Fifth Harmony singer Normani Kordei's solo debut is a collaboration with Texas singer Khalid. They recorded "Love Lies" for the soundtrack of the teen dramedy movie Love Simon and dropped the sultry smooth track on Valentine''s Day 2018.

Speaking with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio, Kordei explained how her long-standing friendship with Khalid helped the track come together:

[Khalid] is definitely such an amazing soul and I think that that's why this record means so much to me personally. I know that it means a lot to him as well, it's just because we''re genuine friends. Like, this wasn't an A&R, like somebody just putting us in a room together and being like, 'Yo, make something dope.'' It was literally like, I met him way back when he did 'Young, Dumb and Broke.' He actually invited me and that was the first time we physically met in person, we had been talking for a minute, but he was just such a special person and I think that he's such a necessary artist, but he's an even better person."

"Love Lies" arrived at #43 on the Hot 100, making history by becoming the highest debut solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by any girl group member. The record was previously held by Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland, whose featured part on Nelly's "Dilemma" debuted at #53.

Speaking with the Beats 1 crew on Apple Music, Normani recalled the story of the song:

"It kind of happened really organically and it's just two genuine friends making music for the sake of the art. I remember him telling me, he was like, 'Yo, I want this to be my favorite song. Let's not even go into it trying to create a hit.' If it's gonna be, it's gonna be, but it's genuinely my favorite song at the moment right now."

The song was written by Taylor Parks to a beat courtesy of producer Charlie Handsome. Parks, who is also known by the stage name Tayla Parx, has also penned tunes for the likes of Fifth Harmony ("Bo$$"), Mariah Carey ("Infinity") and Ariana Grande ("My Everything." She told Billboard this was one of the easiest tracks she's ever composed:

"I think that was the most effortless session I've ever had," she said. "I had been wanting to do something with Normani and also wanted to do something with Khalid and they wanted to do something with each other, so we hit each other up. Me and Khalid connected to Charlie, because he has this perfect blend of pop and urban which is something I felt was right for both artists."

Normani became the second member of Fifth Harmony (after Camila Cabello) to earn a solo top 40 hit on the Hot 100, when "Love Lies" climbed from #47 to #36 on the listing. The song's ascent came after the pair performed it on the May 20, 2018 Billboard Music Awards.

The song's lyrics are about someone trying to figure out their relationship status with another person, a subject Normani easily related to.

"For me, I know that there's been plenty of times I'll either be interested in someone, and it's like, 'OK is this going to be reciprocated?' Just dealing with that uncertainty," she told Rolling Stone.

Normani and Khalid's teasing of each other inspired the chorus. "'Tell me where your love lies' can mean a lot of things," Parx told Billboard. "We kept it open for interpretation."