It's been just under a year since SZA released her star-marking sophomore record — the long-awaited CTRL follow-up, SOS — and it really seems like she's figured out the whole pop star thing in the space between, touring extensively and picking up a whopping nine more Grammy nominations along the way. But she still has questions, and they mainly pertain to why white people seem to have so much hostility toward butt rock bands like Nickelback and Creed.
An additional breakout section from a new interview with Variety saw the hitmaker open up about the myriad influences that inspired SOS. Lots have obvious lineage, but some of them may surprise you.
"I studied all my favourite songs from my youth, all the things I love… [scrolling]… original Björk, Animal Collective … the Cars' 'Drive'… a lot of Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Fever Ray, Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell… lots of Joni Mitchell…" she told the publication's Jem Aswad. "Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye, blink-182, Wheatus, India Arie… there's a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote … Coldplay, more Björk, the Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Good Charlotte, Lit, David Bowie, so many…"
Eventually, she got around to a current fixation of hers: butt rock. "The other day you know what I pulled up? Creed, Nickelback, Train 'Drops of Jupiter,' just a whole bunch of that," SZA said, adding, "I know, I know! Wait, you know what's crazy? Do white people hate Creed and Nickelback?"
"Why? Black people love them!" she exclaimed. "They rock! That shit is bomb! Why do you all hate it so much?"
The singer-songwriter went on to explain the most inspired and uplifting experience that is blasting Creed's hit "Higher" in the car. "I feel like it's a gospel song, the vocals are going crazy and it's also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun," SZA said. "Because even if it's cliché, he's so fucking dead-ass! I will be a Creed fan forever."
Much has been said about the critical reappraisal of Nickelback in recent years, and with Creed returning to the road in 2024, it seems like it's about time we embraced them... with arms wide open. For what it's worth, both bands' catalogues include show-stopping staples at Exclaim! staff karaoke.
An additional breakout section from a new interview with Variety saw the hitmaker open up about the myriad influences that inspired SOS. Lots have obvious lineage, but some of them may surprise you.
"I studied all my favourite songs from my youth, all the things I love… [scrolling]… original Björk, Animal Collective … the Cars' 'Drive'… a lot of Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Fever Ray, Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell… lots of Joni Mitchell…" she told the publication's Jem Aswad. "Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye, blink-182, Wheatus, India Arie… there's a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote … Coldplay, more Björk, the Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Good Charlotte, Lit, David Bowie, so many…"
Eventually, she got around to a current fixation of hers: butt rock. "The other day you know what I pulled up? Creed, Nickelback, Train 'Drops of Jupiter,' just a whole bunch of that," SZA said, adding, "I know, I know! Wait, you know what's crazy? Do white people hate Creed and Nickelback?"
"Why? Black people love them!" she exclaimed. "They rock! That shit is bomb! Why do you all hate it so much?"
The singer-songwriter went on to explain the most inspired and uplifting experience that is blasting Creed's hit "Higher" in the car. "I feel like it's a gospel song, the vocals are going crazy and it's also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun," SZA said. "Because even if it's cliché, he's so fucking dead-ass! I will be a Creed fan forever."
Much has been said about the critical reappraisal of Nickelback in recent years, and with Creed returning to the road in 2024, it seems like it's about time we embraced them... with arms wide open. For what it's worth, both bands' catalogues include show-stopping staples at Exclaim! staff karaoke.
