While OVO Sound’s Roy Woods is feeling a bit “Insecure,” he’s wavering between the love he holds close and what he feels he deserves.
Dropping off his latest single “Bad Bad” on Friday (July 16), Woods is streaking towards his sophomore album Mixed Emotions, which is now set for release on Aug. 5. Woods’ last project Dem Times (2020) is just a snapshot of the potency found on his previous full-length LPs: Waking At Dawn, Nocturnal and Say Less. With Mixed Emotions on the way, Woods also divulged that his forthcoming album is also executive produced by Drake.
Stemming from Drizzy’s chart-topping Dance record Honestly, Nevermind, Woods recently spoke with HNHH praising Drake’s album and revealed he was making synthwave cuts alongside the OVO head honcho — tucking away both dance and EDM tracks in his vault.
“From my evolution from ‘Say Less’ until now, even from Dem Times till now, I’ve been focused on how I can tell my story the right way. How I can get everybody to really understand what I’m going through with my words, my melodies, the beats”
Roy Woods on ‘Mixed Emotions’ via HNHH
With “Insecure” and “Bad Bad,” Woods wastes no time getting die-hard fans hyped for his second studio album. The latter and most recent single sees Woods shifting back and forth between passionate singing and subtle self-accounts — ruminating over the highs and lows he shared with a former flame. With more guitar-driven melodies consistent with Carribean vibes, Woods woozily saunters over yet another love-laced beat.
With shimmering strings and hypnotic singing from the UTU heartthrob, Woods seems completely enamored with his love interest on “Insecure” — crooning “need me more than ever I can’t leave her / only thing I know is that I need her.” The track’s shuffling percussion insantly sets the beachy vibes as Woods continues to display his refined songwriting — speaking on how he feels the best parts of him are brought out when he’s with his girl.
All the things that you bring out me
Lets me know, you make out of me
Ooh, feels like you take all the hood out of me
Anything she wants to know, she can get out of me (Oh)
Roy Woods — “Insecure”
The Toronto-based artist has been hidden in the shadow of the OVO powerhouse for quite some time. However, his sound, voice and talent are an anomaly on any track he touches — meshing cadences found in the discographies of Nelly, The Weeknd, Michael Jackson and OVO pseudo-duo Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
It’s apparent that a specific superstar talent exists in Roy Woods. Hopefully, in this next phase of his career, he’s able to make it out of the “Woods” and into the spotlight once more.
Watch Roy Woods’ “Bad Bad” below!
