Reneé Rapp Bites Back with New Single 'Why Is She Still Here?'

Proceed with (excited) caution: critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Reneé Rapp kicks the door wide open on her next chapter with an infectious trail of killer singles.

Photo Credit: Zora Sicher

Today marks the release of 'Why Is She Still Here?', the punching new single taken from her highly-anticipated sophomore album BITE ME, due on August 1st. With powerhouse vocals and lyrical venom, Rapp delivers the track live in a drama-drenched visualiser, featuring a lone spotlight, a stage, and a woman fully in her element. It’s raw. It’s theatrical, and so, it’s Rapp.

The release sets the tone for a biting new era; one that’s been carefully teased over the past few months through cryptic online drops, a now-infamous lip tattoo, and an internet-breaking BITE.ME microsite that dared fans to “sign a hundred NDAs.” Since then, the campaign has snowballed into a cultural moment, with the likes of Paris Hilton, Charlize Theron, and Monica Lewinsky fanning the flames online. And so, the Bite Me universe was born: chaotic, commanding, and utterly unapologetic – much like Rapp herself.

Sonically, ‘Why Is She Still Here?’ leans into something sultry and scathing. It’s a sexy, jazz-tinged ballad that punches through with a quiet fury. Rapp opens the song with a lyrical dagger: “You can tell me you don't love her / But you should probably tell her too”, setting the tone for what unfolds as a haunting confrontation. The melody winds like a warning, shadowing the rawness (and power) of her vocals with a subtle elegance that intensifies the emotional stakes. It’s the sound of someone fully awake to the games being played and refusing to participate or be blinded by them.

The single’s arrival follows the announcement of Rapp’s biggest tour to date. The BITE ME North American headlining tour launches on September 23rd at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, before hitting 16 major cities including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Boston’s TD Garden, and The Kia Forum in LA. 

In true Rapp fashion, the rollout was anything but traditional. Reneé-branded tabloids that began surfacing at newsstands across the country, peppered with easter eggs and cryptic headlines, sent fans spiralling. 

Between standout performances on Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, and the American Music Awards, Rapp has proven time and again that her artistry lingers like a catchy soundbite (of which she often provides). Not only is she a creative force to be reckoned with, but a mighty voice to be listened to. 'Why Is She Still Here' is the tip of the iceberg in a lyrical avalanche that serves as evidence that the singer-songwriter has no intentions of pulling back the curtain, but instead ripping it clean off the rail.

Welcome to this new era of Reneé Rapp – she’s got more bite than ever. You’ve been warned.

Why Is She Still Here? is available on all streaming platforms, and you can watch the official music video here.

BITE ME, releasing August 1st, is also available for pre-order now.