SZA Interview Research

I have gathered research on the album Ctrl through watching interviews of SZA where she talks about the album and the meanings behind the songs. Obviously I know what most of the songs are about as I've overplayed the album a lot but sometimes songs and albums have deeper meanings that only the artist can properly explain. I also find that watching the actual artist talk about their music is a lot more interesting and true than reading articles or written interviews about music.

Below shows notes from two of the most interesting interviews that I watched this afternoon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LIQUe-NMkE

• A lot of anxiety about the world and her thoughts and what people think. ‘We see the world as we are and not as it is’
• Ctrl: Control is a concept, she need to be in control as she’s never been in control. Accepting that the moment isn’t hers and that she can’t always have control of things.
• Control is a fantasy and it’s not real, it’s something that creates wanting but just being is better 
• Her strict upbringing made her rebel growing up and see things the way she does

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwOIBNYIiBI

• The natural feeling of wanting someone and having to compete to be good enough for them when you know you’re still beautiful and amazing, seeking their approval 
• She felt unworthy so she would dig for things in the wrong places and from the wrong people
• Throughout the album she sings from different points of view, so for example in the song the weekend she’s singing from the girlfriend point of view that doesn’t know her partner is seeing other people but also the other girls point of view that doesn’t know he has a girlfriend
• She sings about several different relationships and situations she's been in in the past; doesn't just focus on one person
• Learning and growing from situations