Sevyn Streeter is back!

The gifted singer-songwriter has taken the wheel of her career and is driving forward with purpose towards the release of her first independent album, ‘Drunken Wordz x Sober Thoughtz.’

Having drip-fed the masses with jams such as ‘HMU’ and ‘Kissez,’ the star spoke exclusively with That Grape Juice about her journey and what fans can expect in the coming year.

Join us after the jump…

That Grape Juice:  We’re buzzed about your forthcoming album, ‘Drunken Wordz x Sober Thoughtz.’ What can fans expect? And, how has the pandemic impacted your creative process?

Sevyn Streeter: I will say [the project’s] about the pandemic. Obviously, there’s now a lot of change for everyone; we were all moving so fast before. It just prompted so many questions for myself, because all we had was time.

I just want to be the best version of myself and to put out the best art I know how to make, not the best art that someone else tells me I should make.

That Grape Juice:  That had to be liberating.

Sevyn:  With ‘Drunken Wordz x Sober Thoughtz,’ it was a way for me to give myself permission to tap into every emotion that I have felt.

Sometimes, the only way for people to understand what you do is to say, “he didn’t mean what he said; he was drunk.” So, I’m just using [my album title and concept] as a metaphor.

That Grape Juice: What are three words you feel would describe the project to prospective listeners?

Sevyn: “Connection,” because every song on the album came from a conversation of me connecting with someone.

“Permission.” Not permission from anyone else, but I gave myself permission to be the artist that I’ve always wanted to be. There’s no one in my house that my spirit doesn’t agree with, therefore, there’s nothing here to hinder the energy. That was a big thing for me, being in girl groups and all types of things.

“Freedom” is the third word.

That Grape Juice: This is your first independent project after a long-term relationship with the major label system. Why the indie route instead of transitioning to another major?

Sevyn: I have been in a major system for so long that I knew that, for me, it wasn’t possible to achieve freedom at that moment. I needed to go somewhere where the train will move, according to my thoughts, my input, my ideas, and my creativity.

Being indie is you getting to fully build the world from the ground up.

That Grape Juice: What led you to going with ‘HMU’ as the lead single for the first taste of this project?

Sevyn: I liked it leading it out because it’s basically saying “don’t expect anything you’ve ever seen before from me on this album.”

You can expect the things that I know that you love and appreciate because I’m always going to try to sing my best and try to write as honestly as I possibly can. Both things you can always expect from me, but don’t ever expect for it to come in the same package.

That Grape Juice: Who have you been collaborating with on the project and what are some of the things we can expect in the weeks and months ahead?

Sevyn: I had a record with Davido which I’m really excited about. We made a song called ‘Kissez’ (click here to listen).

4rest is an amazing songwriter and he’s also been a friend of mine since we were 18-years-old. Also, Jeremih, Lucky Daye, and A$AP Ferg are on the album. They can expect to see all those different spaces that I allowed myself to tap into.

The visuals are very important to me this time around because they’re just extensions of the song. So just expect more visuals. This project is one I want people to use it as a tool for their own expression; it’s completely for the people.

Your thoughts?