[1] The Sting marks Cilmi's first independently released LP after parting ways with Island Records in 2010 following her second album Ten.

Teasing some information about lyrics, several ideas and feelings, she spoke on her work, saying, "It's totally exciting because I am spending a bit more time with this record.

"[3] On 18 January 2012, Cilmi debuted a Sam Wrench-directed video for an "acoustic-ish"[4] version of "Vicious Love",[5] the first song she wrote for the album.

I wanted it to sound the way Italian neo-realist photographs look, that post-war, ruined glamour which is really gritty and heart-breaking.

"[8] A black-and-white music video for "Sweeter in History", filmed in the Italian towns of Valvori and Cassino,[9][10] was released on 14 March 2013.

[9] "The Sting" was released on 1 September 2013 as the album's official lead single,[12] for which a music video was also directed by Wrench.