Nelly Furtado Links Up With Canadian Electronic Duo DVBBS on New Single ‘Torture of the Heart’

DVBBS and Nelly Furtado are working together on a new single.

The Toronto electronic duo has teamed up with the Canadian Music Hall of Fame singer for their new collaborative track, “Torture of the Heart,” set for release on Friday, May 29.

Marking the first collaboration between the two acts, “Torture of the Heart” pairs DVBBS' big room production with Furtado’s earnest vocals.

As with “Electric Circus,” her recent collaboration with Toronto producer Boi-1da as the kickoff single for the Canada Soccer Foundation’s Perfect Pitch album, the song revisits the high-energy sound that produced some of her biggest 2000s highs.

Rather than hip-hop inspired production, though, this track is a high-energy club banger that seems built to ignite huge crowds at EDM festivals.

While the full song arrives later this week, the trio have been teasing the soul-baring hit on social media, calling it a "heartbreak anthem."

DVBBS — comprised of brothers Alexandre and Christopher van den Hoef — reveal that the idea of a collaboration kicked off a couple of years ago. But it was only a few months ago, when Furtado sent over a potential vocal, that the idea for “Torture of the Heart” became clear.

“It was almost like she was in the room, singing straight into our soul,” the duo shares. “There’s nothing better than hearing a melody and lyrics that feel that authentic. You know right away it was written straight from the heart.”

They continue: “Working with Nelly was really special to us — we truly believe we created something beautiful together. She’s one of a kind, and seeing how open she is creatively was incredible.”

The release of “Torture of the Heart” comes nearly two months after Furtado was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at this year’s Juno Awards with a special video tribute from the Iceman himself, Drake. The Toronto rapper declared that “nobody deserves it more,” and called her Canada’s “North Star.”

Furtado’s honour was topped off by a star-studded performance featuring Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman and more.

Furtado and Boi-1da's "Electric Circus" hit Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart at No. 35, dated May 9. That marked the first new release from the Canadian singer since she stepped away from performing last October. But she's clearly keeping busy in the studio with some big collaborations.

Meanwhile, DVBBS are notching their own milestones. Last year, their Abi Flynn-featuring single “Move A Little Closer” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, while it arrived at No. 39 on the CHR/Top 40 chart in the duo’s home country.

Their latest collaboration with Furtado sits among the pair’s stacked roster of collaborators, including Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Blackbear, Wiz Khalifa, Kane Brown and 2 Chainz, among others.

“It’s amazing to see the world give Nelly her flowers right now,” the duo says. “She’s given a piece of her heart and soul to her art, and that will be forever timeless.”

Billboard Canada joined Nelly Furtado and DVBBS in their Toronto recording studio. Stay tuned to @billboardca for a video coming out later this week.