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Myesha Evon GardnerJazmine Sullivan says her new album, Heaux Tales, was influenced by “a few women today that I felt like were busting through those barriers and helping me feel more confident in who I am.”
In an NPR interview, the R&B vocalist unveiled who served as inspiration for her fourth project.
“I’ve talked about Cardi B — my first time seeing her online, the things that she says were so funny to me. It was just completely who she was. And also Lizzo, who represented for us big, beautiful Black women. I was so proud of her for telling the world that she loves herself,” she said.
“Even if you do love yourself, I feel like some people may try to hide it because they don’t feel like everybody else will get with it, but [Lizzo] just put it out there,” she continued. “It inspired me to get on that track, and want to continue to help women bust the barriers down.”
Heaux Tales marks Sullivan’s long-awaited return after 2015’s Reality Show. The 33-year-old said taking “breaks when needed…helped” her transformation and creative process, but she wouldn’t do it again.
“I know that I wouldn’t take as long now because of the things that I’ve been through in my personal life. My mom getting cancer a year ago. And even with COVID-19, time for me is a little more precious now that I have gone through those things,” she said. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, and I wouldn’t want to lose so much of my time. I wouldn’t take as long as the breaks I’ve taken.”
Heaux Tales is out now, featuring Sullivan’s singles, “Lost One” and “Pick Up Your Feelings,” which peaked at the 9th and 15th spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B songs, respectively.
By Rachel George
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'Heaux Album Cardi Influences Jazmine Lizzo Served; sullivan Tales
