Beyoncé returns today with, RENAISSANCE, her first solo effort since 2016’s groundbreaking Lemonade. Opting for a more traditional rollout instead of her usual surprise release, Bey gave fans over a month to gear up for the arrival of her seventh studio album, as well as a promotional single, “BREAK MY SOUL.” She also shared the project’s tracklist, which revealed contributions from the likes of Skrillex, 070 Shake, The-Dream, JAY-Z, and Drake.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Beyoncé explained that RENAISSANCE was born out of a desire to find some respite during the pandemic. “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world,” she wrote. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”
While promoting the project, Beyoncé has cryptically referred to RENAISSANCE as “act i,” leaving many fans to believe the album could be the first in a series of projects from the singer. British Vogue seemed to support the theory in their profile on the elusive pop star, claiming “a thrilling abundance” of new music was on the way.
