Let Them Know

"Let Them Know" is an uptempo, dance-pop, synth-pop and 1980s-style disco song with dancehall undertones.^[2][3][4][5] It is 2 minutes and 28 seconds long,^[6] and has a 1990s house rhythm reminiscent of RuPaul's 1992 song "Supermodel (You Better Work)".^[7]

Inspired by obsessively watching 1990 film Paris Is Burning, and American television series Pose and RuPaul's Drag Race, Mabel wrote the track as a reflection on dance music's generational themes of expression, liberation and inclusion.^[8] According to the singer, "Let Them Know" is "dedicated to anyone who's ever felt scared to truly be themselves."^[9] The lyrics include a reference to Doja Cat and her 2020 song "Say So".^[7][5]

Mabel first teased the single's release on 9 June 2021 with a 30-second teaser trailer titled "Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself".^[10] The clip shows the singer performing and filming a music video, and ends with a preview of "Let Them Know".^[11] On 10 June, she shared the release date, cover art and a link to pre-save the single on streaming services.^[12][10] The official TikTok audio was released on 12 June. Within a week, more than 52,000 videos were uploaded under the audio by users of the social networking service.^[2]

"Let Them Know" was released by Polydor Records on 18 June.^[6] It was promoted with its own lens filter on Instagram and Snapchat,^[13][14] and added it to rotation by British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and Capital FM the same day.^[15][16] A remix by English DJ Riton was released on 9 July.^[17]

In his review for The Sunday Times, Dan Cairns likened the track to music by the Spice Girls, describing it as "sassy, savvy, precision-tooled pop perfection".^[18] Isaac Chiew of NME regarded the "bombastic floor-filler" as a welcome comeback from Mabel, complimenting its disco production and "anthemic" chorus.^[19] Clash reviewer Robin Murray called it "an unashamed addition to the pop banger canon."^[20] The Guardian's Luke Holland viewed the song as "wholly edgeless yet undeniably enjoyable glitter-pop" and "daft fun in all the ways pop should be".^[21]

"Let Them Know" debuted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 10,368 units.^[22] It has since ascended to a new peak of number 19 on the chart dated August 26, 2021. In Ireland, the song entered the Irish Singles Chart at number 48; it has peaked at number 19.

The music video for "Let Them Know" was directed by Isaac Rentz.^[23] A 25-second teaser trailer was shared on Mabel's YouTube channel on 16 June 2021.^[24] The music video live premiered on YouTube at 8 a.m. BST on 18 June, preceded by a live chat with the singer.^[25][26] A behind the scenes segment was released by MTV UK on 28 June.^[27]

• Digital download and streaming^[6]

1. "Let Them Know" – 2:28

• Digital download and streaming – Riton remix^[17]

1. "Let Them Know" (Riton Remix) – 3:00

Credits adapted from Qobuz.^[6]

• Mabel – vocals, background vocals
• SG Lewis – producer, drums, engineer, keyboards, bass, synthesizer, programming
• Raye – co-producer, vocal producer
• Cameron Gower Poole – vocal producer
• Josh Gudwin – mixing
• Heidi Wang – mixing assistance
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering