Beyoncé is coming. New album ‘Renaissance’ dropping in July.

So, it’s happening.

After trolling her fans for days with not so cryptic hints and clues, Beyoncé’s 7th studio album will be releasing this year on July 29th. Beyoncé was never going to be able to do surprise releases forever. She knew that was a one time, MAYBE two time thing. Now we’ve got an announcement with a pretty long lead time for a Beyoncé album, and she’s even done an interview with British Vogue (because, fuck Anna) where she talks a little about it.

It’s kinda nice to see a somewhat standard rollout for Beyoncé again. We’re even getting a lead single titled “Break My Soul” which drops on June 21st. A month and a few days before the album. Which means we might get more than one single.

Beyoncé, British Vogue (July, 2022) | Shot by Rafael Pavarotti

Beyoncé has been very vocal in the past about wanting people to take her albums as bodies of work and not just a set of singles, and I completely get that. But I do wish Beyoncé would still do singles once an album is already out. As much liked The Lion King: The Gift, that album didn’t go the distance it could have, because Beyoncé just said ‘Here’s “Spirit” and here’s the album’, and that was it. And even once its visual companion Black is King was released, and all of the songs had music videos, we still got no singles. Not servicing “Find Your Way Back” as a worldwide promotional single was a huge mistake. Radio woulda eaten that up, especially here in the UK.

Beyoncé’s 7th studio album is titled Renaissance. Well, Act 1: Renaissance to be exact, leading many to believe that this album will come in two parts. But given that Beyoncé has long had a penchant for shooting a shit tonne of music videos, the second act could be the visual component. It very likely could be a follow up album, kinda like what we saw Justin Timberlake do with The 20/20 Experience. But I just want to help manage y’alls expectations, and to not assume that Act 2 will be another album. But I’m certainly not ruling it out. We know Beyoncé lives for excess.

Beyoncé, British Vogue (July, 2022) | Shot by Rafael Pavarotti

As could be expected there’s not much on the album itself in terms of how it sounds and who Beyoncé has worked with. Raphael Saadiq is a confirmed name though. And there are rumblings that Beyoncé has worked with dance and house music producers, and that club music will be a big influence. And if Beyoncé’s shoot with the July issue of Vogue is a nod to the direction of where the sound of the album will lean, then the club influence tracks - as Beyoncé’s shoot with vogue channels Studio 54, Club kids and Ballroom. Beyoncé on dance records is an exciting prospect. For me at least.

I’m actually looking forward to a Beyoncé album. There aren’t many music stars left who can cause the type of hysteria and chatter that Beyoncé does. So whilst I’ve not always really fallen for her albums, I am here for more music from her, and the grandiosity she gives with album releases. Lemonade and The Gift were long overdue steps in the right direction for Beyoncé’s sound. I just hope she sings more on this album. Beyoncé has become taken with rapping and pretty much narrating songs. And I really just want to hear her sing. Especially given how much her voice has changed and how great it sounds. Beyoncé has always had a great voice. (I have NEVER gotten the discourse concerning hr not being able to sing). But the richness and the tone that she’s developed over the past few years has really forced her into her lower registers and to play around down there, and she sounds amazing for. The best she‘s sounded as far as I’m concerned. I’m a sucker for singers with low set voices who can truly sing. Brandy. Jazmine Sullivan. Toni Braxton. Even Mariah Carey, although she still hasn’t fully accepted that her voice isn’t what it was, and refuses to embrace that lower registers are her home now. Gurl. Accept it. You sound great down there.

📰 B Ready: Beyoncé Is Poised For Her Next Evolution @ British Vogue

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