and favorite club hits. In order to commemorate the function, Spotify made a donation to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth.
CLUB HEAT returned to Glastonbury Festival on Friday, June 28 at the Lonely Hearts Club Stage.
Tove Lo & SG Lewis
Tove Lo, a Swedish-born singer-songwriter and overall LGBT pop sensation first debuted her career with her 2014 album, Queen of the Clouds. Embracing the power of femininity, Lo has received GRAMMY Award nominations for her song “Glad He’s Gone,” started up her own record label (Pretty Swede Records) and released five successful albums. Her most recent album is the 12-track Dirt Femme (2022), which features two collaborative pieces with SG Lewis.
Samuel George Lewis, known as SG Lewis, makes his waves in the music scene through his synth-pop electronic-esque music, famous DJ-performances and illustrious record producing abilities. With a total stream count of 1.7 billion, Lewis’s 2023 release, AudioLust & HigherLove, was no short of its deserved success. He also co-wrote “Hallucinate” for Dua Lipa’s record-smashing number one album, Future Nostalgia.
Although Lo and Lewis have no doubt captured the attention of millions in their individual careers, Heat‘s prominence among queer communities worldwide marks yet another collaborative success. The duo previously partnered up to produce songs such as “Pineapple Slice” and “Call On Me,” both of which reached millions of streams. As Heat continues to grow in significance and popularity, audiences will be eagerly awaiting the next top hit from Tove Lo and SG Lewis. Stream Heat on all music platforms today.
Stay updated on Tove Lo’s career via her Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Stay updated on SG Lewis’s career via his Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
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