Gwen Stefani releases new single

ANAHEIM, Calif. — After selling out a headlining show to celebrate the Honda Center in Anaheim’s 30th anniversary Sept. 9, No Doubt frontwoman and pop star Gwen Stefani dropped a new single, “True Babe,” on Friday.

The song is Stefani’s first new release since 2021’s “Slow Clap,” featuring rapper Saweetie, and 2020’s “Let Me Reintroduce Myself.”

The 53-year-old singer-songwriter, judge on NBC’s “The Voice” and GXVE Beauty founder’s latest single is a dreamy pop song with a rock ‘n’ roll bite and a splash of ska. It was produced by Swedish duo Jack & Coke and Los Angeles-based producer and songwriter KThrash.

Lyrically, it’s an obvious nod to husband and country star Blake Shelton.

Throughout her career, Stefani has not been shy about sharing the ups and downs when it comes to romance. Part of the reason she’s so beloved is because she wears her heart on her sleeve and isn’t afraid to let listeners in on the good, the bad and the ugly situations in her love life. She’s a bleeding heart when it comes to expressing her pain, but she’s also all smiles and swoony vocals when she’s totally smitten.

In “True Babe” she gushes over her beau’s “cute” tattoos and notes that “we’re old news, but you’re new to me,” while adding that “I’m sleeping better next to you babe.”

Stefani has been teasing a follow-up to her 2016 solo record “This Is What the Truth Feels Like,” for quite a while. After releasing her first holiday album, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” in 2017, the “Slow Clap” and “Let Me Reintroduce Myself” singles hinted that a full album was coming.

“I’ve been doing a lot of songwriting lately,” Stefani said during a phone interview in 2020 as we discussed the 25th anniversary of No Doubt’s 1995 album, “Tragic Kingdom.” “I have been reflecting a lot on the older songs because back then, I didn’t really have the kind of songwriting support I have now. ”