Alessia Cara speaks on her new album “Love & Hyperbole” with °1824
By Averie Morren
Earlier this week, singer-songwriter Alessia Cara joined Universal Music Group’s marketing and creative strategy team,°1824, for a press conference to talk about her new album, Love & Hyperbole.
Set to be released on Valentine’s Day, Cara’s latest project features 14 songs, including [already popular singles] Obvious and Deadman. This album comes a decade after Cara’s hit song, “Here.” Cara considers it her “best word to date – or at least (her) personal favorite.”
Cara expressed how much of this album, unlike her past songs, comes from genuine love, rather than being fueled by anger or hatred.
“I always get a bit negative sometimes, when it comes to love, or the outcome of love,” Cara states, when talking about Fire “But I think this song feels personal to me because it is written without…fear of anything.”
Beyond love, the album delves into deeper and more existential themes than ever before. Cara revealed that she confronts topics like impermanence, aging, and even death—subjects that have always scared her that she now addresses with newfound openness.
“Life moves so quickly, and I’ve never really spoken about that sadness before. It takes getting older to become more conscious of it,” she explained. “I’m the youngest I’ll ever be, but also the oldest I’ve ever been, and I feel that really heavily.”
One of the most impactful parts of the production process, according to Cara, was the opportunity to record most of the album live with musicians in the same room—something she hadn’t been able to do in previous years due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We had an orchestra, string players, a horn section, and a bunch of musicians that came in. We got to feed off of each other’s energy, and that just felt really cool and different,” she shared. “There’s just a different outcome when you’re all in the room together. There’s nothing quite like a bunch of people jamming—I feel like that’s how music is supposed to be.”
Inspired by the recording styles of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, Cara embraced a more organic approach, often recording in single takes. She takes inspiration from world renowned artists during those eras like Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell.
When speaking about the album cover, which features two different versions of herself holding each other in a way that prevents both of them from falling backwards, Cara explained there’s two meanings to it. The first represents the duality of Love and Hyperbole, and the other, which is inspired by the specific position Cara is standing in, is “rooted in trust and having your own back.”
With Love & Hyperbole, Cara showcases a new chapter in both her artistry and personal growth, setting the stage for what she considers her most meaningful work yet.