Pop meets soul

American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer Amala Ratna Dlamini, better known as Doja Cat, will be releasing her fifth studio album, Vie, tomorrow, September 26.

The project, being released through Kemosabe and RCA, follows her 2023 record Scarlet and represents a new creative direction that blends pop with personal reflections.

The artist has described the album as her most mature work to date, one that showcases her vocal ability and deeper emotional range.

Speaking in recent interviews, Doja Cat added that she had pushed herself technically while recording Vie.

“I’m very excited,” she explained.

“It’s things I wasn’t able to do before. I couldn’t hit certain riffs or runs. I used to joke about that and pretend to be a singer. But I sucked it up and stopped joking and took myself more seriously.”

Lyrically, the album explores themes of love, romance, intimacy, relationships and self-discovery.

Doja Cat has indicated that she wanted to capture not only the tension and fragility that can come with romantic connections but also the beauty of healthy attachment and self-acceptance.

The record seeks to portray love in its full spectrum rather than simply focusing on heartbreak or cynicism.

Musically, Vie takes inspiration from retro eras, particularly the 1970s and 1980s.

The sound incorporates lo-fi textures, samples and nostalgic references designed to stir a sense of familiarity, while still sounding contemporary,

The goal, according to Doja Cat, is to produce a modern album that acknowledges the sounds many listeners grew up with.

Promotion for the project began in August with the release of the lead single Jealous Type on August 21, with a music video directed by Boni Mata.

Doja Cat, Ari Starace and Jack Antonoff wrote the song.

Vie’s promotional strategy in the US also included the launch of the ‘Vie Hotline’ on August 7. By dialling the hotline number, fans entered an interactive soundscape where Doja Cat herself delivered playful voice prompts on topics such as jealousy, romance, and trust.

There will be a total of 15 tracks on the album. In addition to the lead single, these will be Cards, Aaahh Men!, Couples Therapy, Gorgeous, Stranger, All Mine, Take Me Dancing, Lipstain, Silly! Fun!, Acts of Service, Make It Up, Happy, One More Time and Come Back.

Alongside the album announcement, Doja Cat has confirmed the Ma Vie World Tour, which will begin in Auckland, New Zealand, on November 18 and end in Taiwan on December 21.

The shows will highlight music from Vie while revisiting tracks from her earlier catalogue.