Rihanna has shared an update on her new album, and while she’s “starting over,” she has assured fans she’s “prepared” for this next chapter.
RiRi was walking the red carpet for a Fenty Hair event in LA on Monday (June 10), when she was asked about the wildly anticipated project, which fans have been calling R9.
She said: “Music for me is a new discovery. I am re-discovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kind of put all of that stuff aside. And now, I’m prepared to go back in the studio. NOW I’m prepared. So I’m gonna start.”
She continued: “I’m starting over, but I don’t wanna neglect the songs that I have, so I wanna actually go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective, and see what applies and see what I’m still in love with.”
Check out the clip below.
‘R9’ update! 🚨 Rihanna reveals she is “starting over” and is NOW prepared to go in the studio to work on her highly-anticipated album. #FentyHair pic.twitter.com/L1szsVfNYn
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) June 11, 2024
The news will be a relief to fans of the “Umbrella” star after she mogul spotted out with A$AP Rocky in New York City last week rocking a top that read, “I’m retired.”
In smaller print, it also said, “This is as dressed up as I get.”
The Rihanna Navy has not gotten a new album from their fave since 2016’s ANTI, as she’s been focused on building both her beauty empire and her family – having welcomed two children in the last two years.
The last time Rihanna spoke about her new album was in April when she shed more light on her ninth LP in an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the launch party for her FENTY x Puma Creeper Phatty Earth Tone sneaker in London.
After being asked if her children, RZA and Riot, will be featured on the record, Rihanna offered up some exciting news.
“I mean, it’s up to them,” she said. “I already got stuff that I feel like I can make hits out of. Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out who’s gonna use what because it’s so good!”
When asked about the visuals for the as-yet-untitled album, Rihanna kept mum: “I can’t tell you! That would be me, like, snitching on my record.”
Earlier that month, she spoke about her creative process while making the album and explained how her approach differs compared to previous projects.
“I have a lot of visual ideas,” she told Interview magazine. “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.
“I don’t have the songs for them yet, but maybe that’s the key, this time. Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make.”