SZA, the talented singer-songwriter behind hits like “Love Galore” and “The Weekend,” recently sat down with Variety for an eye-opening interview that took us on an emotional rollercoaster.
The Grammy-winning artist spilled the tea on her initial frustration and later gratitude when her song “Consideration” was unexpectedly handed over to none other than Rihanna. SZA candidly shared how she had recorded “Consideration” for her 2017 album “Ctrl” and even filmed a music video for the track. Days before its release, however, the unexpected happened. Rihanna expressed her interest in having the song for her album “Anti,” and negotiations were made behind the scenes without SZA’s knowledge.
“It was already done,” SZA recalled, emphasizing that it was a label decision. She described the song as “the centerpiece to my album at the time,” and for Rihanna, it was just a part of her album. SZA’s initial reaction? “Please, no.”
“Consideration” became the opening track on Rihanna’s Grammy-nominated “Anti” album, with SZA credited as a featured artist. The exposure she gained from this unexpected twist turned out to be a blessing in disguise. SZA expressed her gratitude, saying, “Now I’m so glad that that happened, and that it didn’t cost me anything. If anything, I gained a bunch from it.” She thanked her lucky stars for continuing to create cool music outside of that moment and acknowledged that she had underestimated her own creativity.
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SZA’s journey didn’t stop at “Ctrl.” She went on to earn Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for her 2018 collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, “All the Stars,” and eventually snagged her first Grammy Award as a co-writer and featured artist on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More.” Currently, SZA leads the 2024 Grammy Awards with nine nominations for her 2022 album, “SOS.” Her resilience and talent have continued to shine brightly.
SZA’s honesty about her initial frustration and her eventual gratitude serves as an inspiring reminder that even in the face of unexpected challenges, creativity and talent can prevail. So, let’s take a cue from SZA’s story and keep pushing forward, even when life throws us a curveball.
