Demi Lovato is in the final stages of her ninth studio album. A source close to the project tells Rolling Stone Monday that Lovato is embracing the electronic sound of some of her biggest pop hits on her next record, which is expected to drop later this year.
“Over the past few years, Demi has found love, joy, and newfound confidence, making the choice to approach life with much more lightness and fun,” the source tells Rolling Stone, referring to her recent marriage to Jordan “Jutes” Lutes. “She took this sentiment into the studio, which can be felt in every track on this celebratory dance-pop album.”
Paris Mumpower*
Lovato tapped Zhone — the music maker behind “Someone for Me” by Kylie Minogue, “Rush” by Troye Sivan, and “Joyride” by Kesha — to executive-produce the upcoming project.
“It’s been so inspiring working with Demi and experiencing her journey of continued leveling up,” Zhone tells Rolling Stone about their work together. “She is such a master in the studio. This album is about letting inhibitions go, and we had so much fun making this music! It really comes across throughout.”
Fans have already started to get a taste of DL9 with teasers posted by Lovato of the album’s lead single, “Fast.” The music is a significant step away from the rock-leaning energy of her two last projects, 2022’s Holy Fvck and 2023’s Revamped, which reimagined her pop hits as rock tracks.
When she announced Revamped with Rolling Stone, she said she was considering a return to pop. “I was listening to a bunch of metal. And now, I’m trying to wrap my brain around more pop-sounding stuff, just in case my music wants to take that direction,” she said at the time.
On the new project, she’ll tap into the sound she’s explored on some of her chart-topping EDM collaborations, such as 2018’s “Solo” with Clean Bandit, 2017’s “No Promises” with Cheat Codes, and “Instruction” from Tell Me You Love Me with Jax Jones. Her electropop goes back to 2013, when she included fan favorite “Neon Lights” on her self-titled record Demi.
