It was released on 9 May 2019, with the music video premiering on 14 May, as the second single from Avicii's posthumous studio album Tim (2019).

[2] Avicii had previously collaborated with Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir of Vargas & Lagola on "Silhouettes", "Hey Brother" ,"Without You" and "Friend of Mine".

[3] "Tough Love" initially had a different song structure, but was reworked during Tim's final studio sessions in March 2018.

Before his death, Tim had sent a message to Salem and Vincent that he wanted the song to be a duet by a "real couple.

"Tough Love" also features Indian influences from the movie Raanjhanaa (specifically the song Banarasiya) in a melodic passage that was inspired by Avicii studying the music of northwest India,[2] which he had played for Pontare and Al Fakir before his death.