smith released "transparent soul" featuring travis barker, a pop-punk song that was her first song into that genre. willow described the song as having been written during a very introspective time at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, and inspired by a quote from hindu guru radhanath swami. smith was also inspired to enter the genre by her mother, jada pinkett smith, who previously was in nu metal band wicked wisdom in the early 2000s