In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the former Fifth Harmony member spoke about her time with the pop group and how she’s been coping since the five-piece dissolved in 2018.
When asked how she’s grown since going solo, Normani replied that she’s “grateful” for everything, even “the moments where I might’ve felt inadequate or less than that. It definitely has a lot to do with why I am the way I am. It definitely took a toll on my confidence.”
During her stint with Fifth Harmony, Normani faced numerous instances of racism by label executives and even fans of the group, who saw her as less than her counterparts in the band and relegated her to a significantly smaller role in the band’s releases that her groupmates.
Reflecting on her past struggles in the band, Normani revealed: “We were so innocent and I think that is the struggle of just us having to face reality under very unrealistic circumstances. I always say we did the very best we could with what we had, so that I’m proud of.”
She went on to add: “There’s so much that I don’t even remember because I suppressed it. That’s just my way of protecting myself from having to deal with everything. But what I do remember is that it wasn’t all bad. Like yeah, we struggled, but it was also really beautiful in what we accomplished together.”
Speaking on her upcoming highly anticipated debut album "Dopamine", Normani revealed that she hopes fans discover she’s “f**king strong despite everything that I’ve endured. It’s a testament to my strength and resilience and my discipline.”
In April, Normani finally revealed the release date for "Dopamine". Her first collection of songs since going solo, ‘Dopamine’ due for release on June 14 via via RCA Records.
The announcement came after she teased the record in January, saying it is “literally the best music she’s ever made”. Later that month, Normani spoke further about the upcoming record, describing it as “a representation of [her] evolution.” “For me, this upcoming album is not just about music coming out,” she said. “It feels like a representation of everything I’ve gone through to get to this moment. The album feels like liberation, like a season of freedom. Not just because the record is finally coming out, but because it’s a celebration of everything.”
