On January 29, 2016, Brooke Candy released the new single. The song noticeably marked a shift from Candy's previous material, as she began to develop a more pop-friendly sound described as "gloomy electro-pop". Candy stated about her new musical direction: "In recent past I’ve found myself undergoing endless transformations through emotional states of being and it is reflected through changing vocal styles and aesthetic approaches… I am exploring sounds that are bit more polished and digestible." She also talked about the lyrics's meaning on an interview with i-D saying: "This song addresses the struggle I've had looking for "happy days" in every possible easy way, only to find out that you can't short cut the constantly on-going process of finding your version of happiness." "Happy Days" received mainly a positive response from music critics. Megan Williams form IDOL Magazine praised the song's "sincere lyrics and catchy hook". She also remarked how Candy managed to keep her natural attitude despite the musical shift compared to her early material. Mike Wass from Idolator gave a positive review, noting its accessibility compared to Candy's past material as well as its relatable chorus. Popjustice staff considered that the song was set to make Candy "an unexpected 2016-slaying pop superstar". On February 4, 2016, its video, also styled by Formichetti and directed by Renata Raksha, premiered on Nylon, and later was uploaded on YouTube. On May 13 she released a song titled "Changes" to promote her second makeup line with MAC. On June 2 a new track called "Nasty" along its music video, directed by Rankin and co-styled by Candy herself was premiered via Hunger TV. On July 7, another single called "Paper or Plastic" was released The song received mixed reviews, with many commenting on how the song was unlike her previous material, as Candy does not rap during the song and instead sings the verses. Mike Wass of Idolator felt that Candy was making a conscious move away from "the twisted white-girl rap" present in her past songs "Opulence" and "I Wanna Fuck Right Now". Wass also called the track "unusually restrained" for the artist. When responding to criticism regarding her change in musical style, Candy stated: "[W]hatever I have to do [to] garner a larger, broader audience to spread my message on a larger scale, I stand for women, I stand for freedom. For love and self-preservation." The music video for the song, directed by Darren Craig, premiered a week later.
