In a revealing, black two-piece, with tattoos on display, singer and songwriter Demi Lovato oozes sex appeal on the cover of her brand new album, “Confident.” Lyrically proficient and unique, Lovato has begun to take 2015 by storm, proving that her music is not only catchy and relatable, but it is also art in its purest form.
Released on Oct. 16, “Confident” is Lovato’s fifth studio album with Hollywood Records and it offers 11 diverse tracks, including Lovato’s summer smash-hit “Cool for the Summer.” The album also features collaborations with rapper Iggy Azalea and Sirah, as well as Lovato’s latest single, “Confident,” which solidifies her genius as a pop-contemporary, songwriting queen.
As a former Disney star, Lovato is no stranger to fame or success, but the popularity of this latest album holds much more meaning than any other project she has previously released.
Lovato privately struggled for many years with addiction, depression and her own body image. First publicly addressing her emotional journey in 2011, just before the release of her album “Unbroken,” Lovato has been praised in recent years for her willingness to discuss her own pain in the press with the hope that her story will help others.
“Confident” is symbolic of an important milestone for Lovato, who said in March that she had reached her third year of sobriety. Lovato tweeted a thank you to supporters on March 16: “I never knew sobriety was possible for me, but with the love and support I've been given from my friends, fans, and family ... I now celebrate my 3rd birthday. Thank you to everyone.”
In an interview with Billboard.com, Lovato discussed the metaphorical importance of “Confident."
“Now that I’m feeling great and I feel confident, I’m proud of the skin that I’m in.” Lovato said. “I’m wanting to share that with the world and showing everyone how you can go from being very insecure with body image issues to feeling so proud of your body that you want to show it to the world.”
Lovato’s latest project shows maturity and undeniable character development with tracks such as “Confident” and “Kingdom Come.”
“Confident” is both the title track and Lovato’s latest single. The song, which opens with an instrumental score similar to the one heard in the “Rocky” movies, conveys Lovato’s newly found confidence and appreciation for her own sexuality. With feminist undertones and clever lyrics, “Confident” offers an enticing beat that will be stuck in your head for weeks.
“Kingdom Come” is the sixth track on Lovato’s “Confident” and features Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. Dripping with angst and complexity, “Kingdom Come” is the perfect road trip power ballad, in which Lovato discusses a dysfunctional relationship riddled with power struggles.
“Old Ways,” which is probably the most serious track on Lovato’s latest album, addresses her struggle with addiction, but also her firm belief that she will not resort back to her previous bad habits. Heavy with emotion, “Old Ways” definitely isn't the type of track that makes you want to roll down your windows and sing, but the song seems to catch Lovato in an extremely vulnerable state and is definitely worth the listen.
Collectively, Demi Lovato’s latest album doesn’t disappoint, providing countless feminist ballads which demonstrate both her creativity and her vocal abilities. Whether you are mending a broken heart because of a misogynistic fraternity boy, or simply having a bad day, Demi Lovato continues to produce eloquent and undeniably therapeutic music for all.