Normani is ready for her close up and she’s seizing the moment.
Next Friday, June 14, brings with it the long (long!) awaited release of the singer’s debut album ‘Dopamine.’
And while fans have been salivating for the set since the 28-year-old set sail on her solo journey in 2019, Normani appears all sorts of content with the qualitative time taken to cook up the LP – which is home to singles ‘1:59’ and ‘Candy Paint.’
Dazzling on the cover Dazed magazine’s latest issue, the stage blazer paired the spread with an insightful interview. One in which she opens up about her journey to ‘Dopamine,’ what fans can expect, navigating both of her parents being diagnosed with cancer, and much more.
Pics and quotes after the jump….
On Her Time in Fifth Harmony:
“I was the only Black girl, the only one that looked like me, which was a totally different experience from the other girls – and that’s not to take away from their experience, because I know what we went through collectively. We really did do the best with what was given to us under very unrealistic circumstances, but being the only Black girl in a very successful mainstream pop girl group, I definitely felt like a token. I don’t know if I was able to articulate that at the time.”
On Why She Wasn’t Wowed With Debut Solo Single ‘Motivation’:
“I didn’t like that song, I’m gonna be honest. It just felt really easy – it felt like the right thing to do, but it didn’t necessarily feel authentic. We knew that it would work, but even with me having that knowledge, I was still like, it’s just as important for me to feel represented. I legit was like, ‘OK, I guess if y’all are happy…’”
On Finding Herself Artistically:
“Coming out of the group, I didn’t necessarily know who or what Normani even sounded like. I needed some time to have life experiences, challenge myself in the studio and not be afraid. [It] probably looks a little crazy” [to roll out your album over a six-year period, but she doesn’t let the outside noise bother her]
I know what it’s like to put out music that I don’t necessarily believe in. It hurts when I don’t feel like I’m able to be fully represented or when I have to stand behind something I don’t believe in, and I did that for so long. So I made an oath to myself that, when I got the opportunity, I was gonna do things my way, and be unapologetic about that.”
On Gaining Confidence:
“I feel like I’ve been humble, you know? I’m known to be kind of meek – I keep to myself. I remember going to the studio with [co-writer] Starrah and [Dopamine executive producer] Tommy Brown and I was just like, ‘I want to talk my sh*t.’ It wasn’t easy, but I don’t think that, sonically, I would have ended up in the place I’m in now if I had put a project out a lot sooner.”
On Being Inspired By Beyonce:
“This country album for Beyoncé is so important. People can say what they want to but, like, why look at a Black artist and be quick to label? That’s what I set out to do as well – like, there’s so much power in me. In the group, I didn’t recognise it – but now that I’m out of it, I recognise that it was my superpower, me in my Blackness.”
On Her Parents Being Diagnosed with Cancer:
“It was hard feeling misunderstood because of the lack of knowledge people had for my circumstances in real-time.I don’t even know if I had the energy to explain – my emotional, spiritual and mental endurance was really tested. When my parents got sick, I didn’t have the mental capacity to even try to be creative, but I pushed myself anyway. If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have, but I know it’s what got them through such a tough time – they needed to see me persevere and push through and continue to move forward.”
On the Triumph of ‘Dopamine’:
“I feel like it embodies everything I wanted to say – it feels dominant, strong, assertive – but on the flipside, there are so many layers to what dopamine is. You get the highs, the lows, the thrill of it all. And it’s a little toxic, too.
I’ve grown so much in my tastes, the things that I like are very different than the things I liked before, but I think it’s a perfect hybrid of past and present.”
![Stream: Lady Gaga's 'Harlequin' Album [Inspired by the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Film]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/harlequin-thatgrapejuice-stream-spotify-apple-music-lady-gaga-2024-464x260.jpg "Stream: Lady Gaga's 'Harlequin' Album [Inspired by the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Film].")
Looks a bit like a young Alexandra Burke.
She would look good in a Quentin Tarantino movie her face is beautiful and her body is amazing.
Gurl what a reach 😂
Exactly!!!!!
Face ✅
Vocals ✅
Body✅
Music✅
Dancing✅
Writing✅
Acting✅
Platinum plays before an album ✅✅✅
PeriodT
Slaying the pictures and giving a cohesive interview for a change 👏🏻
Agreed cohesive interview for once, I just wish her parents illness wasn’t added into the discussion.
Weird wish.
That’s right the QUEEN!🖤🖤🖤🚀
Stunning girl. The albums gonna be huge I can feel it!!! Congrats mani!
Camila the fat racist flopping alll over the charts with iliveit lol we love to see that.
DUTCHESS.OF.THE INDUSTRY! PERIOD.💅🏼
A star is born! Congrats mani
I absolutely see the Beyoncé similarities. Normani has back to back hits, critical acclaim on top of that can sing both sing dance and look fantastic while doing it also they’re both so mysterious. Both can afford to do surprise drops and move units cause both are that b****!
This albums gonna be a cultural RESET! Just like Wildside was. It’s kind of trash tbh how tyla one a Grammy for a simple song and video while Normani came out with THEE wildside song and video.
She’s coming!!!!!!!😈
I predict 170-180k first week.. Cuz everyone and they mama is begging for this album chile
We need a video for CP and World tour dates. Lmao something none of the flop girls from 5th harmony but Normani can do…
World Tour? The stage that you are talking about is pets mart parking lot💅🏻
Your f***** ass Stan’s smell taco Camila. That ugly racist flopped hard with album 3 and 4 is looking no better. Iloveit flopped! He knows flopped!! LMAO
Her stinky mouth is keep talking and talking… gurl, you are a FLOP💅🏻candy paint and 1:59 flopped hard worldwide. We love to see it baby!
Where’s iluvit or he knows on the charts m3th smoking chranny?
Normani has the most hits solo out of any of the girl from the group. Keep your sick mouth shut! Normani will never lose like you hater want her to
She already has, go grab a tissue 😭
Ugly dumb ass b I t ch still talking about fifth harmony. Gurl, the group disbanded for almost 8 years… the other girls already moved on and release multiple records or mixtapes. My gurl Camilla on album#4 hunnie 💅🏻 Normani is boring from head to toe
Camila sold 9k with Camila and these new songs is flopping fairy go worry bout that 😭😂
I can’t relate… all these delusional fake fans accounts … y’all will disappear when her album debut below 200 with less then 5K
Lmao these f***** ass A**S INFECTED haters wishing they had a v***** just jealous of Mani.
Lmao THAT part 👏👏
Drag it!!
Finish that scum 😂👏
Mani is the process of music and she’s snatching g ALL wigs. These pressed losers are mad and gon have to stay mad 😈
Ooh yesssss!! Black winsn continue to win. Normani is the next superstar and heir to beys thrown. She’s going to do massive sales. Breathe of fresh air of the industry. Mani stands out!
👸🏾👸🏿 stream candy paint y’all
Both of her parents had cancer 🥺 I can only imagine how hard it was to try and finish an album while aiding to your parents. Mani truly is super woman. Talented, beautiful, loving to her parents, supportive, successful and gracious. Congrats on this album queen. I know it’ll be life changing for everyone.
Easily could win album of the year. If she plays her cards right. I still think she should do like beyonce did and do a surprise album release
Rihanna Beyoncé and Normani = the big three 👸🏽👸🏼👸🏾
Candy pains already doing crazy good on iTunes and Spotify. I think this is gonna be her first solo #1. Keep streaming pleaseeeee y’all 🙏🙏🙏
Candy paints so damn addictive!!! TikTok is eating this joint up!
Love this girl. I see her as a future legend she has IT! Factor that only comes once in a lifetime. Congrats Normani 🎉🥳
Her marketing style is archaic. I can’t find either of her singles on any chart. She needs to be grinding she has A LOT to prove after a 6 year wait.
Bangs aren’t for everybody..
So why do people like her so much? Has she ever had a big hit? What is it I genuinely want to know.
She needs better promo. Tv interviews, performances, radio. She has a sultry smoothness. A little more pizzaz she could be a star. She would’ve thrived in the 2000’s. Not so much in today’s industry. Sad. Wish her luck tho.