American singer and rapper Lizzo has opened up about losing confidence in her artistic instincts while working on her upcoming fifth studio album.
In an interview with Vulture, the About Damn Time hitmaker revealed that despite completing the project earlier this year, creative control had slipped from her hands — a realization that prompted her to reclaim her artistic direction.
“I had forgotten how to trust myself,” Lizzo confessed. “I think, musically, I have been on a path to losing myself for a long time.”
She explained that her label, Atlantic Records, had chosen her two recent singles — Love in Real Life and Still Bad — as well as their visuals, but the final outcome didn’t reflect her original vision.
Determined to regain her independence, Lizzo described confronting her label during a pivotal meeting:
“I sat down at the table and I said, ‘I need to do s**t my way starting from now. And I need y’all to have my back. It’s going to be a little scary.’ And everybody agreed — they said, ‘We got your back, whatever you need.’”
In May, she dropped a stripped-back version titled Still Bad (Animal Style), signaling a shift toward a more organic and authentic sound. The accompanying video — shot entirely on an iPhone — captures Lizzo wandering through New York City after the Met Gala, enjoying spontaneous moments at an arcade and a drag show.
“Oh yeah, the point of this was to have f**king fun,” she said of the video.
Lizzo’s recent musical reset follows a challenging period marked by lawsuits from former employees alleging sexual harassment, weight-shaming, and a toxic work environment — claims she has vehemently denied.
Despite the turbulence, the singer appears ready to reclaim her voice, with fans eagerly anticipating her next chapter.
