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Don't Click Play

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don't Click Play
Max inside a flaming triangle, against black background
Studio album by
Ava Max
ReleasedAugust 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)
RecordedSeptember 2023 – 2025
Genres
Length34:43
LabelAtlantic
Producers
Ava Max chronology
Diamonds & Dancefloors
(2023)		 Don't Click Play
(2025)
Singles from Don't Click Play
  1. "Lost Your Faith"
    Released: February 7, 2025
  2. "Lovin Myself"
    Released: May 29, 2025
  3. "Wet, Hot American Dream"
    Released: July 1, 2025

Don't Click Play is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Ava Max. It was released on August 22, 2025, through Atlantic Records. Following up to her 2023 album Diamonds & Dancefloors, the album was promoted by the release of three singles: "Lost Your Faith", "Lovin Myself" and "Wet, Hot American Dream". Development of the album began in late 2023, though an initial version was later scrapped. In the lead-up to release, Max adopted a relatively low promotional profile, with the album rollout drawing attention for its minimal activity and the cancellation of her accompanying tour.

Primarily a dance-pop and pop record, Don't Click Play incorporates themes of empowerment, online criticism, and personal growth, while also addressing long-standing comparisons to American singer Lady Gaga. Upon release, it received mixed reviews: critics praised its listenable dance-pop style but noted a lack of cohesion and innovation compared to her earlier work. Commercially, the album debuted in the top 30 in Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and Switzerland, while reaching charts in twelve countries overall.

Background and development

[edit]
Max at the 2024 Capital Pride Festival, where she performed a setlist of songs including "My Oh My".

In 2023, Max released her second studio album, Diamonds & Dancefloors, and embarked on her debut headlining concert tour, On Tour (Finally). In September, she started working on her third studio album after the end of the tour.[1] In March 2024, Max posted a snippet of her single "My Oh My" and indicated that it was the beginning of a new era.[2] In an interview with Billboard the following May, she stated that she was preparing for her third album cycle "with no heartbreak attached and no man attached," describing "My Oh My" as "the beginning of me" and reflecting on a period of personal healing.[3] The song was initially intended to serve as the lead single of her third studio album;[4] however, after the release of her single "Spot a Fake" on September 20,[5] she revealed that only the latter would be included on the album.[6] Nevertheless, in an interview with People, Max mentioned that she scrapped the first version of the album — which included "My Oh My" and "Spot a Fake" — due to personal issues.[7]

In the months leading up to the release, Max's promotional activity was notably limited. After a Fourth of July performance and the release of a single on July 1, she largely withdrew from social media, sharing little about the project. Despite her absence online, sources confirmed to Rolling Stone that Don't Click Play remained scheduled for release on August 22, 2025. The publication also reported the album's 12-track listing and credits, which included production from Pink Slip, Inverness, David Stewart, Johnny Goldstein, Ammo, and Fede. Leading up to the album, Max released three singles: "Lost Your Faith" in February, "Lovin Myself" in May, and "Wet, Hot American Dream" in July. Each was accompanied by a music video, though promotion was minimal. Unlike her previous albums Heaven & Hell (2020) and Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023), both of which were delayed due to leaks, Don't Click Play was released as planned.[8]

On August 19, 2025, however, the title track's snippet was leaked online prior to its official release. The lyrics include a self-referential line which addresses long-standing comparisons between Max and American singer Lady Gaga, with the singer incorporating nods to her own song "Kings & Queens" (2020) and Gaga's "Poker Face" (2008).[9][10] Max had previously spoken about such comparisons in interviews, telling Nylon in 2023, she said that while some commentary felt "kind of mean", she ultimately found the comparisons flattering, joking that "who doesn't love Gaga?!" and noting that changing her appearance had only shifted comparisons to other artists like English singer Dua Lipa.[11] In May 2025, she told People that she intentionally avoided outside influences when making Don't Click Play, describing her process as introspective and rooted in rediscovering her pop sensibilities. "I feel like there's a lot of 'Kings & Queens'-feeling songs on the album", she said, framing the project as a return to her musical beginnings.[12]

Composition

[edit]
Max addresses comparisons to American singer Lady Gaga (pictured) on the title track of the album.

Don't Click Play is a pop album that contains dance-pop tracks,[13] featuring what Matthew Dwyer of PopMatters described as "heavy synths, thumping basslines, and skittering beats" that support "lyrically thin premises".[14] Max explained that the album was created both as a personal challenge and as proof that she could craft pop songs independently of her past collaborators.[15] She further noted that it reflects a variety of moods from the year-and-a-half recording process, with each track designed to be distinct while still contributing to an overarching story. Lyrically, the record touches on themes of self-empowerment, online criticism, and recovery from heartbreak.[15]

"Don't Click Play"
A-17 second of the title track, which features Max singing about comparisons to Lady Gaga
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The title track addresses comparisons to Lady Gaga and sampling controversies, while songs such as "Know Somebody" draw from her experiences with difficult breakups. Max emphasized that the project represents both her musical evolution and her desire to create an album that "feeds the soul".[15] On Rolling Stone, she described "Lovin Myself" as stemming from a realization about self-acceptance and personal growth.[8] In the track, Max addresses criticism through self-referential lyrics, singing, "She samples, singing Gaga imitations / Can't kings and queens look good with poker faces?", which nods to both her single "Kings & Queens" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face". She later reinforces the song's defiant tone by declaring, "But I'm loving myself even if you hate it". According to Rolling Stone, Max confirmed that the circulating snippet is authentic and originates from the title track of Don't Click Play.[9]

Promotion

[edit]

On April 9, 2025, Max shared a link to a website called "Don't Click Play on Ava Max", where visitors could click a "Sign the Petition" button and listen to a snippet of an upcoming album single.[16] She announced the album Don't Click Play on May 1, by quoting English singer Ed Sheeran's announcement of his eighth studio album, Play, on X.[17][18] Other songs were confirmed for the album including "How Can I Dance", "Take My Call", "Skin in the Game", and "World's Smallest Violin", in addition to the previously released singles.[12] A cover artwork of Don't Click Play features Max inside a flaming triangle resembling a play button, gripping its edges.[19]

Singles

[edit]

On February 7, 2025, Max released "Lost Your Faith" as the lead single of Don't Click Play.[20] An accompanying music video was released on March 18.[21] On May 23, Max teased the second single from the album via her social media, "Lovin Myself", released on May 29.[22] On July 1, Max released the third single, "Wet, Hot American Dream", ahead of her scheduled performance on the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks special. Released just days before the national holiday, it aligned with the festive theme of the event, where she performed alongside artists such as the Jonas Brothers, Eric Church, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer, and Trisha Yearwood.[23]

Tour

[edit]

On June 16, 2025, Max announced its accompanying tour, Don't Click Play Tour, set to begin on September 3 in Los Angeles and end on November 20 in Lisbon.[24][25] However, the tour was canceled on July 3, since she believed that it did not satisfy her "standard that [she is] happy with".[26][27]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarHalf star[28]
JenesaispopStarStarStarHalf star[29]
PopMatters5/10[30]
Spectrum CultureStarStarStarStar[13]

Don't Click Play received mixed reviews from music critics, who found some tracks enjoyable but regarded it as her weakest effort to date. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic described Don't Click Play as a collection of enjoyable dance-pop tracks with some highlights, though noted it lacked the cohesion and impact of Max's earlier albums.[28] Writing for Jenesaispop, Sebas E. Alonso described the album as "pleasant and agile in its half-hour runtime", highlighting the absence of ballads and calling it "one of its strong points". However, he noted that, despite the album's upbeat tone, Max's vocals often conveyed a sense of "sadness", concluding that Don't Click Play "is more the album Ava Max needed to record than the one the public needed".[29] Laut.de author Yannik Gölz compared Don't Click Play's sounds to Dua Lipa's third studio album, Radical Optimism, calling it an "anonymous album" and regarding the album's title as "good advice".[31]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, Don't Click Play became Max's first studio album to miss the Billboard 200 entirely, although it debuted at number twelve on the Top Dance Albums chart.[32] In the United Kingdom, the album also missed the UK Albums Chart, while reaching number 28 on the Sales Chart.[33] In Scotland, the album reached number 43 on the Scottish Albums Chart.[34]

In Europe, Don't Click Play debuted at number 59 in Germany, being Max's first album to miss the top ten in the country.[35] It reached number 80 in France, marking Max's lowest placing album in the country.[36] Additionally, Don't Click Play reached the top 30 in Austria,[37] Switzerland[38] and the Wallonia region of Belgium, also making it Max's lowest charting album in the regions.[39] In Hungary, the album reached at number 14.[40] It also became Max's highest-charting album on the Croatian International Albums chart, and second top ten entry, where it debuted at number five.[41]

In Asia, Don't Click Play reached number 26 on the Japanese Digital Albums chart and number 31 on the Japanese Album Downloads chart, becoming Max's second consecutive top 40 entry on the former.[42]

Track listing

[edit]
Don't Click Play track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Don't Click Play"
2:28
2."How Can I Dance"
  • Koci
  • Jim Lavigne
  • Buckley
  • JBach
2:26
3."Lovin Myself"
Pink Slip[p]2:56
4."Sucks to Be My Ex"
Pink Slip[p]3:23
5."Wet, Hot American Dream"
  • Alida Garpestad Peck
  • Koci
  • JBach
  • Buckley
2:56
6."Take My Call"
  • Goldstein
  • Inverness[v]
2:53
7."Know Somebody"
3:25
8."Lost Your Faith"
  • Clampitt
  • Pink Slip
3:14
9."Fight for Me"
  • Lindgren
  • Inverness[v]
2:35
10."Skin in the Game"
  • Koci
  • Bryan Fryzel
  • Jordan Powers
  • Kelsey Klingensmith
  • Lauren Mandel
  • Frequency
  • Inverness[v]
2:49
11."World's Smallest Violin"
  • Koci
  • Arthur Remond
  • Hamid Bashir
  • Buckley
  • Pink Slip
  • Re\mind
  • Stryv
2:28
12."Catch My Breath"
  • Koci
  • Buckley
  • Harris
3:11
Total length:34:48

Notes

[edit]
  • ^[p] signifies a primary and vocal producer.
  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer.

Personnel

[edit]

Credits were adapted from Tidal.[43]

  • Ava Max – vocals
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance
  • Pink Slip – instrumentation (tracks 1–4, 8, 12), programming (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 12), synthesizer (1, 3), background vocals (2, 5, 8)
  • Jonathan Bach – background vocals (1, 2, 5)
  • Lilian Caputo – background vocals (1, 3, 4)
  • Inverness – programming (1)
  • Alida Garpestad Peck – background vocals (2, 5)
  • Frequency – instrumentation, programming (2)
  • Anthony Watts – background vocals (4, 12)
  • MarcLo – background vocals (4)
  • David Stewart – background vocals, programming (5)
  • Lucy Healey – background vocals (8)
  • Rob Nelson – background vocals (8)
  • Leroy Clampitt – bass, guitar, instrumentation, programming (8)
  • Danny Shyman – guitar (8)
  • Grant Sayler – guitar (8)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[37]27
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[44]58
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[39]25
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[41] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[36] 80
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35]59
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[45]14
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[42] 26
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)[46] 31
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 43
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[47] 59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 28
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[33] 28
US Top Dance Albums (Billboard)[32]12

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Gotto, Connor (September 11, 2023). "Ava Max admits touring has 'changed how I see the art of making music' as she begins work on third studio album". Retropop. Archived from the original on November 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ Romero, Andrea (March 20, 2024). "Ava Max presenta un adelanto de 'My Oh My', el primer single de su tercer disco" [Ava Max presents an advance of 'My Oh My', the first single from her third album] (in European Spanish). Los 40. Archived from the original on May 3, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (January 2, 2025). "Ava Max Asks Fans to 'Respect My Art' and Not Leak Her Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (May 7, 2024). "Ava Max on Proudly Entering 'My Oh My' Era With No Heartbreak, No Man Attached: 'This Is the Beginning Of Me'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ Pérez García, Sandra (September 20, 2024). "Ava Max nos vigila con prismáticos y no deja pasar ni una en su nuevo single: 'Spot a Fake'" [Ava Max keeps a close watch with binoculars and doesn't miss a thing in her new single: 'Spot a Fake'] (in European Spanish). Los 40. Archived from the original on May 3, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ AskAnythingChat (November 30, 2024). Ava Max Is 'Forever Young'. Archived from the original on June 9, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Irvin, Jack (May 20, 2025). "Ava Max Felt Lost. How Returning to Her Signature Lopsided Hair Made Her Feel Like Herself Again (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on June 21, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Mier, Tomás (August 14, 2025). "Ava Max's Album Don't Click Play Is 'Still Set' for Release, Despite Singer's Absence: Sources". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 14, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Dunworth, Liberty (August 20, 2025). "Leaked Ava Max song 'Don't Click Play' sees her tackle comparisons to Lady Gaga". NME. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  10. ↑ Mier, Tomás (August 19, 2025). "Ava Max Addresses Lady Gaga 'Imitation' Hate on Leaked 'Don't Click Play' Song". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  11. ↑ Stern, Bradley (February 24, 2023). "Ava Max Would Rather Be Daring Than Boring". Nylon. Archived from the original on May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Watts, Marina (August 21, 2025). "Ava Max Addresses Longtime Lady Gaga Comparisons in New Leaked Song Lyrics". People. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Davies, Jeffrey (September 15, 2025). "Ava Max: Don't Click Play". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ Dwyer, Matthew (September 11, 2025). "The Title of Ava Max's New LP Is a Warning". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 5, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Mier, Tomás (August 21, 2025). "Why Ava Max Disappeared: 'I Almost Lost Myself'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ Dailey, Hannah (April 9, 2025). "Ava Max Trolls Fans With Fake Petition Protesting Her Own Music". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  17. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (May 3, 2025). "Ava Max Announces Don't Click Play Album, Reveals Release Date & Cover Art". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  18. ↑ Stickler, Jon (May 6, 2025). "Ava Max to Release Third Album Don't Click Play in August". Stereoboard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (June 1, 2025). "Fans Choose Ava Max's 'Lovin Myself' as This Week's Favorite New Music". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  20. ↑ Williams, Aaron (February 7, 2025). "Ava Max Sends A Message of Hope with the Optimistic 'Lost Your Faith'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  21. ↑ Mier, Tomás (March 19, 2025). "Ava Max Teases a 'New Album' as She Drops 'Lost Your Faith' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  22. ↑ Paul, Larisha (May 29, 2025). "Ava Max Takes Back Her Power on New Single 'Lovin Myself'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  23. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (July 1, 2025). "Ava Max Wants To Be Your 'Wet, Hot American Dream' On Her Spicy New Single". Uproxx. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  24. ↑ Mier, Tomás (June 16, 2025). "Ava Max Will Celebrate Don't Click Play With a North American Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Gehlich, Clare (June 24, 2025). "Ava Max announces European and UK leg of 'Don't Click Play Tour'". Melodic Magazine. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Ava Max postpones 2025 tour to improve show quality". The Express Tribune. July 3, 2025. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Ava Max Cancels Tour Just Two Weeks After Announcing It". iHeartRadio. July 4, 2025. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  28. 1 2 Yeung, Neil Z. (2025). "Don't Click Play - Ava Max | Album". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  29. 1 2 E. Alonso, Sebas (August 26, 2025). "Ava Max / Don't Click Play". Jenesaispop. Archived from the original on September 17, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  30. ↑ Dwyer, Matthew (September 11, 2025). "The Title of Ava Max's New LP Is a Warning". PopMatters. Archived from the original on September 11, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  31. ↑ Gölz, Yannik (August 22, 2025). "Das Songwriter-Camp hat leider Burnout" [The songwriter camp unfortunately has burnout.]. Laut.de. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Ava Max Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. 1 2 "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  35. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Ava Max – Don't Click Play" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  36. 1 2 "Top Albums (Semaine du 29 Août 2025)". SNEP. Retrieved September 1, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  37. 1 2 "Austriancharts.at – Ava Max – Don't Click Play" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  38. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Ava Max – Don't Click Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  39. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Ava Max – Don't Click Play" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2025. 35. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved September 5, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  41. 1 2 "Lista prodaje (strano) 34. tjedan 2025. (18.08.2025. - 24.08.2025.)" (in Croatian). Top lista. September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  42. 1 2 "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: 2025-09-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 27, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  43. ↑ Anon. (August 22, 2025). "Don't Click Play". Ava Max. Tidal. Credits. Retrieved August 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  44. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ava Max – Don't Click Play" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2025. 35. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Billboard Japan Download Albums – August 27, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 13, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Top 100 Albums – Week 35". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved September 7, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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