‘I’m just getting ugly.
Its been the most fun, difficult experience, SZA says.
This album is just straight up laying everything to bed.
Credit: Roger Kisby/Getty Images
Im talking a lot of grimy s, but its truth.
Im exposing a lot of skeletons of mine.
I welcome fear now… its my job to not be no punk.
Listen to twoAM below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Tell me aboutA, your debut album.
SZA:Ive called it an EP forever because it made me feel way less responsible.
Its just a really long ass EP, well say that.
I spent a whole bunch of time learning the rules, just really diving in.
I feel like people dont necessarily know me, but Im down to share now.
What do you want to say on this album about who you are?
This album is just straight up laying everything to bed.
Im talking a lot of grimy s, but its truth.
We dont want to deal with any of our ugliness.
Im just getting ugly.
All my dirty laundry is on the line.
Its called Doves In the Wind.
I am, but Im not.
I know its necessary.
You gotta spring clean.
Im so overdue for a spring cleaning.
This is like, life cleaning.
You say you did a lot more investing in music history and the practice of songwriting.
How does it compare to your previous EPs?
I recorded most of my first EP the night before it came out.
I was kind of winging it.
OnS,it was very New York, lots of synth-heavy producers.
Kendrick [Lamar] and all the boys love live music.
It was more me experimenting and trying to figure out how to use those tools.
Zwas out in 2014, so its been two years now.
How has your outlook and sound changed since then?
I welcome fear now, and I didnt before.
You were on Consideration from RihannasAntiearlier this year.
What was that experience like?
She was an angel.
She was way warmer than I expected.
Shes awesome and warm and human and super chill.
Shes a home girl, for real.
[She taught me] to go with your gut at all times.
You just gotta go with whatever you feel.
What has it been like working with Kendrick and the rest of the TDE crew?
What have you learned from them coming in as a new artist?
Kendrick [Lamar] is super grounded in the most non-abrasive, non-exclusive way.
Everybody has their own personalities and their own strengths.
Ive learned something from literally everyone on this label.
Every is 100 percent chock full of personality and character.
Jay Rock is warm and inviting.
They have so much energy, and theyll put you in your favorite mood.
How do you differentiate yourself within that group?
Im super bouncy and kind of all over the place.
At first its a headache, but then it becomes a very welcoming headache.
Its sort of that bond between all of us.
Im like that little sister that everyone puts up with.
What people dont know is that TDE is a comedy house.
We have a group chat called the TDE shade room where the boys just roast each other all day.
Theyre so funny, especially Kendrick and Q.
No one really knows how funny Kendrick is.
Hell just break into a monologue thats hilarious and you have no idea its coming.
Youre the first and only female on the TDE roster.
Could you speak about the significance of that in your life?
But in the scheme of things, its my job to not be a punk.
Its not the time for me to come in and be timid or let things go by.
Its just given me tougher skin.
What struck you about this career path?
I have a very short attention span.
I want to pick a new beat.
But that discipline to force yourself to stay and work through it and complete it, thats self work.
Its character building, and that was something I didnt know how to generate by myself.
Its really forced me to be present and work through everything thats happening in the moment.
Its a freeing feeling, and its very addictivechasing the better, chasing the growth, chasing learning.
Theres so much learning to do in music.
