Normani's debut solo album: Title, tracklist, release date and everything we know so far

19 September 2019, 13:47

By Sam Prance

Read all the info about Normani's highly anticipated new music here.

The anticipation for Normani's debut solo album is sky high. Ever since the 'Work from Home' singer rose to fame as part of Fifth Harmony, it's always been obvious that she has what it takes to be a superstar in her own right. Vocals? Check. Insane dance moves? Covered. Charisma? In abundance. Ambition? You bet. Star power? Undeniable.

Ever since Fifth Harmony announced their hiatus in 2017, all eyes have been on Normani to see what she would do as a soloist. What will her music sound like? When is she going to release it? Who is she working with? We need to know. Thankfully the icon in the making has already answered some of these questions ('Motivation'!).

READ MORE: 10 iconic references and easter eggs in Normani's 'Motivation’ video

Find out everything about N1 including release date, tracklist, title and more below.

When is Normani's new album coming out?

As it stands there is no official release date for Normani's debut solo album. Normani released 'Motivation' as the lead single from the project in August though so we imagine that a 2020 release date seems likely with one or two more singles coming out before it drops.

Discussing the album with B96 Chicago, Normani said: "This is my very first album. I'm never gonna get my very first album cycle again and I want it to be special." She then added: "I don't wanna rush it." In other words, the album will be here as soon as it's ready.

If 'Motivation' is anything to by, the album will definitely be worth the wait.

Normani - Motivation (Official Video)

What will Normani's album sound like?

It's going to be very different from the music that Normani's made with Fifth Harmony. Chatting to The Fader about the new project, Normani revealed: “I’m able to go to the studio now and write about ideas that actually mean something to me. “I am going back to the music that I grew up with that really inspires me. I get to pull from that and incorporate those sounds into this project. It’s not like somebody else sitting in a chair over at the label has a set idea as to who these girls are going to be and us having to go along with that.”

From the sounds of standalone single 'Waves (feat. 6LACK)' and her hit collaborations including 'Love Lives' with Khalid and 'Dancing with a Stranger' with Sam Smith, Normani is getting more and more in touch with her R&B roots, while still making her pop ambitions clear. '

'Motivation' harks back to the sounds of the 00s while still sounding fresh and current. It's the perfect blend of pop and R&B and we imagine that Norman's album will follow suit.

As for the content of the music, she said: "My Mom was raised in the same house in New Orleans that I was raised in as a little girl. I want to shed light on my truth.” At the age of 9, Normani and her family had to leave their home in New Orleans after it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Her music will reference her roots in the south: in New Orleans where she was raised and in Houston, Texas where she and her family moved.

Muna Mira, who interviewed Normani for The Fader, also added: "Normani’s new sound is grown and sexy. The songs I hear from the project, all unnamed at this point, are dreamily produced: think airy sounds with lots of instrumentation. It’s classic R&B delivered with raspy vocal runs and with lots of plucky, bluesy sounding guitars and horns underneath."

"Her subject reflects the urgency and volatility of feeling that define your early twenties. She is braggadocious one moment, and then self conscious and brooding the next: 'I’m a mess. I’m going to make it hard to be with me.' She traces the arc of her emotions back to the origin point. She’s is coming back to herself, learning how to be Normani again.”

Will there be any collaborations?

Normani launched her solo career in mid February 2018 with the Khalid duet 'Love Lies'. It was released as part of the Love, Simon soundtrack and quickly become an international hit worldwide. Whether or not it will feature on Normani's album is yet to be confirmed but we reckon that there is a good chance that Khalid will be on the album regardless. The two artists are great friends in real life and their voices compliment each other beautifully.

Khalid & Normani - Love Lies (Official Video)

Elsewhere, Normani has been spotted making magic in the studio with New Orleans legend Big Freedia. She's also already revealed in multiple interviews that she and Missy Elliott are working together. The two stars hit each other up on Twitter and have already set aside studio time with each other.

It's currently unclear if Missy will feature on what they create but considering that she already joined forces with Normani on a Fifth Harmony song ('Not That Kinda Girl') we wouldn't rule it out.

Normani featured on a remix of Jessie Reyez' 'Body Count' with Kehlani in 2018 and both stars regularly praise Normani on social media. With that in mind, there's a chance that Jessie and Kehlani could feature on Normani's album too. Normani also released two songs with Calvin Harris at the end of 2018: 'Checklist (feat. Wizkid)' and 'Slow Down'.

Normani's close friend and tourmate Ariana Grande also co-wrote 'Motivation'. We imagine that the two artists will join forces on a song soon either for Ariana's Charlies' Angels soundtrack or Normani's album.

We cannot wait to find out who else Normani has been recording with.

Which producers and writers is Normani working with?

Chatting to Zane Lowe in 2018, Normani opened up about the names she's been in the studio with. She said: “I’m working on my first full-length album. I’m the beginning stages, still. I’ve gotten the chance to work with The Stereotypes, I’m going to be in with the Monsters and the Strangerz, Sarah Aarons, Sailor Heart, Victoria Monét, Ester [Dean] — I’m getting in with her very soon, too, so I’m excited.” So no biggie at all, Normani is working with the biggest names in pop.

'Motivation' was co-written by Max Martin's team Savan Kotecha, ILYA and Max himself with Ariana Grande so there's a good chance they could be more involved in the album too. Max is known for hits including '...Baby One More Time', 'no tears left to cry' and 'Teenage Dream.

The Stereotypez are the production team behind all of Bruno Mars' 24K Magic hits, The Monsters and the Strangerz have worked with Rihanna, Britney Spears and Dua Lipa, Sarah Aarons co-wrote Zedd's pop smashes 'Stay' and 'The Middle', Sailor Heart is an up-and-coming writer with major hype and Victoria Monét has co-written nearly half of Ariana Grande's discography. Oh and Esther Dean is responsible for 'Rude Boy', 'Starships', 'Countdown' and so many more classics.

Lately Normani has been seen writing with BOOTS (the producer behind most of Beyoncé's self-titled album), RAYE ('You Don't Know Me', 'Decline', 'Friends'), Danja ('Gimme More') and Boi-1da ('Work').

Talking to The Fader, Normani also revealed that she is workingThe Dream, Jude Demorest, London on da Track, Priscilla Renea and DJ Mustard to name just a few.

Normani is also writing more with Tayla Parx who co-wrote 'Love Lies' and a lot of Janelle Monáe's recent music too. Rumour has it that she is also working with Bebe Rexha, Julia Michaels and Stargate. This LP is going to be major.

What is the album called? Any song titles?

No album name or song titles yet apart from 'Motivation'. However, Normani has said that the album title is a number and, given that the main outfit Normani wears in the 'Motivation' video features her birth year, it seems likely that the album could be called 1996.

Will there be any tour dates or live performances?

Normani loves to perform so a tour is definitely happening. Our bet is in 2020 shortly after the album comes out. Normani has already wowed fans as Ariana Grande's support act on the US leg of the Sweetener World Tour and we imagine her own show will be even more mesmerising.

Normani Performs 'Motivation' | 2019 Video Music Awards

Which label is Normani signed to?

Normani is signed to KeepCool/RCA Records which is a new joint label set up by A&R executive Tunji Balogun.

Who is a fan of Normani?

Everyone. Solange? Yes. Halsey? Yes. Kelly Rowland? Yes. Demi Lovato? Yes. The world awaits this album.