Put your “TRUST!” in Rebecca Black’s addicting, new single

If up until now you’ve never stopped to give any of Rebecca Black’s music a chance, now may be the time for you to tune in. The artist’s newest single—“TRUST!”—is spectacular from start to finish, from vocals to production and visuals alike. If you’re still chasing the high from BRAT summer and want more house and club songs, then look no further than this newest track.

You may be most familiar with Black’s debut single “Friday” that was released in 2011 due to the uproar it caused across the web. If you were anywhere on the Internet around this time, memes about the song were nearly inescapable and could be found everywhere. If you remember the song and ever wondered what happened to Rebecca Black afterward, you might be glad to hear that she kept making music despite the bullying and hate she faced online.

Most of the music Black released after 2011 were either covers or singles, and besides one EP in 2017 titled RE / BL, it wasn’t until 2021 that Black released an EP that reflected her current path of growth. Rebecca Black Was Here was a project full of hyperpop anthems like “Better in My Memory” but also sensitive and emotive tracks like “Blue” and “Worth It for the Feeling.” Then, later in 2023, Black released her first album Let Her Burn that also followed the hyperpop developments of her previous EP.

While “TRUST!” isn’t a hyperpop track, it can be better classified as an electro house beat that takes a step into a distinct and separate direction from any of Black’s previous work. The track is produced by STINT and even features a sample from the widely recognized background vocals and percussion of “Think (About It)” by Lyn Collins.

“TRUST!” begins with an enigmatic bassline before you are implored by the demure and unassuming nature of the first verse to go down the rabbit hole. The first verse gives us a taste of what the attitude of “TRUST!” is all about before presenting us the delight of the pre-chorus and its pleasing melody. It is also here that the instrumental begins to rev up for the incoming of the exhilarating chorus and post-chorus.

The raspy vocals of the post-chorus are a departure from the lyrical styling of the previous sections, but it is successful at creating a highly memorable, stand out quality. The second verse takes us for a ride as the production and vocals kick into full gear with an assertive delivery that catches your attention and imbues you with the need to scream the lyrics in seconds. The bridge is just as addictive and commanding as the second verse, providing a thrilling final push into the last iterations of the chorus to the outro. Overall, the track is bold and full of flirtation, innuendo and imagery that make “TRUST!” an unforgettable experience.

Another aspect of “TRUST!” that cannot be ignored are its striking visuals and the theatrics galore that give the music video such a camp quality. The setting of the video is within the confines of a courtroom as the witnesses on stand are a reference to the iconic Mean Girls interview montage where several students discuss Regina George. In this case, of course, these witnesses are discussing Rebecca Black, with some comments being highly complimentary, humorous or pieces of gossip.

When you have a legacy such as the Internet’s treatment of “Friday,” it would be understandable if you’d want to bury the song and never talk about it again after what Black faced, but that is the exact opposite of what she does. Throughout this video and her career, Black has been unafraid to talk about “Friday,” and even released a remix of the song for its 10th anniversary. Throughout “TRUST!” you can see references to the song and its impact throughout the video in magazines, flyers and even the court documents the judge is reading.

There are several moments that stick out from this music video, such as Black’s dynamic poses throughout the courtroom on the judge’s bench, the witness stand and the counsel tables along with the choreographed dance breaks throughout the courthouse. The music video chronicles the courtroom as it descends into madness, no order in the court to be found, the trial concluding as Black cheekily screams, “Guilty!”

The looks throughout the music video are highly memorable and play with the idea of a pop star gone wild who is now on trial, one of Black’s outfits being explicitly styled with a bedazzled ankle monitor with her initial along with a pair of Pleasers. Not to mention, who could possibly forget the fully bedazzled chainsaw Black can be seen wielding while in a limo?

It seems that “TRUST!” overall is meant to represent the death and rebirth of a pop diva into a territory Black has never explored before. The post-surgery bandages covering Black’s face represent a reinvention, and their eventual removal signals a rawness and exposure—a push, you could say—into this new era.

Regardless if you’ve listened to Black’s music before, or if you’ve never listened to any electro house, there’s a first time for everything. Put your “TRUST!” in Black and give this newest track a try as it’s sure to captivate you from the first listen.