Ella Mai is putting it all out there.
Nearly four years since her breakout debut, the R&B songstress returns with her most personal album yet, Heart on My Sleeve. She showcases her evolution on the “honest and emotional†project, which was mostly recorded during the pandemic.
“When I released my debut album, I was 23 about to be 24, and now I’m about to be 27. Just in life, I’m a different woman,†Ella told Billboard. “I’m more mature and I’ve experienced different things than I did when I was a 23-year-old. I’m more sure of myself as an artist. I’ve been able to tour the world and I think that opens your eyes up a lot more. It’s me still and it’s just an elevated version.â€
In addition to the singles “Not Another Love Song†and “DFMU,†the 15 tracks feature appearances from Latto, Lucky Daye, and Roddy Ricch, who guests on the Mustard-produced “How.â€
“Roddy being someone that is always at the same studio as me because of Mustard. But Roddy is also one of my favorite rappers,†she told Apple Music. “I think it’s a collab that people have been waiting for because Mustard and I work so closely together and so do Roddy and Mustard. I was like, ‘Yeah, we need to give them a Mustard-produced, Ella Mai and Roddy…song.’ It was definitely time.â€
Stream Heart on My Sleeve below.