Mahalia is entering her Luvergirl era. She is poised to release her third project in 2025, and she introduces the set with the single “Pick Up The Pace.” The song mashes up Mahalia’s soulful take on R&B with dancehall. Recorded on location in Kingston, Jamaica, she linked with Jamaican artist Bayka and production team Zimi Records to tap into her roots and culture.
The British bombshell catches a vibe and rides the track’s intoxicating riddim as she urges her lover to reciprocate and match her energy. “Pick up the pace, yeah / I don’t wanna lie, I don’t have the time / Pick up the pace / You saying words, don’t talk / Take your foot off the breaks / Give me touch and affection / Don’t make me wait / Pick up the pace, baby,” she sings on the chorus. Bayka counters her sincere pleas with his gruff vocals and suggestive lyrics that add more spice to the song.
Mahalia brings the heat and lots of sweat to the video for “Pick Up The Pace.” Director Ben Cole captures the songstress in the gym getting a workout in. She gets her heart rate up on various pieces of equipment and strikes sexy poses in between sets and reps while her hair blows in the wind. We see Mahalia wearing three different looks, and at one point in the visual, the three versions of her appear on screen in the same scene. She’s otherwise alone in the gym, save for a dog who’s seen slowly walking on a treadmill before ending the video in Mahalia’s lap like a good boy.
The release of “Pick Up The Pace” follows the singer-songwriter’s summertime drop “Life Size.” It’s unclear if that song for Sprite Limelight Season 3 was just a loosie for that series or if it will also be included on Luvergirl, but Mahalia’s next season is coming soon.
She teased the forthcoming collection on Instagram in a video of her getting a “luvergirl” tattoo that features a couple of song snippets and a poetic message. “Luvergirl. Till. I. Die. That means you can break my heart a thousand times and still I would rise. In fact, I’d fly. Because a Luvergirl doesn’t shed tears. Nah, it’s glitter when we cry. And we’re not afraid of our fears because there’s beauty in goodbyes. Come closer look me right in my eye, and you’ll truly find out that Luvergirls never lie,” she says in a voiceover. We don’t know if these are song lyrics or Mahalia’s Luvergirl Manifesto, but we’re excited to find out.
While we await more news about Luvergirl, get into Mahalia’s “Pick Up The Pace” audio and video right here.
