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She is preparing to launch her debut solo album Dopamine next week.
And Normani Kordei Hamilton looked incredible as she covered the latest issue of Dazed Magazine.
The singer, 28, who was a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony from 2012-2018, discussed her new album and the freedom she now feels as a solo artist after admitting she ‘felt like a token’ when she was a part of the pop girl group.
Speaking on going solo, Normani said: ‘Coming out of the group, I didn’t necessarily know who or what Normani even sounded like,
‘I needed some time to have life experiences, challenge myself in the studio and not be afraid.’
Normani, who had been training her whole life for a career in the music industry, also admitted joining a girl group at 16 brought some challenges.
Normani Kordei Hamilton looked incredible as she covered the latest issue of Dazed Magazine ahead of launching her new album Dopamine on June 14
The singer, 28, discussed her new album and the freedom she now feels as a solo artist
Normani, who was a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony from 2012-2018. Pictured Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani , Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane Hansen and Camila Cabello
She revealed: ‘I was the only Black girl, the only one that looked like me, which was a totally different experience from the other girls – and that’s not to take away from their experience, because I know what we went through collectively,
‘We really did do the best with what was given to us under very unrealistic circumstances, but being the only Black girl in a very successful mainstream pop girl group, I definitely felt like a token. I don’t know if I was able to articulate that at the time.’
On her freedom as a solo artist, Normani added: ‘There’s a sense of freedom I have that I’ve been waiting for, a weight lifted – me just being able to be Normani, before I’m anything else.’
The singer looked every inch the solo artist in the photoshoot, wowing in a semi-sheer navy mini-dress. The chic ensemble showed off her toned legs as she posed up a storm on a ladder.
In another snap, Normani slipped into an eye-catching slinky white maxi dress which boasted a figure-hugging silhouette and an off-the-shoulder design.
Elsewhere in the interview, the Love Lies hitmaker spoke about how she dealt with both of her parents being diagnosed with cancer.
Admitting times were tough, Normani said: ‘When my parents got sick, I didn’t have the mental capacity to even try to be creative, but I pushed myself anyway.
In another gorgeous snap Normani slipped into a sheer black dress which boasted a distressed look and further elevated her height with a pair of black stiletto’s
Elsewhere in the photoshoot, the singer wore an eye-catching slinky white maxi dress which boasted a figure-hugging silhouette and an off-the-shoulder design
She also put on a busty display in a striped maxi dress which boasted a plunging neckline and a daring split in the leg
Normani teased her followers in February that she would be releasing her debut album
‘If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have, but I know it’s what got them through such a tough time – they needed to see me persevere and push through and continue to move forward.’
The star also discussed that she made an ‘oath’ to herself to ‘do things my way’ when an opportunity arose.
She revealed: ‘I know what it’s like to put out music that I don’t necessarily believe in. It hurts when I don’t feel like I’m able to be fully represented or when I have to stand behind something I don’t believe in, and I did that for so long.
‘So I made an oath to myself that, when I got the opportunity, I was gonna do things my way, and be unapologetic about that.’
Normani teased her followers in February that she would be releasing her debut studio album Dopamine sometime in 2024.
It’s a huge business move for the star because ever since Fifth Harmony went on Hiatus in 2018, Normani has released only a handful of singles, many of them collaborations with artists like Khalid, Sam Smith, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B.
Normani has 12.2 million monthly listeners, and her song ‘Dancing with a Stranger’ with Sam Smith has over a billion streams.
Last August, Rolling Stone reported she signed with new management, hinting that something new was coming.
In February, Normani cleared her Instagram feed and then posted the official cover art for Dopamine, featuring her riding a black rocket dressed in a leather and chain bikini.
Her arms and legs were also painted black and she captioned the post with: ‘Cryingg typing this rn. DOPAMINE THE ALBUM.’
It comes before the singer announced in March that her first single titled ‘1:59,’ featuring Gunna was set to drop on April 26th.
The star tweeted about the release at the time after some back-and-forth with her followers on the tease.
She revealed to her followers: ‘Soo basically my first single 1:59 will be coming out 4/26.’
She first rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, which became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time with more than 33 million albums sold during their short run.
In 2012, she auditioned as a solo artist for the second season of The X Factor.
After being eliminated as a solo performer, Normani got brought back into the competition, along with four other girls, to form the girl group.
During her time in Fifth Harmony, consisting of Normani, Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane and Ally Brooke, they released two studio albums: Reflection (2015) and 7/27 (2016) as a quintet, and a self-titled third album, Fifth Harmony (2017), as a quartet after Camila left to pursue a solo career at the end of 2016.
The self-titled album remains their final release, considering the group went on an indefinite hiatus in March 2018 so that all the members could pursue solo careers and other passion projects.
Normani struck up a sultry pose on a swing in a black ensemble
Normani described those formative years in Fifth Harmony ‘like a prison sentence ordered and duly served.’
Following their announcement of an indefinite hiatus, Normani released a two-song EP with Calvin Harris, Normani x Calvin Harris (2018), and several one-off singles.
During the work on her debut album, she has revised Dopamine four or five times, deciding to add flavours of southern hip-hop and smooth R&B into the mix.
Normani’s Dopamine is scheduled to be released through RCA Records on June 14.
It comes after Normani cleared her Instagram feed and then posted the official cover art for her newest album Dopamine, featuring her riding a black rocket dressed in a leather and chain bikini
She first rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, which became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time with more than 33 million albums sold during their short run; the group featuring Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah-Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Camila Cabello went on indefinite hiatus in 2018 (pictured L-R in 2016)
