There’s a certain kind of pop song that doesn’t just arrive, it announces itself within seconds. ‘Delusional’, the latest single from Mae Stephens, does exactly that. Built around a bright, almost mischievous piano hook and a crisp, attention-grabbing click running through its core, it feels engineered for instant replay value. Or, as one early YouTube commenter neatly put it: “This is gonna get so viral.”

For anyone who’s been craving that early-2000s, bubblegum-pop-meets-attitude energy, this lands squarely in the sweet spot. Another fan comment sums up the mood: “This is the style we’ve been missing the early 2k vibes.” It’s not hard to hear why. There’s a clear lineage here that runs through the polished, harmony-rich pop of Meghan Trainor, particularly in the way Stephens stacks her vocals into swooping, sugar-rush choruses that feel both retro and sharply contemporary.

On the surface, ‘Delusional’ is pure pop fun, the kind of track that embeds itself after a single listen. A “sweet piano melody” forms the backbone, while the production leans glossy without losing personality. The real standout, though, is the vocal work. Co-created with producer OSKI, the harmonies are dense and intricately layered, giving the chorus a lift that feels almost theatrical in its scale.

Stephens has always had a knack for diaristic songwriting, and that instinct is fully intact here. But what elevates ‘Delusional’ beyond standard pop fare is its tone. The song dives into themes of obsession, denial and the slightly unhinged logic of infatuation, yet delivers them with a wink. There’s a tongue-in-cheek honesty running through it, the kind that only really lands once the crush has faded and perspective kicks in. It’s self-aware, a little chaotic, and very relatable.

Written on less than an hour of sleep, according to Stephens, the track almost mirrors its own creation story. The lyrics tumble out quickly, packed with detail and delivered at pace, capturing the spiralling thought process of someone deep in infatuation. It’s that contrast, between tight, polished production and slightly chaotic emotional content, that gives the song its bite.

Stephens herself has described it as being about “stooping to delusional levels” for someone’s attention, and she doesn’t shy away from the darker undertones. There are references to behaviours that, in another context, would feel uncomfortable, but here they’re framed through exaggeration and humour. The result is less unsettling than it is knowingly absurd.

The official video leans fully into that sense of heightened reality. Set in what’s been described as a “Technicolour alternate reality”, it places Stephens in a surreal, hyper-saturated world of oversized daisies and dreamlike visuals. There’s a clear nod to the playful aesthetic of B*Witched-era pop, particularly the carefree energy of ‘C’est La Vie’, but with a modern gloss.

It’s more than just eye-catching. The visual concept acts as a metaphor for the song’s core idea: living slightly outside reality when you’re consumed by a crush. That disconnect, between what feels real and what actually is, becomes something you can literally see.

Stephens’ rise has already taken on a near-mythical quality, from working at ASDA to scoring international success with ‘If We Ever Broke Up’ and racking up hundreds of millions of streams. Since then, she’s steadily broadened her sound, moving through funk-leaning empowerment tracks, Motown-inspired heartbreak, and playful explorations of intrusive thoughts.

‘Delusional’ feels like a natural next step, but also a calculated one. It’s more overtly mainstream, more tightly constructed for mass appeal, and arguably her most immediate track to date. At the same time, it doesn’t lose the personality that’s defined her so far.

With a UK headline tour on the horizon, backed by initiatives like the Music Venue Trust’s Liveline Fund, Stephens is clearly moving from online momentum into something more tangible. Packed shows, high-profile appearances, and now a single that already has listeners predicting virality, the trajectory feels less like a question of if and more like when.

If early reactions are anything to go by, ‘Delusional’ might not just be the “delulu song of the summer” Stephens joked about, it could be the one that cements her place in the current pop landscape.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.