Lana (album) explained

Lana
Type:studio
Artist:SZA
Cover:File:SZA - Lana.png
Caption:First cover art posted to social media
Alt:Cover art variant for "Lana": SZA in a yellow camping tent, taking off her grey shirt
Released:2024
Recorded:2022–2024
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:SOS
Prev Year:2022
Year:2024

Lana is the upcoming third studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It is scheduled to be released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. Originally planned as the deluxe edition of SZA's previous studio album, SOS (2022), Lana evolved into its own album that would consist solely of new music.

Background

American singer-songwriter SZA released her second studio album SOS on December 9, 2022, to widespread acclaim and high commercial success.[1] [2] It opened with a score of 94 on the review aggregate website Metacritic,[3] debuted atop the Billboard 200, broke a string of chart records, and spawned several career milestones.[4] SZA teased the imminent release of its deluxe version on Instagram upon SOS release,[5] and she teased it again on a December 21 post, where she expressed gratitude for the album's number-one debut: "Imma take another swing at it for the deluxe then shut up for a while."[6]

During the album rollout, many of SZA's unreleased songs were circulating the Internet. Fans gravitated towards them and wanted them on the tracklist like SZA did, but Punch, president of SZA's label Top Dawg Entertainment, had reservations.[7] She described him, who primarily curated the standard version's tracklist, as someone with "a very strong opinion" about the matter in a December 2022 Consequence cover story.[8] She told Rolling Stone the same month that one song was excluded because "no one wanted to hear songs that were out for years",[9] [10] and another was not deemed exciting enough for inclusion despite the positive reception from fans on Twitter.[11] In a January 2023 interview with Most Requested Live, SZA said the deluxe edition would feature the awaited outtakes: "that's what deluxe and things are for. Sometimes it's 10 songs that didn't make the cut, so we'll see."[12]

On February 25, 2023, Billboard reported that ten songs will be released as part of the deluxe edition of SOS.[13] SZA officially announced in September that it had become a "whole 'nother album" titled Lana,[14] [15] which she confirmed again during a Variety feature story. She told the magazine that the release would be unexpected, and she compared herself to Frank Ocean and André 3000 in that she was free to do whatever she wanted.[16] Elaborating on her decision to release another full album worth of material, she said that it had become more than expected and referred to the creative process as fun and did not spend too much time living in her "own head".[17]

Recording and release

SZA wrote and recorded over 100 songs for SOS within a timespan of five years.[18] [19] She and her collaborator, album producer Carter Lang, continued to make music after its release specifically for Lana, motivated by sporadic bursts of creativity.[20] By February 4, 2024, the day of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, SZA told The Hollywood Reporter that the album was still "shaping itself" as she let her voice follow "whatever the [album]'s frequency [was]", though she refused to disclose more details. She reasoned that doing so would inadvertently change her creative direction for the album.[21]

Promotion and release

The official announcement for the upcoming album took place during a surprise party held in Brooklyn Navy Yard to celebrate the success of SOS. During the event, SZA performed four songs intended for the deluxe edition: "Saturn", "PSA", "DTM", and "Boy from South Detroit".[22] On December 10, SZA revealed six cover art variants for Lana on Instagram.[23]

"Saturn" was released to streaming services on February 22, 2024, reportedly as Lana lead single.[24] She previously performed "Saturn" for a Mastercard commercial during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, swinging in front of a backdrop covered by tree and flower props that referenced a company's tree-planting campaign started by the company to combat climate change.[25] [26]

On March 25, SZA claimed in now-deleted Twitter posts that following the leaks of three songs intended for SOS, she would be "starting [the album] from scratch" and added: "At this point, y'all can keep the throwaways and leaks [...] Seems like a fair deal. Enjoy."[27] However, she seemed to change her mind as hours later, she posted again to say that the leaks and other outtakes would be officially released on another deluxe edition of SOS as to "not prolong" the wait for Lana itself.[28]

Throughout the wait for the album, SZA has teased two unreleased songs, both while saying that the album was on the way. On March 12, she posted a video on Instagram that depicts SZA as she poses in a camping tent wearing nothing but a red bikini, captioned with the lyric "Never fight over community d".[29] [30] When she performed at her concert for BST Hyde Park on June 30, she flashed a trailer on the stage screen and asked the crowd if they were ready for an upcoming album. She shared the trailer online after the concert, showing herself dressed as a grasshopper and singing the lyrics to a song publications called "Storytime".[31] [32] SZA revealed the official title to be "Cry Baby" at Lollapalooza Chicago on August 3.[33]

Title

SZA, whose real name is Solána, used one of her nicknames to give SOS its title,[34] and the same was true for Lana. She got her nickname "Lana" at 13 years old, when she planned to have her first name tattooed on her. According to her, she had to pay $10 per letter, but having only $40, she used only the last four letters of "Solana" for her tattoo.[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams . Sophie . February 23, 2023 . How SZA Inspired a Generation of R&B Storytellers: 'She's a Radical Light' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217110325/https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/sza-sos-tour-setlist-flo-baby-rose-radar-3403286 . December 17, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . . en-GB.
  2. Mitchell . Gail . Unterberger . Andrew . October 5, 2023 . Why SZA's SOS Could Bring R&B Back to the Grammys Big Four . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013200159/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/sza-sos-rb-grammys-big-four-categories-analysis-2-1235433229/ . October 13, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Espinoza . Joshua . December 11, 2022 . Here Are the First-Week Sales Projections for SZA's SOS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223041438/https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/sza-sos-first-week-sales-projections . February 23, 2024 . February 23, 2024 . . en-us.
  4. Anderson . Trevor . December 9, 2023 . 1 Year of SOS: 8 Records & Achievements for SZA's Blockbuster Album . December 17, 2023 . . en-US . December 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216234505/https://www.billboard.com/lists/sza-sos-anniversary-kill-bill-records-achievements/ . live .
  5. Calfee . Joel . December 11, 2023 . SZA Teases New Music with Mysterious Farm Photos on Instagram . February 9, 2024 . . en-US.
  6. Peters . Mitchell . 2022-12-21 . SZA's Blown Away by the Success of SOS on Billboard Charts: 'Not What I Expected' . 2024-02-05 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Aswad . Jem . February 22, 2023 . SZA to Release Deluxe Edition of SOS with 10 Bonus Tracks . December 19, 2023 . . en-US . December 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203000612/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sza-sos-deluxe-edition-bonus-tracks-1235532134/ . live .
  8. Web site: Wicker . Jewel . December 12, 2022 . SZA Is Trying to Save Herself . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101033237/https://consequence.net/cover/sza-cover-story-sos/ . January 1, 2023 . December 20, 2023 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Yates . Shanique . December 21, 2023 . SZA Claims Team Prevented These Fan-Favorites from Appearing on SOS . December 20, 2023 . . en-US . December 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219084122/https://www.revolt.tv/article/2022-12-21/263396/sza-claims-team-prevented-these-fan-favorites-from-sos/ . live .
  10. Web site: Inman . DeMicia . December 22, 2022 . SZA Explains Why Certain Fan-Favorite Songs Were Excluded from New Album, SOS . December 20, 2022 . . en-US . December 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222220206/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-explains-why-songs-did-not-make-sos-1234721332/ . live .
  11. Web site: Cummings-Grady . Mackenzie . December 21, 2023 . SZA Claims Her Team Blocked Fan-Favorite Songs from SOS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228195453/https://hiphopdx.com/news/sza-sos-songs-blocked-tde-punch . December 28, 2022 . December 20, 2023 . . en.
  12. Web site: Skinner . Tom . January 26, 2023 . SZA Teases 'Surprises Coming Soon' . December 20, 2023 . . en-GB . September 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230913042757/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-teases-surprises-coming-soon-3387417 . live .
  13. Web site: SZA to release 10 unheard songs on deluxe version of SOS. Richards. Will. NME. February 25, 2023. December 11, 2023. December 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211074153/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-to-release-10-unheard-songs-on-deluxe-version-of-sos-3404236. live.
  14. Web site: Brodsky . Rachel . September 9, 2023 . SZA Says SOS Deluxe Is Actually "A Whole Nother Album" Called Lana . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230914200712/https://www.stereogum.com/2235647/sza-sos-deluxe-album-lana/news/ . September 14, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . Stereogum.
  15. Web site: Lyttle . Zoey . Blanchet . Brenton . September 9, 2023 . SZA Announces Deluxe Version of Sophomore Album SOS — Titled Lana — Featuring '7 to 10' New Songs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026201953/https://people.com/sza-announces-deluxe-version-of-sophomore-album-sos-7967707 . October 26, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . People.
  16. Web site: SZA provides update on Lana project: "It's become more than I expected". Powell. Jon. Revolt. November 29, 2023. December 11, 2023. December 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211074153/https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-11-29/344140/sza-provides-update-on-lana-project-in-new-interview/. live.
  17. Web site: SZA Says She Can Drop Lana Randomly Because "No One's Actually Expecting" It. Trapp. Malcolm. Rap-Up. November 29, 2023. December 11, 2023. December 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211074153/https://www.rap-up.com/2023/11/29/sza-says-she-can-drop-her-next-album-lana-at-any-time/. live.
  18. Web site: Exposito . Suzy . Suzy Exposito . February 23, 2023 . Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist: How SZA Went from Cult Star to Pop Superstar . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223161432/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-02-23/sza-sos-glows-up-in-public . February 23, 2023 . December 19, 2023 . . en-US.
  19. Rowley . Glenn . October 17, 2022 . SZA Reveals She Recorded 'A Hundred' Songs for Sophomore Album, Which She Says Is Coming 'Any Day' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221208030757/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/sza-sophomore-album-recorded-100-songs-1235157079/ . December 8, 2022 . December 19, 2023 . . en-US.
  20. Conteh . Mankaprr . 2023-10-03 . What's Behind SZA's Biggest Year Yet? Work, Wonder, and 'Weird Shit' . limited . 2024-02-05 . . en-US.
  21. Web site: Williams . Kyann-Sian . February 12, 2024 . SZA on New Album Lana : 'I Want to Allow It to Finish Shaping Itself' . February 19, 2024 . . en-GB.
  22. Web site: Kelly . Tyler Damara . September 11, 2023 . SZA Reveals Forthcoming Deluxe Edition of Her Album, SOS, Is Called Lana . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211131309/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sza-reveals-forthcoming-deluxe-edition-of-her-album-sos-is-called-lana . December 11, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Geraghty . Hollie . December 11, 2023 . SZA reveals Lana cover art, celebrates one-year anniversary of SOS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211084926/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-reveals-lana-cover-art-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-of-sos-3556960 . December 11, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . NME.
  24. Web site: Saturn – Single by SZA . February 22, 2024 . Spotify.
  25. Spanos . Brittany . 2024-02-05 . SZA Debuts Lush New Song 'Saturn' During Grammys Commercial . limited . 2024-02-05 . . en-US.
  26. Web site: Thomas . Carly . 2024-02-05 . SZA Sings 'Snooze' and 'Kill Bill' During Fierce Grammys Performance . 2024-02-05 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Schube . Will . March 26, 2024 . SZA Says She's Remaking Lana Deluxe from Scratch Due to Song Leaks . March 27, 2024 . . en.
  28. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . March 27, 2024 . SZA Says She'll Release the SOS Leaks as Part of the Deluxe, But Is Still Working on Lana . March 27, 2024 . Uproxx.
  29. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . March 13, 2024 . SZA Sings About 'Community D*ck' on a New Snippet Teasing Lana, Which Is 'Bout to Drop' . March 14, 2024 . . en-US.
  30. Web site: Moore . Sam . March 13, 2024 . SZA Fuels Excitement for SOS Deluxe with Racy Video Teaser . March 14, 2024 . . en.
  31. Web site: Peters . Daniel . 2024-06-30 . SZA teases new album at BST Hyde Park headline set with song snippet . 2024-07-02 . NME . en-GB.
  32. Web site: Staff . Wonderland . 2024-07-01 . SZA Teases New Album, Lana . 2024-07-02 . Wonderland . en-GB.
  33. Legaspi . Althea . Corcoran . Nina . Richardson . Kalia . August 3, 2024 . Stray Kids 'ATE,' SZA and Zedd Drop New Songs at Lollapalooza Day Two . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240803154012/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/sza-stray-kids-zedd-perform-lollapalooza-2024-day-two-1235070419/ . August 3, 2024 . August 4, 2024 . . en-US.
  34. Web site: Gumede . Bongeka . Tshabalala . Gugulethu . January 20, 2023 . One Album, Two Takes: SZA's Latest Offering Is a Stellar Follow-Up to Ctrl . December 24, 2023 . . en-ZA.
  35. Web site: Aswad . Jem . December 11, 2023 . SZA's New Album Lana: Everything We Know So Far . December 24, 2023 . . en-US.

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