The Motto
by Tiesto (featuring Ava Max)

Album: Drive (2021)
Charted: 12 42
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over Tiesto's bouncing, thumping production, Ava Max sings of splashing out the cash and knocking back the drinks in the club.

    That's the motto
    Drop a few bills and pop a few champagne bottles
    Throwin' that money like you just won the lotto


    Tiesto and Ava Max are intent on staving off sleep as long as they can.

    Believe it, we ain't got no plans to leave here
    Tell all of your friends to be here
    We ain't gonna sleep all weekend
  • When Tiesto shared the song with Ava Max, the American pop star immediately knew she wanted to jump on it. "'The Motto' is empowering," she said. "It's about not caring, doing you, having a good time, and letting the world know!"
  • Tiesto and Ava Max wrote the song with:

    Guernsey-born singer-songwriter Claudia Valentina.

    Producer Peter "Lostboy" Rycroft (Tom Grennan's "Little Bit Of Love," Griff's "Black Hole," Becky Hill's "Last Time").

    Pablo Bowman and Sarah Blanchard of the Manchester writing and production collective The Six (Louis Tomlinson's "Back to You," Marshmello & Anne-Marie's "Friends").

    Tiesto and Lostboy produced the track.
  • Claudia Valentina recorded the original version. Her unreleased demo, which leaked online on November 14, 2021, is more sweary. Tiësto reworked the track and showcased it live during his concert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 23, 2021.
  • Christian Breslauer directed the video, which depicts Tiësto and Max traveling back in time to a 1920s-era hotel. The Florida video director's other credits include Doja Cat's "Streets," Tiesto's "The Business" and Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.