Eight years after the seismic impact of ANTI, Rihanna has finally pulled back the curtain on her elusive ninth studio album, and it’s poised to shatter expectations.
In a rare and candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the global icon revealed that her long-awaited return to music will defy genres, trends, and commercial formulas, promising a project as unpredictable as her meteoric career.
Looking back at her critically acclaimed 2016 album, Anti, Rihanna revealed it’s one of the few projects she can listen to from her discography without cringing.
“I listen to ‘Anti’ from top to bottom with no shame. I used to always have shame,” Rihanna admitted. “I actually don’t like listening to my music, but Anti, I can listen to the album,” she said.
“It’s like it’s not me singing it if I’m just listening to it. That’s the one album that I can have an out-of-body experience where it’s not like … You know when you hear your voice in a voicemail, and it’s like, ‘Ugh.’ ”
Fans have been anxiously anticipating a new album since Rihanna’s last release, Anti, in 2016. Even though she has been away from music for an extended period, she confirmed that she has dedicated the last eight years to working in the studio.
The Fenty founder then debunks the years-old rumor that her next album will be a reggae record. Rihanna told the outlet, “Way off! There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited.”
However, she faced challenges in discovering a direction that felt true to herself. She confessed to experiencing several “phases” and discarding ideas that didn’t align with her “growth.”
“I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.'”
Rihanna states that the forthcoming project will not focus on commercial trends or radio airplay. “I know it’s not going to be anything anybody expects,” she said. “It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I’ve finally cracked it.”
Although a specific release date for the upcoming album has not been revealed, Rihanna’s commitment to excellence indicates that listeners can anticipate a work showcasing her growth as an artist and an individual.
“I cannot put up anything mediocre,” Rihanna told Harper’s Bazaar. “After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.”
