Mya is back, and she’s doing things her own way with the release of ‘Retrospect’ – her first LP in nearly a decade.

Full story below.

The 46-year-old singer dropped her ninth studio album, Retrospect, on May 15 – a project that draws sonic inspiration from classic ’80s funk and R&B with nods to Prince and the Gap Band.

“I wanted to turn it up a notch,” she told Variety. “I’m a party girl, but people wouldn’t know it because I’m so laid back. I’m still the same girl from ‘Case of the Ex.’ I’m just in my grown era.”

Foregoing the slower pace of her 2018 album ‘T.K.O. (The Knock Out),’ the new record features upbeat tracks with glittery synths, pummeling 808s, and plucky bass notes. Snoop Dogg appears on the standout track “No Pressure.”

Mya co-executive produced the album alongside Lamar “MyGuyMars” Edwards and released it independently through her own label, Planet 9.

“When I didn’t have creative freedom, I tended to be very dissatisfied,” she explained. “Being independent empowers me to say, alright, we’re good here.”

Prince once offered her advice on navigating her career as an indie artist.

“He was a huge advocate for independence,” she recalled. “Living below your means, not going after materialism but truly building a space.”

And though she’s hit the promo trail hard in the LP’s support, part of its original rollout plan was to be showcased on the live circuit as a special guest on the Pussycat Dolls‘ reunion jaunt.

Coined the ‘PCD Forever Tour,’ the North American leg of the jaunt – which was also set to feature Rap Queen Lil Kim – was axed just two months after its announcement.

“[It’s a] “bummer” [that the tour was called off],” Mya revealed to ‘Variety’ before explaining she wasn’t aware of the specifics around the cancelation. “I’m kind of in the dark with everything right now…I haven’t gotten into the nuts and bolts.”

The interview took place shortly after the cancelation news hit the Web. Read the full ‘Variety’ chat here.

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