SZA was “terrified” in the weeks leading up to the release of her second album, SOS, at the end of last year.
Kill Bill singer, real name Solana Imani Lowe, released her much-anticipated sequel to 2017’s Ctrl in December, and it soared to the top of the Billboard album chart, spending seven straight weeks at number one. It will run in 2022.
SOS was a success, but SZA was “terrified” about its reputation in the weeks leading up to its release.
“Before something big like a release, I cry a lot. Otherwise I get angry, you know. And I realize I’m angry now because I’m scared,” she says in New York. “A lot happened in the last section of putting this album together: ‘Oh. I’m just terrified.’
The 33-year-old explained that she tends to guard against backlash and criticism and never expects positive feedback.
“I have no expectations,” continued SZA. “I’m ready for hate, backlash, or disappointment… I don’t expect people to be like, ‘Oh my God, this album is so good.’ I expect people to do something like this.
SZA candidly recalled another stunned moment at the thought of not living up to the album’s success.
“Part of me is like, ‘Wait, this album is really great. I can’t imagine being more famous or more successful.’ I’m like, ‘Am I going to die soon? Falling off the edge? It’s like, my album has to be in the tank, because nobody understands that,” she revealed.