In an exclusive interview with Gayle King, the pop star sat down to discuss her new album Man’s Best Friend and the controversy surrounding the original cover. When asked what her initial reaction was to the general public’s reaction, she said: “Y’all need to get out more, I think. I was actually shocked because between me and my friends and my family and the people that I always share my music and my art with first, it just wasn’t even a conversation. It was just like, it’s perfect for what the album is. It’s perfect for you know, kind of what it represents, and everything about it to me felt so opposite of the world ending.”
Gayle then asked her to expand on what it meant to her and her intention for the cover. Sabrina replied: “To me it’s so up to interpretation, but my interpretation is being in on the control. Being in on your lack of control and when you want to be in control. I think as a young woman, you’re just as aware of when you’re in control as when you’re not. I think some of those are choices, and I think for me this album was about the humanity of allowing yourself to make those mistakes, knowing when you’re putting yourself in a situation that will probably end up poorly, but it’s gonna teach you something. So there’s a lot of different meanings.”
After Gayle read to her some of the critiques, Sabrina responded: “They don’t know me, they don’t know the stories I’m telling. They don’t know the project. I try to take it with a grain of salt…they were like, where are your parents? My parents actually saw the photo and they loved it.”
She also discussed her songwriting process, which for her includes lyrics and concept first, and how she didn’t realize writing about sexuality was “as taboo as a topic” until she started “writing more freely,” adding: “I just do what makes me happy, what makes me laugh, what girls in their room are gonna be getting ready to. I always say, you don’t have to like what I do. I think there’s this weird misconception that every artist has to check every box…so I’m okay if Tommy from Arkansas doesn’t like what I do.”
Favorite songs from the album, ONTD?
