It was written by Lipa and its producers Emile Haynie and Andrew Wyatt about the singer's struggle to find her place in the music industry.

Photographer Nicole Nodland directed the music video which is a montage of filtered footage of Lipa in Los Angeles doing activities she enjoys.

[10] The song has a stomping, tribal drum beat throughout and Lipa's deep, full-throated vocal is stretched in the production to feintly echo.

[4][14] It was released the following day for digital download and streaming by the singer's independent record label, Dua Lipa Limited,[9][15] as her debut single.

[19] The latter's remix makes use of vocoder noodling and synth streaks that give it a subtle G-funk feel, while Lipa's vocals are converted into a 1980s-style with R&B-pop hooks.

[20][21] "New Love" was first included on the Austria, Germany and Switzerland exclusive extended play (EP) for Lipa's single "Be the One" as the second track, released on 19 February 2016.

[24] "New Love" serves as the lead single from Lipa's self-titled debut studio album, released as the deluxe edition's fifteenth track on 2 June 2017.

[16][29] She also performed the track at Lollapalooza on 30 July 2016, her Mother Teresa Square concert in Albania on 10 August 2016, and at the SWR3 New Pop Festival in Germany on 16 September 2016.

"[4] Courtney Buck, a reviewer from the publication, found the production "strangely haunting", but cited Lipa's vocals as "the star of the show".

[4] Chris Martins of Spin felt the production was "wisely restrained enough to cede the stage to Lipa's incredible pipes, capable of belting hooks and seeping seduction in equal measure.

"[38] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Laurence Day viewed the song as "a sizzling piece of rhythmic synthpop", while NME's Thomas Smith named it a "trippy, soul-tinged ballad".

[43] After Lipa expressed disappointment for a different track's postponed music video shoot, Nodland suggested to direct the clip for "New Love" during a dinner with the singer.

"[40][47] In another scene, Lipa lights a cigarette from a candle on a birthday cake and swigs a jug of milk while shopping in a supermarket in a silk kimono.

[45] During other segments she is shown cycling in a red dress, blowing bubbles between two men, strolling with heart balloons, and twirling with sparklers.