Jesy Nelson releases Bad Thing music video in support of Women's Aid

Whatever you thought the new Jesy Nelson single might sound like, think again.

After taking over a year out from releasing music following her 2021 Top 5 Nicki Minaj team-up Boyz, Jesy returns this week with brand-new song Bad Thing.

Having spent that time hard at work in her studio, honing her craft and refining her sound, Jesy's finally ready to unleash a whole new side to her artistry; and she gave us a sneaky First Listen ahead of the track's release.

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WATCH: Jesy Nelson's Bad Things music video in support of Women's Aid

As Bad Thing begins, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd hit play on a Lana Del Rey track. Its soaring strings and haunting piano could draw easy comparisons to Billie Eilish's work, too.

From the off, Bad Thing oozes old Hollywood; its instrument-heavy production rich and immersive.

Then, in comes Jesy.

'Hey, we started at the end, another second chance, to f**k it up again,' she sings over a delicate, stripped-back piano riff.

‘I know I’m good alone, but you feel just like home. My favourite kind of wrong, familiar as a song.'

Thematically, this actually isn't too far removed from the subject matter of Jesy's debut Boyz. It's a track in which Jesy explains her habit of choosing her heart over her head; constantly pursuing a love interest best left well alone. Sonically, though, it couldn't be more contrasting.

‘When I’m about to say 'bye bye,' I forget what I cried about last time, only thing I’m seeing clearly is I’m love blind. I would trade common sense for a good time.’

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Jesy's voice is graceful, yet confident. Vulnerable and powerful, too.

To a casual listener, this is a whole new artist. It's something that might not shock fans of Jesy throughout her career in Little Mix, though. Her tone's similar to that she used across many of the group's more downbeat moments; Good Enough, Turn Your Face and F.U., to name a few.

As the lavish production builds, Jesy enters the chorus: 'Damn, I’ve done a bad thing, I know you’re damaged goods. Is it a bad thing, that I wanna treat you good?'

Try as she might, Jesy's recalls returning to a toxic relationship she can't resist and, babes, we feel you. We've been there.

Finally, though, as Bad Thing reaches its crescendo, Jesy bows out with dignity. ‘I won’t repeat you, oh, I’ll delete you, I promise I’ll be better, I’ll be better off I swear…This is the good part, ‘cause I’ll take back my heart and make like I don’t care.’

Jesy Nelson's Bad Thing is out now.