Following My Intuition
Following My Intuition is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Craig David, released on 30 September 2016 by Insanity Records and Sony Music.[1] The record marks David's return to prominence following a period of commercial challenges after his early 2000s success, blending his signature UK garage influences with contemporary R&B, EDM, and drum'n'bass elements.[2] The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming David's first chart-topping release since his 2000 debut Born to Do It and selling 24,500 copies in its first week.[3] It features collaborations with artists such as Big Narstie on the lead single "When the Bassline Drops," which peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart, Sigala on "Ain't Giving Up," and Blonde on "Nothing Like This."[4] Critically, Following My Intuition was praised for its nostalgic yet modern sound, with reviewers highlighting David's vocal delivery and the album's role in revitalizing his career, leading to subsequent hits and tours.[2] The expanded edition, released later, includes additional tracks and remixes, further extending its commercial reach.[5]Production
Background
Following My Intuition marked English singer Craig David's return to original material after a hiatus since his 2007 album Trust Me, following his 2010 covers album Signed, Sealed, Delivered.[6] Conceived in 2014 as a comeback project, the album aimed to blend David's signature garage roots with contemporary R&B and electronic elements, reflecting his intent to evolve his sound while honoring early successes like the 2000 hit "7 Days."[7][2] David drew personal motivation from a period of introspection during his time in Miami, where house parties reignited his passion for music and prompted reflection on career setbacks, including the impact of the Bo' Selecta! parody that had stalled his momentum post-2002's Slicker Than Your Average.[8] To build anticipation and test fan reception, David uploaded teaser tracks to his official SoundCloud account that year. On July 2, 2014, he previewed "Cold," which premiered the previous week on his TS5 radio show and showcased a sleek, introspective R&B vibe.[7][9] In September 2014, he followed with "Seduction," a sultry garage-infused snippet designed to generate hype for the forthcoming project.[7] These early releases signaled David's shift toward a more instinctive creative process, prioritizing fan engagement over traditional label previews.[9] In early 2016, after departing his prior label arrangement, David signed a recording contract with Insanity Records, a joint venture between Sony Music UK and Insanity Management via independent distributor Speakerbox, establishing a fresh creative partnership to support the album's completion.[10] This move transitioned the project from ideation into full production.[11]Recording
The recording sessions for Following My Intuition spanned 2015 and 2016, primarily occurring in London studios such as F Block Studios, Jem Studios, Snap Studios, and Tileyard Studios, with additional work in Miami and Canada to accommodate international collaborators.[12][13] This distributed approach allowed David to draw on diverse creative environments while keeping the project rooted in his UK origins. The process began accelerating after the viral success of his 2015 BBC 1Xtra appearance, leading to focused studio time that captured the album's energetic, comeback-driven vibe.[14] Key producers and collaborators played pivotal roles in shaping the sound, including Sigala, who co-produced the upbeat lead single "Ain't Giving Up"; Kaytranada, contributing his signature futuristic electronic flair to "Got It Good"; Hardwell, handling the high-energy remix-style production on "No Holding Back" for the expanded edition; and the production team TMS, who worked on several tracks like "Change My Love" and "Better With You" to infuse pop-R&B polish.[12][15] David's hands-on involvement ensured these partnerships aligned with his vision, as he actively co-wrote and arranged vocals across the sessions, emphasizing a return to authentic UK garage influences.[14] Throughout the process, David blended live and electronic production techniques to refresh his garage roots, creating a hybrid sound that bridged his early 2000s style with contemporary dance elements.[12] This meticulous approach contributed to the record's polished yet vibrant execution.[13]Release and promotion
Release
Following My Intuition was released on 30 September 2016 by Insanity Records and Sony Music.[4] The album launched in multiple editions, including a standard version with 14 tracks, a deluxe edition featuring 18 tracks, and an expanded edition that incorporated additional material such as an acoustic EP.[15] Physical formats included CD and double vinyl LP, alongside digital download options for streaming and purchase. In the UK and Europe, physical copies were readily available at major retailers like HMV upon launch, with the standard CD priced at £9.99; vinyl editions followed shortly after on 21 October 2016.[16][17][18] International markets accessed the album through Sony Music's distribution network, with digital formats providing simultaneous global availability and physical releases varying slightly by region. The album's formal announcement occurred on 19 August 2016 via social media and press outlets, aligning with the ongoing rollout of promotional singles like "When the Bassline Drops."[19] The packaging featured a straightforward design centered on a photograph of Craig David, with the deluxe edition distinguished by a hot pink color variant on the cover.[20]Singles
To promote Following My Intuition, Craig David released six singles (including promotional releases) between November 2015 and October 2016, blending his signature R&B with garage, dance, and pop elements to mark his musical comeback. These tracks were strategically timed to build anticipation for the album, with several serving as promotional releases alongside commercial singles. The full list of singles is as follows:| Single | Release Date | Featured Artist |
|---|---|---|
| "When the Bassline Drops" | 27 November 2015 | Big Narstie |
| "Nothing Like This" | 18 March 2016 | Blonde |
| "One More Time" | 20 May 2016 | None |
| "Ain't Giving Up" | 19 August 2016 | Sigala |
| "16" | 27 September 2016 | None |
| "Change My Love" | 21 October 2016 | None |
Reception
Critical reception
Following My Intuition received mixed reviews from music critics, who praised Craig David's return to form and the album's energetic party tracks while critiquing its uneven execution and reliance on guest features.[27] On aggregate, the album holds a score of 61 out of 100 based on seven critic reviews, reflecting this divided response.[27] The Guardian lauded the album as a "welcome return," highlighting its fast-paced opening tracks that blend EDM, garage, and drum'n'bass to reestablish David's relevance in contemporary pop.[2] The review appreciated the mix of collaboration-driven bangers and heartfelt ballads like "Louder Than Words," noting David's broad appeal after years away from the spotlight: "It’s good to have him back."[2] Similarly, XS Noize awarded it 7 out of 10, calling it a "great comeback album" for its catchy summer anthems such as "Ain’t Giving Up" featuring Sigala and smooth R&B cuts like "Couldn’t Be Mine," which showcase David's versatile vocals.[28] In more mixed assessments, Clash gave the album 6 out of 10, commending its bold fusion of UK garage and modern EDM in tracks like "When the Bassline Drops" with Big Narstie, but faulting it for stylistic overreach that results in "musical ADD" across house, pop, and dancehall elements, diluting overall focus.[29] Crack Magazine echoed this, praising the garage-R&B revival in songs like "One More Time" and collaborations with artists such as Kaytranada, yet criticizing bland festival-oriented tracks like "Don’t Go" as formulaic filler that undermines the album's potential.[30] The Arts Desk was more critical, rating it 2 out of 5 and highlighting David's vocal prowess on the opener but decrying the lyrics' emotional shallowness and inconsistent shifts to power ballads and tropical house, ultimately admiring only his "undeniable chutzpah."[31] Overall, reviewers appreciated David's confident vocal comeback and the infectious energy of its party-ready tracks, but commonly noted uneven pacing and an overdependence on features that sometimes overshadowed his solo strengths.[27]Commercial performance
Following My Intuition debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart for the week ending October 8, 2016, marking Craig David's first chart-topping album since Born to Do It in 2000.[3] The album sold 24,500 units in its first week, including 6,000 streaming equivalent units, outselling the runner-up Bon Iver's 22, A Million by 4,500 combined units.[32] It spent 24 weeks on the chart overall and ranked at number 61 on the year-end UK Albums Chart for 2016.[33] By the end of 2022, the album had accumulated 189,308 combined sales in the UK, reflecting sustained interest driven partly by digital streaming on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.[34] Internationally, the album achieved moderate success, peaking at number 12 on the Scottish Albums Chart, number 29 on the Australian Albums Chart, and number 62 on the Dutch Albums Chart.[35][36][37] Its visibility was enhanced by lead single "When the Bassline Drops", featuring Big Narstie, which reached number ten on the UK Singles Chart.[38] The album was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the UK for 100,000 units shipped, a milestone reached amid its strong initial sales and ongoing streaming consumption.[39] No additional major certifications were awarded internationally as of 2025.Musical content
Track listing
The standard edition of Following My Intuition contains 14 tracks with a total running time of 49:11.[40]| No. | Title | Featured artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ain't Giving Up" | Sigala | 2:38 |
| 2. | "When the Bassline Drops" | Big Narstie | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Don't Go" | 3:27 | |
| 4. | "16" | 3:48 | |
| 5. | "Couldn't Be Mine" | 3:01 | |
| 6. | "One More Time" | 3:14 | |
| 7. | "Change My Love" | 3:24 | |
| 8. | "Nothing Like This" | Blonde | 3:02 |
| 9. | "Got It Good" | 3:49 | |
| 10. | "All We Needed" | 3:37 | |
| 11. | "Louder Than Words" | 4:05 | |
| 12. | "What If" | 3:39 | |
| 13. | "Like a Fan" | 5:07 | |
| 14. | "Better with You" | 3:13 |