Normani’s primed for an epic takeover

The hitmaker’s upcoming debut album has fans teeming with excitement and is proof of the dedication to her craft. We tap in to understand how music moves her to create at the highest level with a preview of her upcoming song “Candy Paint.”

Culture

Normani wearing QCEII and QC45 headphones

@Normani is ready for a career-defining return to the scene

with her highly anticipated debut album finally on the cusp! We talk about her creative process and what it takes to make the cut for her first album.

“I’m always striving to pioneer and be innovative.”

Normani

Normani's body needs to feel moved.

As a natural-born dancer, her dedication to the craft is fuelled by her first passion: movement.

The way the percussion clicks, clacks, and thrashes guides the way her body moves — and it has a lot to do with the record she creates.

What's your creative process like?

"It starts with a feeling and I’m very visual from the beginning to end…I think my main goal is just focusing on being able to outdo myself and really just be in competition with myself."

“I have to hear every layer of everything. I wanna hear harmonies.”

How do headphones fit into this process?

"I have to hear every layer of everything. I wanna hear harmonies. I wanna hear every bit of instrumentation. It’s the best way to listen to a record, especially if it’s noise cancelling."

Featured in this story

Color: Triple Black

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

$179.00 ~~$279.00~~

Color: Black

Few remaining

Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones

$199.00 ~~$329.00~~

Music has been a safe haven for Normani—and her family

"(When my mom was going through chemo) the thing that really kept her going was getting on FaceTime and being like, 'How are the sessions going?’ She's always so eager to hear the new records we've been working on.

And then a year later when my dad ended up being diagnosed he would say mid treatment, 'I'm ready for you to take over the world.'"

What’s the mark you want to leave on this generation?

“When I was younger I was so grateful to have the Janets of the world and the Ciaras and Destiny's Child, to be able to look at them and see myself; I felt represented. So for me, I always say representation is. And I feel like I'm walking evidence that anyone can achieve their dreams as long as they really keep their mind to it and have faith.”

“You got this, you are enough, stop overthinking.”

Lastly, what advice would you give your younger self?

“You got this, you are enough, stop overthinking. It's deep but it's not that deep. You have all the tools that you need to reach your full potential and to step into what God has called you to do and what's for you is for you, trust that.”