ForSZA, it’s been like “all the stars are closer” since the runaway success of her 2022 albumSOS— so much so that she doesn’t quite know what’s next.
The R&B superstar, 34, sat down withZane Lowe, 50, to talk about her whirlwind year in anApple Music Radio interview.
In the interview, which debuted on Tuesday, the “Kill Bill” singer admitted that she feels like she doesn’t have any more goals since she’s already accomplished more than she could have fathomed.
SZA.Courtesy of Apple Music
Courtesy of Apple Music
The Grammy winner said, “I’m in a space now where ‘f— it’ with everything on the creative side. The business side is scary, but on the creative side, it’s kind of just like, ‘Nah, I don’t have any more goals, so I might as well just try at this point.'”
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After the host asked if she had “caught up” to all she had ever hoped for, the performer (whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe) shared that she actually reached every milestone she envisioned for herself when she released her studio debutCtrlback in 2017. “I caught up to that onCtrl,” she revealed. “I don’t have any more goals, and that sounds terrible, but career-wise … I keep saying that — nobody believes me — but it’s just like you don’t understand. These are my goals.”
The “Snooze” singer went on to mention what she’s accomplished thus far. “I have already gone platinum — I didn’t think I would ever go platinum — I sold a bunch of records. I got to meetStevie Wonder, I got to meetBeyoncéand work with her, I got to meetFrank Ocean. My mom came and my dad came to all these cool countries to see me perform. I’ve had sold out shows, I got to headline a festival.”
“Like, what else do I want?” she continued. “I’m nominated for Grammys. I’ve won a Grammy. I’m done, for me, personally.”
“Anything past this is so much more than I wanted, thought of, dreamed of,” the hitmaker added.
SZA garnered instant critical acclaim upon up her mainstream debut in 2017 when she released her first studio album, which saw two singles chart in the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100. After its release, she received a best new artist nomination at the 2018 Grammy Awards, among four other nods.
The following year, she received four Grammy nominations for herBlack Panthersoundtrack contribution and team-up withKendrick Lamar, “All the Stars.” Then in 2022, shetook home her first winwithDoja Catfor their song “Kiss Me More” in the best pop duo/group performance category.
The “Shirt” singer has reachedeven more accoladessince her sophomore albumSOSarrived in late 2022. Not only did the universally acclaimed project earn her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — where it spent 10 weeks in the top spot — she supported it with her first-ever arena tour and is now themost nominated artistat the 2024Grammy Awards.
The R&B-pop star also opened up to Lowe about how the increased attention she’s received within the past few years has been overwhelming at times. “I hate being famous. It sucks. I hate scrutiny, I hate being perceived,” she revealed.
Despite finding the spotlight to be challenging, SZA explained that the one caveat has been being able to connect on stage and in more intimate ways with fans. “I love connecting with people in the crowd when like I feel like it’s really me and you right now,” she shared. “I will go eye-to-eye with so many people during the show, and it’s something about tour that it makes the love like real and tangible.”
“I feel like that makes sense to me,” she added, explaining that she feels compelled to give love back to her fans because of how much love it feels like they give her.
After the release ofSOS, SZA took the project out on the road on a major worldwide arena tour. After setting out on North American and European legs across the winter and spring, she extended her live run with a second slate of U.S. shows throughout the fall.
Next year, the star will compete in nine categories at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, and likely release her next projectLana. After first telling fans that the release was anextended version ofSOS, she’s since shared that it’s become more expansive than that and even startedteasing six versions of album artwork.
source: people.com
