Both "New Inside" and the album of the same name marked a change of musical direction for Tiffany as she moved towards an urban and contemporary R&B sound.

Club, Tiffany said of the song's message, "Of course, we made it about a love relationship, but the song is really more about busting down walls, changing things, being open-minded, pushing yourself a little bit and being a little 'new inside'.

"[2] On its release, Billboard considered "New Inside" to be "astonishingly potent funk-pop" and described Tiffany's vocals as "assured and assertive".

[3] Music & Media felt the song was "in the tradition" of Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul and noted the "hard-core dance beat".

They added that Tiffany "sound[s] a lot rougher than usual".