Normani Poses For ‘The Fader,’ Talks New Music & Future Collaborations

Mike Nied | August 2, 2018 3:06 pm

Normani is poised to be one of the biggest breakout acts of 2018. The 22-year-old kicked off the week by breaking into the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 alongside Khalid. They linked on up “Love Lies,” which has enjoyed a slow but steady rise up the charts since dropping earlier this year. With more than 350 million streams on Spotify, it is projected to soar even higher in the coming weeks. It is a strong start for the former Fifth Harmony member as she gears up to kick off her solo career. The budding superstar continues her hot streak with a stunning new photoshoot for The Fader. Shot by Thomas Richard McCarty, she delivers a series of breathtaking looks. Overflowing with warm colors and bursting with personality, the vibrant shoot is a standout.

In an accompanying interview with Muna Mire, the “That’s My Girl” siren reflected on her career. As her debut single climbs the charts, many fans are drawing comparisons to Beyonce. Both had their roots in girl groups, and it seems more likely by the day that Normani will follow the “Formation” icon’s footsteps. She revealed the comparisons give her something to grow toward. “It’s flattering but I definitely have room to grow and improve. I want to work for my spot. It’s not fair that I’m the next Beyoncé just yet. But I hope to become that.”

Luckily, Normani is putting in the work on her debut album, which will give her a chance to leave a mark. She opened up about how freeing it has been to record as a solo act after spending so long working under the guidance of a label in 5H. “I’m able to go to the studio now and write about ideas that actually mean something to me,” she admitted. “I am going back to the music that I grew up with that really inspires me. I get to pull from that and incorporate those sounds into this project.” As her LP comes together, it has been described as “distinctly Southern and also deeply collaborative.”

This may be because the up-and-comer has landed a string of massive collaborations. She’s set to hit the studio with the likes of Missy Elliott, The Dream, DJ Mustard and Ester Dean (whom she describes as a “legend”). Recently, she also cooked something up with Stargate. The tracks from these sessions will join a growing list she has already recorded. Although they are currently under wrap, Mire had an exclusive listen and promises big things are on the horizon. Scroll through a gallery of looks from the shoot up top and read the full feature here!

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