Saturn might be the sixth planet, but today it’s the second studio album to be released from Nao. The incredible body of work is Nao’s first release since 2016’s For All We Know.
Boasting 13 tracks, which all evoke futuristic R&B vibes that remain grounded in storytelling, Saturn is a work with little filler. The album features two male crooners Kwabs (“Saturn”) and SiR (“Make It Out Alive”).
Speaking to Keryce Chelsi Henry of Forbes, Nao detailed her head space during the recording of Saturn. “I was in a relationship with someone who was actually really amazing, but I was becoming a different person,” she said. “As a result, we broke up, and I was like, “Oh, s–t. What have I done? This is terrible. I’ve lost everything.” [When you break up], it’s not only the person that you lose but you’ve lost the future that you planned together. You lose your home. You’re completely ungrounded.”
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She later mentioned “[Saturn] takes you on a journey through my own personal experiences with that: the breakup, the loss of home, feeling ungrounded, losing my sense of self, going to a dark place—like on ‘Make It Out Alive,’ wondering how I’d get out of this feeling—but as you go through the album it begins to get a bit more hopeful. So, the album is based on my growing up and loads of self-discovery that all exploded from this one moment from separating from this person I had been with for a long time.”
As a part of the trivia behind the album’s conception, many might not be aware that in our 29th year of life, Saturn returns to the exact same position it was when we were born. This gives the illusion that life really does come full circle.
Starting in January, Nao will embark on a 19-date U.S. tour in support of her sophomore release. Tickets are available now.
Listen to Saturn below.