The music world works in mysterious ways. Sometimes a song slips through the cracks upon its first release, only to find its moment years later when the world is finally ready for it. That’s exactly what Sarah Louise McIntosh is betting on with the re-release of “W.T.F,” her deliciously biting 2017 pop track that’s getting a second shot at glory. Fresh off the heels of her February revival of “Get Your Sexy On,” which reignited interest in her back catalog, McIntosh is back with another cult favorite—this time, a synth-soaked, finger-snapping ode to flipping the script on heartbreak.
If “Get Your Sexy On” was the glittery invitation to the party, “W.T.F” is the moment you catch your ex making eyes at someone else across the dancefloor—and instead of crumbling, you grab the mic and steal the show. Drenched in the kind of neon-lit, Italo Disco production that would make Giorgio Moroder raise an eyebrow in approval, the track is pure ’80s seduction with a modern sting. McIntosh’s voice slinks between smoky restraint and full-throated defiance, delivering lyrics that are equal parts wounded and wicked.
Sarah Louise McIntosh is no stranger to the fickle nature of the music industry. As the former frontwoman of The Good Natured, she tasted success early—touring with Kylie Minogue, playing Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing Stage, and signing to EMI. But where some artists might cling to past glory, McIntosh pivoted, channeling her energy into songwriting for heavyweights like Sony and Universal, with her work landing on Netflix, Disney+, and BBC productions. Yet, even as she built a behind-the-scenes career, certain songs kept tugging at her sleeve.
“W.T.F” was one of them.
“I’ve always believed in this track,” she admits. “The production was fun, but I knew there was something even bigger in it—something that could really connect if given the right moment.” That moment, it seems, is now. With the recent resurgence of ‘80s-inspired pop (thanks to acts like The Weeknd and Dua Lipa) and a growing appetite for unapologetically bold female voices, “W.T.F” feels less like a re-release and more like a reclamation.
As a kid in Hampshire, she salvaged her grandmother’s old Yamaha keyboard from the trash, teaching herself to play by ear and scribbling lyrics about schoolyard heartbreaks. By 15, she was recording demos in her bedroom, one of which—“Our Very Last”—caught the ear of BBC Radio 1 and set her on a path to forming The Good Natured. The band’s moody, hook-laden indie-pop earned them a cult following, but it was her later collaborations that sharpened her pop instincts.
Working with Xenomania (the hit factory behind Girls Aloud and Cher), she learned the alchemy of a perfect pop chorus. In Stockholm, holed up in cozy studios with Swedish hitmakers like Kristofer Östergren (Melody Club), she honed her knack for blending icy Scandinavian cool with warm, emotional storytelling. “W.T.F” is a product of those years.
Stream ‘W.T.F’ now on your favorite streaming platforms.