Lizzo said she has second-guessed herself and is ready to take charge again. The Grammy-winning artist revealed in a new interview that she “forgot how to trust” her musical instincts after releasing two singles earlier this year that failed to reflect her vision.
“I forgot how to believe in myself,” she told Vulture. “I think musically, I’ve been on a path of losing myself for a long time.”
The songs in question, “Love in Real Life” and “Still Bad,” were both optioned by her label, Atlantic Records. Their accompanying visuals also fell short of the “About Damn Time” singer’s goals, and she admitted the final product didn’t live up to her original concept.
In March, Lizzo announced that her fifth studio album was completed. However, a release date is still up in the air due to ongoing legal issues. The lawsuits, filed by former employees in late 2023 and early 2024, accuse her of sexual harassment, weight-shaming and creating a hostile work environment. Lizzo has denied all accusations.
Despite the turmoil, she’s now doubling down on her creative independence. In a key meeting with her label, she made it clear she was no longer compromising.
“I sat down at the table and I said, ‘I need to do things my way from now on. I need you all to support me. This is going to be a little scary,'” she said. “Everyone agreed, and they said, ‘Whatever you need, we have your back.'”
By May, she had begun reinventing her sound. She dropped a stripped-down version of “Still Bad (Animal Style),” marking a return to a more raw and personal approach. The video, shot entirely on an iPhone, captures her walking through New York City after the Met Gala, stopping at an arcade and a drag show.
“Oh yeah, the whole point of it is to have fun,” she said of the DIY-style video. Lizzo’s next steps are unclear, but her message is loud: She’s back in charge and doing things her way.
Although the album is completed, it does not yet have a release date as of June 2024.
