Freaking Me Out

"Freaking Me Out" was released on July 31, 2019, which was accompanied by a lyric video.^[1] Max additionally performed the song on Entertainment Weekly series "In the Basement" in August 2019.^[2] The song was written by Max, Jon Bellion, Jonathan Simpson, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina, Seth Reger, and the producer Cirkut.^[3] In a statement, Max described the lyrics as "realizing that you're in love with someone to a degree that feels almost beyond your control".^[4][5] "Freaking Me Out" charted on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart at number 29.^[6]

"Freaking Me Out" is described by Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone as an initial ballad tease with a guitar introduction, which escalates into a "midtempo pop song" during the chorus as Max sings the pop hook, "I'm falling for you / So much so / That it's freaking me out".^[7] According to the song's sheet music that was published on Musicnotes.com, it is set in the time signature of ⁴
₄ common time, with a tempo of 98 beats per minute, while composed in the key of E major. Max's voice on the track ranges from the low note of E₃ to the high note of E₅, while the song is constructed in verse–chorus form.^[8] The song's lyrics utilize horror fiction tropes to represent the anxiety of falling, as Max sings the hook over a "vibrant" pop production.^[9] She uses "growly vocals" as the lyrics describe the feeling of losing senses during a new relationship.^[10]

A music video was released as a Halloween special on October 31, 2019. It was directed by Edgar Daniel, and is a literal retelling of the song's lyrics with gothic and glamorous visuals.^[11] The video begins as Max observes the ocean waves. While inside a mansion, she is chained by a man within the basement, which serves as a metaphor to describe Max's unfamiliar and terrifying feelings in a relationship.^[12] Madeline Roth of MTV News noted that while the music video contained scary scenes such as a dungeon, rocking chair, and a drummer boy, it also included several romantic moments which acknowledged that it is a love song.^[11]

Credits adapted from Apple Music metadata.^[3]

• Amanda Ava Koci – vocals, songwriting
• Henry Walter – production, songwriting
• Jon Bellion – songwriting
• Jonathan Simpson – songwriting
• Mark Williams – songwriting
• Raul Cubina – songwriting
• Seth Reger – songwriting