Doja Cat is heading back to her pop roots. The Grammy-winning artist, known for her versatile sound, recently opened up about her forthcoming album, Vie, in an interview with V Magazine, revealing that the album will focus heavily on pop music, despite her previous statements about stepping away from the genre.
From “No More Pop” to “Pop-Driven Project”
In 2023, Doja Cat tweeted, “No more pop,” expressing her disinterest in creating pop music. At the time, she stated that “pop isn’t exciting to me anymore,” even calling her earlier albums, Planet Her and Hot Pink, “cash grabs.” However, Vie will be a shift back to the genre she knows best.
In her interview, Doja Cat explained, “I do want to be self-aware enough to admit the fact that this is a pop-driven project.” She clarified that while she still enjoys making pop music, it’s a genre that many people often view as a “sport” rather than true art.
“Pop is just that—it’s popular,” she added, noting that there are some who don’t fully respect the genre, seeing it more as entertainment for specific audiences, rather than valuing it as music.
A Concept Rooted in Love and Hopefulness
When asked about the concept of Vie, Doja Cat revealed that it would focus on themes of love, romance, sex, and relationships—both with others and with oneself. “It’s very much about love in a way that reflects how I want it to be in the future—my hope, my hopefulness.
What I hope it could be,” she said, indicating that the album will take a positive and optimistic approach to these topics, differing from the common themes of breakups or frustrations in past music.
While many pop songs are about the struggles in relationships, Doja’s new project will explore more hopeful sentiments, with only one track tackling those “sick of men” vibes. “There are songs about relationships in general, and relationships with yourself, even,” she shared, emphasizing the album’s forward-looking tone.
A Mix of Pop and Rap
Doja Cat made it clear that while Vie will be a “pop-driven” project, fans can expect her to incorporate her signature rapping style as well. “I have a lot more knowledge of how to use my voice as an instrument, more than I ever have in my life,” she said, revealing her growth as both a singer and a rapper.
Despite aiming for the album to be popular, Doja emphasized that she’s not just chasing trends. “I want to focus more on: how does the mix sound? Do I even need these instruments here?
Do I need to recut this verse?” she said. She highlighted the importance of the sound quality over commercial success, asserting, “If for any reason a project of mine does a little less good than the last one, I don’t want to be up in arms and upset about it. I want to embrace that.”
Looking Forward to Vie
Fans of Doja Cat can expect Vie to drop later this year. While she’s clearly excited about the project’s potential, her focus remains on delivering something that feels authentic and true to her artistic vision.
With a balance of pop hooks, rap verses, and deep introspective themes, Vie is set to showcase the next chapter of Doja Cat’s musical journey.
