Gwen Stefani is waxing candid about the possibility of new music.
The Pop star first found trailblazing fame as part of No Doubt before dominating the music landscape as a soloist in the mid-2000s with bop after smash hit bop.
And then there was a break. A ten-year break, at that, before her third solo album ‘This Is What the Truth Feels Like’ landed. A project that itself followed an abandoned No Doubt reunion.
Praised in some corners, the project didn’t deliver commercially and silence once again defined Stefani’s musical output – or lack thereof.
Last year, it seemed the multihyphenate had re-started her musical engine with singles ‘Let Me Reintroduce Myself’ and ‘Slow Clap (ft. Saweetie_,’ only for there to be no further acceleration when neither song impacted the Billboard Hot 100.
Now, in a new interview, Stefani provides context as to why, as well as her future as an active artist.
Full story below…
Speaking with Forbes about her latest venture, GXVE Beauty, she was quizzed on music.
Responding to the question, she adopted a frank approach and began with:
“You’re tapping into something that’s my insecurity. As a songwriter at a certain point, you know that you’re at a certain place, right? I’ve already had my big records. You can only be new when you’re new and I accept that. There’s one thing with songwriting – I’ve never been a writer where I write daily or I never know when it’s going to work and not work or when it’s going to come or not come. I’ve written about this so much. Every hit that I’ve ever made was like that and the fact that I was blessed with so many and that they still get played and people still reference it, it’s truly a true miracle.”
On the topic of new music specifically, she continued:
“I did go in during the quarantine years and I did write a bunch of songs, like 30+ songs, but I didn’t feel the passion that I’ve wanted to put it out. I also got married that year and I just wanted to be in the marriage and try not to do so many things at one time and just be realistic that there are only so many things you can do at one time. So, I kind put it on the back burner but I also feel like sometimes, I don’t really have much to say or I don’t know if I do – and so, I’m just going to wait and pray about it.”
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We actually applaud her candidness.
And while this brand of “real” is unlikely to ever become the “in” thing to do in an industry built on fantasy and the package of “perfection,” it is refreshing to see an act of her ilk keep it 100. After all, critics can’t call out the obvious if one calls it out themselves.
It’s clear Gwen’s last few releases left a lot to be desired, but that need not halt her hustle. Ms. Stefani is in her legacy bag in Las Vegas, judging on The Voice, her various ventures, and racking up branding looks.
There are many ways to win in the contemporary climate and it’s clear she isn’t betting on just one.