BRIT, Grammy & MOBO-award-winning producer Naughty Boy continues his powerful and welcome return with brand new single ‘The One’, featuring UK sensation Lost Girl & Indianapolis R&B singer Maeta.
An empowering UK funky thumper, ‘The One’ puts you right in the heart of the dance. Originally sparked by sessions with Lost Girl, the track evolved when Naughty Boy felt something – or someone – was missing.
“When I met MAETA, that process began. She was very involved in how her version plays out,” Naughty Boy recalls. Taking inspiration from iconic all-female R&B duets, he notes: “It’s giving Brandy and Monica’s ‘The Boy Is Mine’ in the theme. However, I also felt that the worst thing we could do is pit two girls together. Gladly, we avoided that.” The result is a modern twist on classic storytelling, rooted in unity rather than rivalry. Listen here, and watch the Nick Bartleet-directed music video.
The new single follows last month’s release of ‘Sky’, featuring Birmingham breakout vocalist SIPHO.. Written alongside pop powerhouse MNEK and elevated by the production of drum & bass trailblazer Goddard, the track united gospel-tinged vocals with the high-energy pulse of UK D&B, creating an uplifting anthem that’s both soulful and dancefloor-ready.
From the council estates of Watford to international acclaim, Naughty Boy’s story is one of resilience and innovation. Born Shahid Khan, his upbringing was shaped by the vibrant sounds of Bollywood and Pakistani music at home, a love that would later merge with his flair for contemporary British genres. After securing a grant from The Prince’s Trust and prize money from Deal or No Deal, he invested everything into music, a gamble that paid off.
He broke into the mainstream in 2010 with ‘Never Be Your Woman’ featuring Wiley, before cementing himself as one of the UK’s most forward-thinking producers with global hits like ‘La La La’ with Sam Smith and “Runnin’ (Lose It All)” with Beyoncé. His debut album Hotel Cabana featured an eclectic roster including Ed Sheeran, Wiz Khalifa, and Emeli Sandé, and earned him accolades from the Grammys, MOBO Awards, Ivor Novellos, and The Asian Awards.
Now, after six years, he returns with a profoundly reflective second album dedicated to his late mother. A deeply personal project, the record explores resilience, purpose, and legacy while staying true to his genre-defying approach – fusing disco, gospel, jungle, and UK funky into his unmistakable sound. “They say you have your whole life to make your first album. The second album is more about finding the ‘why?’,” Khan explains. “This one is a present to my mum.”
With ‘Sky’, Naughty Boy and SIPHO. deliver a soaring, heartfelt track that sets the tone for the next chapter in his journey.
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
