ROSÉ "New Trick": The Story Behind Her New Single
ROSÉ wrote "New Trick" with Amy Allen and Andrew Wells just days after the 2026 Met Gala in New York. The song marks a shift from the sadder material of "rosie", with ROSÉ calling it deliberately "not sad." Its lyrics focus on picking herself up, closing the door and moving on.
How did "New Trick" come together?
The song was written earlier in 2026, during a hectic week in New York. ROSÉ told Vogue that she and Amy Allen wrote it roughly two days after the Met Gala, where ROSÉ had attracted attention for her Saint Laurent look. The timing also marked a change in the studio. ROSÉ said she told Allen that she had not been able to relate to or write sad songs lately.
That was a striking contrast to the period when she was working on "rosie", when she described herself as having been almost addicted to writing one sad song after another. "New Trick" became the result of that change.
ROSÉ said she loved being able to channel a different kind of energy while recording it and described the finished song as something "so not sad." She also called it possibly the cutest song she and Allen had made together, while joking that listeners could decide whether it beats "APT."
What are the "New Trick" lyrics about?
The lyrics open with heartbreak, but they do not stay there for long. ROSÉ sings,
"Lovesick, I'll pick my heart off the floor"
The line describes the situation literally: the speaker has been hurt and is now picking herself back up. The chorus turns that response into the song's central hook:
"New trick, watch this, I'm kickin' the door"
The speaker tells someone to leave while announcing a new way of dealing with the situation. The language is exaggerated and playful rather than detailed. The verses provide a few more pieces of the picture. ROSÉ sings about putting her dreams "out on the table," going from staying home to being out until 6 a.m., and eventually reaching a point where a memory is no longer remembered.
The song never identifies a specific person or explains what happened before the opening line. There is also no documented statement from ROSÉ linking the lyrics to a particular real-life relationship. Beyond what the lyrics explicitly describe, the story remains unspecified.
Why does the song sound like 2000s pop-rock?
ROSÉ has given a surprisingly specific answer when discussing the song's musical direction. She told Vogue that "New Trick" reminded her of the pop-rock songs that appeared in Apple advertisements during the 2000s. Two examples she mentioned were Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" and CSS's "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex."
Those references provide a useful clue to the sound ROSÉ was aiming for and explain why "New Trick" occupies a different musical space from much of rosie. The songwriting credits also bring together three names. ROSÉ, Amy Allen and Andrew Wells wrote the track, while Wells produced it. Allen is a frequent collaborator of ROSÉ's, making the song another result of their established work together.
What does the title "New Trick" refer to?
The title is taken directly from the chorus. The "new trick" is presented as a new way of responding to the situation described in the song, with the speaker announcing that she is kicking open the door and moving on.
The same imagery appears again toward the end. ROSÉ sings about one door closing before describing another one being kicked open, keeping the door motif tied to the song's central idea. Another particularly direct line arrives shortly afterward:
"You can't stop a girl who's been broken"
It describes the speaker's position without explaining the circumstances that led there. The lyrics do not establish who caused the hurt or what relationship is involved.
Who directed the "New Trick" music video?
The release is accompanied by a music video directed by Dave Meyers. The entire visual was filmed using Apple's iPhone 18 Pro as part of the company's "Shot on iPhone" campaign. Meyers has directed music videos for a long list of major artists, including Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles and BLACKPINK.
ROSÉ told Vogue that she had admired his work while growing up, as well as other notable music videos filmed on iPhones. The video also gives "New Trick" a visual identity that matches its lighter musical direction.
ROSÉ appears in a suburban-rock setting, with scenes involving an empty swimming pool, skateboards and a school gym. The production was created specifically for the iPhone campaign rather than as a conventional studio music video.
"New Trick" - The official music video
Is "New Trick" the start of ROSÉ's next album era?
"New Trick" was released on September 17, 2026, but it has not been announced as the first single from ROSÉ's next album. Her second solo album is expected in 2027 and was still untitled when ROSÉ spoke to Vogue.
She said she had been working on new music for some time while continuing to figure out the sound and overall world she wants to create. She also described that process as finding the balance between the music she wants to make and who she is becoming as both a person and a musician.
For now, "New Trick" remains a standalone release rather than a complete preview of what the album will sound like. What is clear is that ROSÉ deliberately chose a different direction for this song. Instead of returning to the sadness that defined much of rosie, she made a short, hook-driven pop-rock track about picking herself up, kicking open the door and moving forward.
FAQs
When was ROSÉ's "New Trick" released?
"New Trick" was released on September 17, 2026, as a standalone single.
Who wrote "New Trick" by ROSÉ?
ROSÉ, Amy Allen and Andrew Wells wrote the song. Wells also produced it.
Is "New Trick" the first single from ROSÉ's second album?
No. It was released as a standalone single. ROSÉ's second solo album is planned for 2027, but its title and first single had not been announced in her September 2026 Vogue interview.
Further Reading