In a new interview, the 'Umbrella' hitmaker gives a rare update on her upcoming ninth studio album, saying that she has 'a lot of visual ideas' for the next record.
- Apr 9, 2024
AceShowbiz - Rihanna, whose last album "Anti" was released eight years ago, has provided an update on her long-awaited ninth studio album, tentatively titled "R9". In an interview with Interview Magazine, Rihanna shared that she has "a lot of visual ideas" for the album, which is a departure from her typical creative process.
"It's weird. My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all of these visual opportunities, and now I'm having all of these visuals," she explained.
Despite the lack of songs to accompany the visual ideas at the moment, Rihanna is optimistic. "Maybe that's the key, this time. Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make," she said.
Rihanna also hinted at the potential for a "rebirth" with this album, describing her ideas as "random ideas, quirky ideas, things that have nothing to do with me at all."
Regarding her hiatus from music, Rihanna acknowledged that it was not intentional. "I wouldn't have had any idea" where her life would lead her, she said. However, she emphasized that motherhood has been the most rewarding part of her journey so far.
Fans have eagerly anticipated "R9" for years, and social media has been abuzz with memes about Rihanna's busy schedule and the album's delayed release. Rihanna's last release was the single "Lift Me Up" for the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack in 2022. Since then, she has performed at the Super Bowl halftime show and a pre-wedding celebration in India.
In February, A$AP Rocky confirmed that Rihanna was "working on it," and Rihanna's longtime producer James Fauntleroy stated that he had worked with her in December 2023. While Rihanna remains tight-lipped about a specific release date, her latest update offers hope to fans who have been patiently waiting for her return to music.
