PNAU and Khalid join forces on 'The Hard Way'


Contemporary pop at its finest – PNAU and Khalid join forces

There aren't many collaborations much bigger than the meeting of PNAU and Khalid on brand new single 'The Hard Way'.

PNAU and Khalid have a combined more than 70 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a string of international No.1 hits to their credit. Their biggest moments include for PNAU the unrepeatable collaboration with Elton John and Dua Lipa on "Cold Heart" and for Khalid "lovely" alongside Billie Eilish.

"The Hard Way" immediately rises to the occasion. This is large-scale contemporary pop at its finest, with PNAU's gorgeous synthpop providing the gorgeous melodies and supremely assured hook that allows Khalid's stunning performance to shine.

PNAU and Khalid really lean on each other to create a depth of emotion, with Khalid's love lyrics and strong emotions complemented by PNAU's ability to weave nostalgic 80s sound elements into a modernist production.

PNAU's Nick Littlemore states: “We are very excited to share this song with you. Working with Khalid was an absolute dream come true, we hope this song stays in your hearts as it does in ours. With much love, PNAU."

Khalid reports: “It's just amazing, it's feel-good, but then the lyrics have this melancholy, something bittersweet. It's this juxtaposition, that the lyrics are heartbreakingly sad, but if you listen to the song you can't help but smile."

"These are my favorite songs, the ones that are at odds. I'm just waiting for people to hear it, bond with it and just love it," he adds.

PNAU

PNAU is Australia's biggest streaming export. The multi-platinum and ARIA award-winning electronica trio consists of Nick Littlemore, Peter Mayes and Sam Littlemore.

Their career is rooted in Australia's underground dance scene, but they have the Midas touch for crossover dance hits, having scored huge hits in their homeland with 'Go Bang' and 'Chameleon', before finding global success with ' Cold Heart".

'Cold Heart', now approaching 2 billion streams, shot to No.1 in the UK and catapulted PNAU into the US Top 10 for the first time. "Cold Heart" has also received nominations at the BRITs Awards, the Ivor Novellos, the Billboard Music Awards and the American Music Awards.

PNAU have also remixed and/or collaborated with Diana Ross, Tame Impala and Lizzo, and recently joined forces with Aussie star Troye Sivan on 'You Know What I Need', while nurturing a new generation of talent with their own record label, Lab 78.

Khalid has been included in TIME's list of the 100 most influential people and has been described as a pop "prodigy" by Rolling Stone. He has taken the world by storm since releasing his first single 'Location' while still a teenager and followed up with two worldwide hit albums, 'American Teen' and the No. 1 "Free Spirit".

He has collaborated with some of music's biggest stars and has scored UK No.1s with Benny Blanco and Halsey ('Eastside'), and Ed Sheeran ('Beautiful People'). Khalid also has other UK Top 10 hits, both solo ('Talk') and with Logic and Alessia Cara ('1-800-273-8255') and Marshmello ('Silence') .

In 2020, Khalid became the youngest artist to surpass 15 billion streams on Spotify alone and was named BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year. To date, Khalid has amassed over 30 billion streams, been nominated for seven Grammys, and won six Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, a Teen Choice Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and an MTV Woodie Award.

He has also received the Key to the City of his hometown of El Paso, Texas, from the Mayor and City Council of that city. This summer, Khalid will join Ed Sheeran on his '+ – = ÷ x Tour' and will perform at major stages in select North American cities.