"The Motto" is a song by Dutch disc jockey Tiësto and American singer and songwriter Ava Max from the former's upcoming eighth studio album, Drive (2023).
The song was written by Tiësto, Max, Claudia Valentina, Lostboy, Pablo Bowman and Sarah Blanchard, while produced by the DJ and Lostboy. It was released for digital download and streaming by Atlantic and Musical Freedom in various countries on 4 November 2021.
It is a dance, EDM and pop song, with the empowering lyrics being about "doing you, having a good time and letting the world know". Upon its release, music critics praised the music and production of the song, the collaboration between the artists and the vocal delivery of Max. The song received a nomination for the Best Collaboration at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards.
"The Motto" reached number one in the Czech Republic and Poland, and reached the top 10 in 18 other countries, including in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Switzerland. The song also reached number one on the US Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart as well as number two on the Dance/Electronic Songs ranking. It was certified gold in four countries as well as platinum in seven countries, including in Brazil, Portugal and the United States.
The song also received double platinum certifications from Music Canada in Canada and the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) in Poland. Two official music videos for the song premiered on Tiësto's YouTube channel on 4 November 2021 and 11 March 2022, respectively.
The first video depicts Tiësto and Max time traveling and partying in the 1920s, with the end being inspired by the 1980 psychological horror film The Shining.