Normani has released her debut album Dopamine after years of anticipation from fans. The project features 13 tracks, which include the newly released “1:59” single, as well as 2021’s “Wild Side” featuring Cardi B.
Dopamine also features collaborations with artists like Gunna (“1:59”), James Blake (“Tantrums”) and the legendary Brandy, who lends her background vocals to the track “Insomnia.”
“I feel like [Dopamine] embodies everything I wanted to say — it feels dominant, strong, assertive — but on the flipside, there are so many layers to it. You get the highs, the lows, the thrill of it all. And it’s a little toxic, too,” Normani told Dazed.
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The title of the album is a reference to the brain neurotransmitter that induces happiness. It “reflects the joy and euphoria infused in her music,” according to a press release.
Normani co-wrote every song on the album and collaborated with songwriters such as Victoria Monet, Nija Charles and Sevyn Streeter.
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The project has been years in the making, but Normani wanted to make sure her debut album would authentically represent herself as an artist.
“Coming out of the group, I didn’t necessarily know who or what Normani even sounded like,” she told Dazed about her time after being in Fifth Harmony. “I needed some time to have life experiences, challenge myself in the studio and not be afraid.”
“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,” Normani added. “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.”
She also experienced some challenges in her personal life that hindered her creativity. During the pandemic, Normani’s mother’s cancer returned after being in remission for 19 years. A year later, her father was diagnosed with cancer as well.
“It was hard feeling misunderstood because of the lack of knowledge people had for my circumstances in real-time,” Normani told the magazine. “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.”
Dopamine is now available on all streaming platforms.
