Rihanna has left fans demanding a new album for over five years. There have been a few rumors surrounding her ninth studio album. At one point, she suggested that she’d release an album directly inspired by reggae and dancehall music. Rumors floated around that she was working closely with Caribbean artists and producers to create her next project, though the status of the project is unclear. However, with her recent Super Bowl performance, it appears that there might be something in the works this year.
During her press conference with Nadeska Alexis, Rihanna explained that she was experimenting with new music and open to exploring new sounds. Over the years, she hasn’t stopped recording but she compared some of the unreleased music to old clothes. “[It’s] almost like trying to dress like you used to dress. It’s like, ‘Ew, no. I would never wear those again.’ Your taste changes, your vibe changes,” she said in an interview with British Vogue.
Rihanna Is Hopeful For A 2023 Release Date
As fans pestered Rihanna for a release date each year since Anti, she eventually seemed to brush off any more requests surrounding the release of new music. However, it seems that with all the momentum she’s built in recent times – between the Super Bowl and the Black Panther soundtrack – that hopes to cement a 2023 release date. “I want it to be this year,” Rihanna said. “Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos,” she added. However, the writer noted that Rihanna was “at this stage very much unaware she is pregnant again.”
Elsewhere, she opened up about the pressure she faces for her next album, especially following up on an album like Anti. At this point, it seems like Rihanna wants to create a feeling behind her next project that’s as undeniable as her last. “If it’s not better than [‘Anti’] then it is not even worth it…[but that’s] not the right way to look at music because music is an outlet and a space to create, and you can create whatever. It doesn’t have to even be on any scale. It just has to be something that feels good,” she said.