Tori Kelly has entered a new era. The American Idol season 9 alum released her new song and music video “missin u,” which takes its look and sound from the 2000s.
It’s the first new solo record in three years for Tori, who has also debuted a new look that includes brunette locks instead of the signature blond.
“This song is about missing somebody, but it’s also, just so inspired by the early 2000s, late ’90s,” Tori shared with People magazine. “We wanted to make sure that we got that nostalgic feeling both in the lyrics and in the music. I just knew, ‘OK, when people listen to this, I want them to be transported. I want them to think about that era or just that nostalgic feeling,’ whatever that is for them.”
“I think everyone can relate to it in their own way”
“I’ve played it for some people who just cry when they hear this song because maybe they’re thinking about a specific person, and there’s other people who are just dancing in the club and not sad at all when they hear it,” said Tori. “I love that about this song because I think everyone can relate to it in their own way. For me, I just want to blast it in my car and belt it out.”
As far as the references in the music video, Tori told People, “There’s some TLC references. We’re very inspired by Aaliyah and Missy Elliott with all the fisheye stuff. We were having so much fun being like, “What if we throw this little move in and see who catches it?” I grew up just being obsessed with all those videos. For whatever reason, in the early 2000s, everything was metallic.”
After nearly making the Top 24 in 2010 as a 16 year old American Idol contestant, Tori made her mark on You Tube, eventually signing a record deal releasing Unbreakable Smile in 2015. A gospel album, Hiding Place, which she released in 2018 earned her two Grammy Awards. In 2019 she released another pop album, True Events. She also released a quarantine EP and a Christmas album.
