She co-wrote the track with Jutes, Laura Veltz, and its producers Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, and Warren "Oak" Felder.

The teaser was posted two weeks after the release of her previous song, "Skin of My Teeth", the lead single of Holy Fvck.

[3] In the video, Lovato "wreaks havoc on" different pieces,[4] such as a gold certification award and a wall, which she vandalizes by spray-painting the title of her album, Holy Fvck, on it.

[7][8] At the end of the video, Paris Hilton makes a cameo appearance and sets off a stick of dynamite, as her and Lovato are seated on a motorcycle together.

[10] "Substance" was premiered on July 14, 2022, the day prior to the song's release, on Jimmy Kimmel Live.