New music alert! SZA has officially announced her new project LANA, which will be the deluxe version of her sophomore album, SOS. On Dec. 16, the single took to social media to reveal that LANA will officially drop on Dec. 20, which means we’re only days away from hearing new music from the singer!
SZA announced the release date with the help of actor Ben Stiller. In a clip shared on Dec. 16, Stiller is seen embracing his inner super fan as he lip-syncing to what’s presumed to be the singer’s new track “Drive” while driving on a rainy night.
The announcement comes a few days after the Grammy-winning artist took to Instagram on Dec 9. to share a peculiar visual for the upcoming project. “Clock starts now. Happy anniversary, ” she captioned the teaser. SOS dropped on Dec. 9, 2022, so LANA being announced on the second anniversary of SZA’s critically acclaimed album is kind of a full-circle moment, being that it’s a fan favorite.
Though it’s been a while since SZA’s dropped any new music, she continues to prove she’s a multifaceted queen, showcasing her talent in One of Them Days. That being said, I think we can all agree that we’re eagerly awaiting her next musical masterpiece. But now that LANA has an official release date, we don’t have to wait much longer! Talk about an early Christmas present.
When SZA released the LANA teaser on Dec. 9, fans began coming up with some theories about the album’s release date.
People on Reddit noticed the singer wearing a tee with the number 5 on it in the teaser trailer. Another noticed that the stream in the video seemed to outline the number 5. However, there has been no conclusions about what this number may signify.
Meanwhile, other fans believed that the deluxe would be out on Dec. 13. One fan justified, “It fits the whole bug vibe she’s going for cuz Friday the 13th is ‘scary.’” However, that turned out not to be true.
Someone questioned in the same Reddit thread, “At what point is a deluxe album just a separate body of work (?)” Honesty, I’ve wondered the same thing, but nevertheless, we’re here for what this next project has in store. Artists like SZA are redefining the boundaries of traditional album releases.
The project was previously deemed as a new album, meanwhile, the deluxe version of SOS was supposed to be an entirely different project, which SZA initially told British Vogue in Nov. 2024.
Back in Mar. 2024, she wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, “Will be dropping the leaks and outtakes from SOS as promised as the deluxe asap. LANA deserves more time and music no one’s ever heard before 🫶🏽 seems fair. Bless.”
Will be dropping the leaks and outtakes from SOS as promised as the deluxe asap. Lana deserves more time and music no one’s ever heard before 🫶🏾 seems fair . Bless 💗
— SZA (@sza) March 27, 2024
Although plans for the project have changed with its release now officially confirmed, it seems like it will have a different vibe in comparison to SOS. SZA told British Vogue, “I think I am making music from a more beautiful place. From a more possible place versus a more angsty place.” She continued, “I’m not identifying with my brokenness. It’s not my identity. It’s shit that happened to me. Yeah, I experienced cruelty. I have to put it down at some point. Piece by piece, my music is shifting because of that, the lighter I get.”
SZA teased that “a whole new project” would be released before the year ends in Kai Cenats livestream in November 2024.
Just know, I’m prepared to make this album my entire personality when it drops!