Rihanna reveals her 'brain is working backward' while creating songs for her long-awaited 'R9' album

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rihanna shared insights into the creative process behind the making of her songs.

The singer also discussed her highly anticipated ninth studio album, dubbed 'R9', after she last released her eighth studio album 'Anti' in 2016.

Rihanna says she has 'a lot of visual ideas'

In a recent feature with Interview Magazine, Rihanna talked about her return to music as she has been occupied with her business ventures including Fenty Beauty and also enjoying motherhood in raising her two sons.

The 36-year-old singer revealed that she has "a lot of visual ideas" for her next album but does not "have the songs for them yet."

"It’s weird. My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all of these visual opportunities, and now I’m having all of these visuals," she shared.

"I don’t have the songs for them yet," the nine-time Grammy winner added.

Rihanna expressed optimism, suggesting that the reversal of her process and approach to making songs could unlock creative pathways for her.

"But maybe that’s the key, this time. Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make," she shared.

In response to whether these visual ideas signal a "rebirth" to her, Rihanna teased she has "random ideas, quirky ideas, things that have nothing to do with me at all."

"I mean, I can’t tell you. The opps is watching," she joked.

Rihanna says she focused on motherhood during her time away from music

The 'Umbrella' singer admitted that she did not choose to step away from music and reflected on her journey of evolving from a chart-topping artist to a successful entrepreneur and mother.

"I wouldn’t have had any idea," the Savage x Fenty founder said of her career path.

"The only thing that I knew I wanted, or that I could imagine, was motherhood," she said.

"I didn’t know how it would come, but it is the best part of my journey so far. Everything else was a surprise," said Rihanna who welcomed her sons, RZA in May 2022, and Riot in August 2023 with her partner A$AP Rocky.

When asked about an update on Rihanna's 'Anti' follow-up, A$AP Rocky told fans on the streets of Paris in February that "she's working on it."

In 2023, the 'Diamonds' singer told Good Morning America that she is aware that her fans are "waiting" and is "excited to actually put new music out."