Spot a Fake

Spot a Fake
General information
Artists	Ava Max
Recorded	2023 - June 19, 2024
Released	September 20, 2024
Format	Streaming
Genre	Pop
Length	2:48
Album	Don't Click Play
Label	Atlantic Records
Writer(s)	Ava Max, Grant Boutin, Lauren Mandel, Salem Ilese Davern
Producer(s)	Chris Gehringer, Grant Boutin, PinkSlip, Tom Norris
Singles Chronology
Brought the Heat Back (Remix)
Spot a Fake
Forever Young

"Spot a Fake" is a song by American singer Ava Max. It was released on September 20, 2024 as the planned lead single for her third studio album, Don't Click Play, before being replaced by "Lost Your Faith."

Background

On June 19, 2024, Max posted a snippet of a vocal take of the song to her Instagram story with the caption "Crack." ( AUDIO)

On June 24, Max archived her posts on Instagram.

On June 29, Max made a post on X with the caption "waiting for myself to post on Instagram".

On July 2, Max posted a snippet of the song to her social media with the caption "See you next month 🖤". This was later deleted on every platform except for her YouTube channel.

On July 30, Max changed her profile photo across her socials. She also changed her bio to "made from scratch".

On August 23, Max posted a behind the scenes video. This was later deleted.

On September 1, Max posted two photos to her social media accounts with the caption "preheating".

On September 6, Max confirmed the release date of September 20, 2024. Four days later, Max confirmed the title via an Instagram story.

On September 13, Max posted a snippet of the song's chorus and officially announced the title and release date. Three days later, she revealed the cover art and shared a pre-save link for the song.

The song was released on September 20. The verse vocals for the song had been re-recorded and re-structured while retaining the same instrumental track found in the July teaser snippet.

On September 21, the lyric video was posted to her X account. Three days later, Max posted a TikTok video clearing up misconstrued lyrics in the chorus that made it into the lyric video.

On January 27, 2025, Max revealed that the official lead single from her third studio album will be "Lost Your Faith".

Lyrics

• Final
• Demo

[Chorus]
I can spot a fake from a mile away
Oh, I can spot the bag in the girl that you date
She's playin' with your, playin' with your heart 'til it breaks
Oh, I (Oh)

[Verse 1]
I got a sixth sense when it comes to a bitch
She's just a demon, blowin' a kiss
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)
She's like a white sheep, what could she ever do?
She's just a bad wolf comin' for you
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)

[Pre-Chorus]
(Oh-oh) I know you're lost in her eyes
And everything underneath
Her body makes you go blind, but
Not me, not me

[Chorus]
I can spot a fake from a mile away
Oh, I can spot the fake in a beautiful face
Yeah, she could put the, she could put the devil to shame
Oh, I (I)
I can spot a fake from a mile away
Oh, I can spot the bag in the girl that you date
She's playin' with your, playin' with your heart 'til it breaks
Oh, I (Oh)

[Verse 2]
She's like a spring rose, but she's covered in thorns
Her little headband hiding her horns
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)

[Pre-Chorus]
(Oh-oh) I know you're lost in her eyes
And everything underneath
Her body makes you go blind, but
Not me, not me
(Oh-oh-oh)

[Chorus]
I can spot a fake from a mile away
Oh, I can spot the fake in a beautiful face
Yeah, she could put the, she could put the devil to shame
Oh, I (I)
I can spot a fake from a mile away
Oh, I can spot the bag in the girl that you date
She's playin' with your, playin' with your heart 'til it breaks
Oh, I (Oh)

[Outro]
Don't say I didn't warn ya
So fake, so california
Don't say I didn't warn ya
(Ah)
Don't say I didn't warn ya
So fake, so california
Don't say I didn't warn ya
(Ah)

[Intro]
Oh, I (Oh)

[Verse 1]
I got a sixth sense when it comes to a bitch
You're a demon in a jean skirt, blowing a kiss
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)
Oh, God (Mhm, mhm)

Trivia

• This is Max's first explicit song since 2020's "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2" with Saweetie and Lauv.
  • This is also Max's first solo explicit single since "On Somebody".
  • The song is not marked as explicit on streaming platforms.
• Max had previously stated that the song would be released in June 2024, but it was delayed, either in favor of "Brought The Heat Back (Remix)" or to change several parts of the song. When a fan pointed this out on X, Max responded saying she had no control over her music releases.
• The song is said to be about Madison Love and Cirkut's relationship.
  • Cirkut unfollowed Max on Instagram shortly after the song's release.
• It replaced "My Oh My" as the first single from Max's third studio album. It was then replaced by "Lost Your Faith" in January 2025.
• The cover art is most likely inspired by a scene in the 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom, where Suzy Bishop can be seen holding a pair of binoculars on the top of Summer's End.
• If you listen closely, you can hear the word “Awoo” between “comin' for you” and “oh, god.” Imitating a wolf.
• The demo has a BPM of 146 while the final has a BPM of 143.
• The planned music video was “most likely” intended for release in early 2025 but was scrapped in favor of filming a music video for "Lost Your Faith". Several short teaser videos and an animated lyric video were released instead.
  • The song's music video was directed by Hunter Moreno, and choreographed by Matt Steffanina.
  • The song had a visualizer made but it was never released because it used the song's demo version rather than the final.
• If you listen to either the backing vocals or Dolby Atmos stems, near the end of the second verse, you can hear voices that sound like they’re from the recording session.

Gallery

Photoshoot

Behind the Scenes

Recording

Videos

Ava Max - Spot a Fake (Official Lyric Video)

See you next month 🖤