Christina Aguilera 'suffered' as a young female artist as music industry gave her 'no breathing room'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Christina Aguilera opened up about her struggles as a young female artist in the music industry in a heartfelt interview with Rolling Stone on October 21,

Speaking with British singer-songwriter Raye, the 43-year-old 'Genie in a Bottle' star shared how the industry's stringent expectations of her as a female music artist limited her creative expression during the early stages of her career.

Christina Aguilera reflects on early industry constraints

“When I came into this business, there was a really big pop boom, and it was very specific what a label wanted a pop star to look like, to sound like. I wanted it so bad,” Aguilera reflected.

She recounted how she felt like her voice was "stifled," adding that it often led to a lack of creative control: “You’re going to have situations where you have no creative control or you’re in a position where your hands are tied."

She emphasized that such constraints made it a difficult environment for artists, saying, “It’s just no place for an artist. When my hands feel too bound and I feel like there’s no breathing room, that’s when I start to suffer.”

Christina Aguilera received flack for changing her teeny bop image with 'Dirrty'

Initially recognized as a teen pop star with hits like 'Genie in a Bottle' in the late nineties, Christina Aguilera later shifted to a more provocative image with the release of 'Dirrty' in 2002. But she drew criticism at the time for trying to break free from her teen idol persona with the 2002 album 'Stripped', which became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. Following that, she reinvented her sound again with the critically acclaimed 'Back to Basics' (2006), producing hits like 'Lady Marmalade' and 'Beautiful.'

Christina Aguilera offers support to young artists

The conversation turned to advice for younger artists, with Christina Aguilera praising Raye's unique approach. “I think she’s already ahead of the game, to be very honest with you,” she stated.

Aguilera admired Raye’s choice to perform barefoot, admitting, “I’ve already f**ked up my legs and my feet so bad with all this high-heel nonsense. I f**ked up the cartilage in my knee. I love that about you, though. I never had the balls to just do it. Those are the best when you just feel the floor underneath.”

Raye, who was recently honored Aguilera in a sultry tribute video to Marilyn Monroe, shared her own perspective on footwear. “I feel like when I’m wearing shoes, I’m thinking about wearing shoes. Is that weird?” she responded, highlighting her preference for comfort while performing.

The pair also discussed vocal challenges, with Raye asking Aguilera about her most difficult performance. For Aguilera, it was her rendition of “A Song for You” with Herbie Hancock, which she described as intricate and delicate: “The arrangement was so intricate, so delicate and full of ad-libs. It was a lot to try and perfect that live.”

Raye finds escape in gaming amidst the pressures of fame

Raye, meanwhile, has opened up about the pressures of fame and the demands of touring. To unwind, she has found solace in playing Mario Kart. “I find games to just be like a very beautiful escape from your everyday life,” she explained. “I'm really one of those people who loves to hyper-focus on something, and when I'm playing a game, nothing else matters in that moment.”

She shared that playing games has become a routine on tour.

“Almost every day, when I need to just turn off, I'm just playing a game, finding someone on tour who wants to play games with me. We have a console on the bus and we'll gather around,” the 26-year-old artist noted, emphasizing the importance of maintaining mental well-being amidst the chaos of life on the road.